Mix Old with New for Distinction

Eclectic furnishings continue to abound throughout the home furnishings industry. Regardless of your own personal decorating style, you can rest assured that it is possible to confidently mix and match old and new furnishings and accent pieces fashionably throughout your home. There are, however, some tips to keep in mind in order to most easily accomplish a successfully cohesive eclectic look.

Color & Pattern

One way to unify old and new furnishings is through the use of color and pattern. Select a color scheme consisting of three or four core colors, and coordinate furnishings accordingly. For example, consider an upholstered furnishing ensemble that consists of earth tone colorations such as rust, burgundy, brown, and creme. You could try mixing a traditionally styled sofa in a pinstripe pattern with a casual, overstuffed country styled club chair that features a petite floral print. If the color schemes blend together in a pleasing manner, the seating selections will compliment each other.

An even simpler option that exemplifies the same concept would be mixing old with new through the use of a monochromatic color scheme. By utilizing various tones in the "champagne" color family, one can coordinate a formal styled chaise in an almond color, in the same grouping as a sandy brown southwestern styled loveseat.

Fabrication

Another way to bring compatibility to old and new furnishings is through the use of fabrication. For example, in a rustic styled home there is usually a large presence of natural, wooden furnishings. Do not hesitate to place an antique wooden bench next to a mission styled wooden coffee table, specifically when the wood displays a coordinating color stain. Dark stained woods such as cherry or mahogany work well together, whereas lighter colored woods such as pine and maple are more suitable sharing the same space.

Themes

Rooms featuring specific themes such as Asian influences or African animal prints can be tied together by decorative wall art and accent pieces. In these instances, as long as there has been careful consideration paid to a balanced theme, furnishings take a "back seat" and the distinct theme becomes the focal point in the designated space. It is advisable to utilize a complimentary color scheme, which is most often determined by the theme. For example, jungle prints are often composed of black and white and highlighted with bright amber. One option is to mix animal inspired wall art that has been collected from a homeowners travels - mix a few bold upholstered animal furnishings. Antiques blend well with this theme, and wrought iron hard goods would compliment the black from your color scheme.

Benefits of Eclectic Decorating

One of the practical aspects achieved by furnishing a home in an eclectic manner is that there are no requirements to purchase costly "sets" at the same time. Instead, decorating becomes a constant evolving process and suitable pieces are added to the decor as they are located. As you are also not confined to one "style" you also have the ability to let your imagination soar and thoroughly utilize your creative decorating talents.

When they are well thought out, eclectic spaces are never boring. Consider adding intrigue to your home. Start with a small section of a room or space. If you feel comfortable decorating with eclectic styling and are satisfied with the results of your first project, consider adding more eclectic styling throughout your home. And don't forget the exterior living spaces. Eclectic styling can be stunning in a front courtyard or patio.

Gail McCauley is a successful, budget-conscious decorator.
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