Eclecticism is a style in design or architecture based on a combination of dissimilar elements, on the play of contrasts and combining different directions. Eclecticism can be strange, unusual, shocking, but not tasteless - what distinguishes it from tastelessness and disorder is a delicate balance between the differences and similarities of the styles and elements used.
What is eclecticism?
Unlike other styles, eclecticism is difficult to describe, because it combines many different directions, combines incongruous things and brings together dissimilar ideas. There are no permanent features and specific rules for this style, this is precisely its main feature - to break the rules, independently set boundaries and create the principles of this style. Every eclectic image, every interior or architectural design is not alike, but they also have a few common features, based on which you can distinguish this style from ordinary chaos.
Designing in this style is not as easy as it seems: eclecticism is not a collection of random disparate objects randomly combined with each other. It is important to feel the line that separates the original mix of styles from the usual bad taste. The secret of eclecticism is to accentuate contrast, it is based on opposite things that have hidden connections with each other and are complemented by other elements. For example, in the interior, you can combine furniture of completely different directions and times, if it is made of the same material or has shades of the same color. It is very important to find the right balance between opposition and similarity in order to achieve the desired effect. Most designers work intuitively in this style.
Eclecticism is not always based on completely opposite trends; it often combines several similar styles with each other, while complementing bright and contrasting accents. For example, the interior mixes classic empire, baroque and rococo styles with unexpected motives of modern trends.
In some cases, eclectic design gave rise to a new style: this is how the Moroccan style emerged, based on French, Spanish, Moorish and Berber elements.
How to learn to work in eclectic style?
Eclecticism for a designer is one of the most difficult styles, since it does not have strict rules and does not have any certainty. To succeed in this direction, you need a well-developed intuition, delicate taste and a lot of experience, and sometimes an innate ability to combine the incongruous.
These abilities are clearly visible in the manner of dressing: some people have a talent for combining completely different things of different designers, textures, colors, styles.
If intuition does not help to work in the eclectic style, you can initially adhere to a few specific rules. Highlight the main elements that will become central to your design. For example, in the interior design of a living room, you start from a sofa corner with a round wooden coffee table. You can take the shape of the table as a basis and decorate the interior with a variety of details, united by this single element: an old round clock, an oval mirror, portraits in round frames. Experiment with color, texture, even smells - eclecticism loves to appeal to multiple senses. Dilute homogeneous materials or monochromatic objects with other textures or colors. But don't get carried away trying to eclectic every corner - for example, leaving a clean backdrop for these experiments is desirable. This applies to both clothing and interiors: many small, heterogeneous details on a person look worse than two or three original things on a simple and inconspicuous background, while indoors it is recommended to make the walls monochromatic, neutral in order to emphasize the variety of other elements.