Mixing Furniture Designs for an Eclectic Style

In real life, homeowners seldom find just one style of decor that suits their tastes and needs.  Mixing furniture designs has become commonplace and creates an eclectic style that allows homeowners and decorators to express their interests and likes.  If you are thinking about mixing furniture styles, but are not sure where to begin, try some of the ideas below to get you started.

What You Have

Start by working with the furniture pieces that you already have.  Chances are that you have some pieces in your collection that do not exactly go together, but that you enjoy equally.  Use those existing pieces as the basis for the rest of the room's decor.  For example, if you have a floral upholstered armchair that you love to curl up on with a good book and a modern footrest that is functional and sleek, use them both in your room's decor.  Before adding any additional pieces to the room, remove the items that you no longer have an interest in or that are too worn to be of much use.

Piece by Piece

Evaluate what you need to add to the room, piece by piece.  Look at the current pieces and decide what else you need to make the room more stylish, functional and comfortable.  If you frequently have guests over, ample seating is a must.  If you like to read, bookshelves are a necessity.  Once you have an idea of the items that you need to complete your room, you will be able to shop for pieces that will enhance the look of the space while also engaging your personal taste.

Fun Finds

Some of the best places to shop for eclectic pieces are those places that are off the beaten path.  Antique stores, thrift shops and estate sales are especially good places to start.  You can find unusual pieces of furniture and accessories that have a history, such as a funky sunshine metal wall art from the 60’s or wrought iron wall art from New Orleans.  Do not worry about matching the style of the pieces so much as working to coordinate the color.  If the pieces that you currently have all have navy blue in them, be sure that your new furniture finds coordinate or can be altered with paint, fabric and slipcovers.  By coordinating with color, you can still tie the room together even with a mixture of furniture styles and designs. 

What to Look For

When you are searching for eclectic pieces and bargains, be sure to check out a few things first.  First, look at the quality of the furniture's construction.  A poorly made item, or one that is already showing signs of structural wear and tear should be passed over, as it is not a sound investment.  Also, if the piece that you are considering is painted, be wary of the paint.  Many older pieces of furniture, especially children's furniture, contain lead paint that can cause serious injury and poisoning to young children.  It would be safer to buy a new, unfinished wooden piece and paint it yourself with non-toxic paints. 

Mixing furniture for an eclectic design gives you the freedom to embrace your likes and interests in your home's decor, and it opens up a world of possibilities for decorating.