French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard tells us that “[e]clecticism is the degree zero of contemporary general culture”. We live in a time and place where aesthetics, lifestyles, and cultures mix freely. In a sense, it is a carte blanche for creativity; or, if you like, a jigsaw puzzle in which all the pieces fit together, no matter how you arrange them.
Okay, I hear you, enough with the pretentiousness. But really, the days of worrying about everything being matchy matchy are well and truly behind us. That’s handy not only if being eclectic is your vibe anyway, but if you’re on a shoestring budget and need to decorate a space so it can feel like a home. But before you go berserk in the clearance sections and stock-to-go rooms, keep these four handy tips in mind.
1. REMEMBER YOUR COLOUR WHEEL
You do this for two reasons. Firstly, it stops your home from being completely on the grayscale, and therefore at risk of looking like one of those eerie sci-fi sets that can’t decide whether it’s utopic or dystopic. Secondly, it guides your colour choices. For an easy colour scheme, pick your favourite, homey colour: any colour that’s opposite (‘complementary’) or adjacent to it (‘analogous’) will work naturally with it. If you’re more the sort of person who quotes postmodern French philosophers and thinks a bit too long about set designs in science fiction movies, you could try something bolder like a triadic scheme (three colours spaced apart equally on the colour wheel), or even a split complement scheme (where you pick a colour and the two colours next to its complement).
2. PICK THE PRODUCTS THAT ADD THE MOST VALUE TO YOUR HOME
You don’t need to have read The Lord of the Rings to know that little things can go a long way. If you’re growing tired of a particular colour, or scheme, or a particular fabric, why change all of your furniture when you can just change some of the accents? There are almost always clearance cushions, prints, and other homewares in our stock-to-go rooms that, when paired with your existing furniture, will transform your living space.
3. LESS IS USUALLY BETTER
Having a home that errs towards the minimalist side leaves you with more in your wallet and more inviting spaces. Make every piece count. Give your stand-out pieces room to breathe. At the same time, make sure your pieces don’t feel naked. The happy middle ground depends on your sensibilities, ultimately, but you can usually be safe with pairing one larger piece with just a few homewares. Just a few…
4. AVOID LISTS LIKE THIS WHICH TRY TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO
Your home is your space. Furnish it in whatever way makes you happy.
