Before we discuss style, first and foremost, a kitchen needs to be practical. Often the hub of a home, your kitchen must weather the storms of cooking, entertaining and whatever family life throws at it. But don’t despair…functional doesn’t have to mean boring! Meet the eclectic kitchen, one of the hottest trends for 2016. Say hello to a stylish, playful and one-of-a-kind style.

At the heart of eclectic décor are contrast, diversity and variety. Treat that as your mantra – but don’t go to excess. In fact, the hardest part of achieving an eclectic look is showing restraint. Here are some ideas to help you create the eclectic kitchen you crave, while maintaining harmony and cohesion:

Inject whimsy and personal touches. An eclectic kitchen should make you and your guests smile. Add art, collections and pieces that reflect who you are and what you love. Artifacts from travel are a great idea as is a dishware display in a beautiful colour, theme or motif.

Mix materials. This is essential to eclectic décor. Consider marble countertops with distressed wood cabinets or industrial metal chairs around a classic wooden table. Throughout the room, mix textures and finishes. TIP: Mix cabinets top and bottom – for example, white on top and black on bottom, or traditional wood grain on top with a sleek grey finish on bottom. Very on-trend right now.

Give a nod to past, present and future. Mix periods for a truly gorgeous effect – high tech with rustic, and traditional with industrial, for example. Victorian tufted chairs around a modern table would be stunning.

Brighten your palette. Kitchens are typically decorated in neutral colours. But when you choose eclectic, typical goes out the window. Integrate pops of colour into your kitchen in accessories and art, but also in unexpected places like breakfast nook chairs in a bright colour or half your cabinets painted in aqua.

Think way outside the box. There’s a little of the fun in eclectic. If you fall in love with a pick refrigerator, buy it. If you want a glam crystal chandelier over your eating area, go ahead. If you think a whole wall made of chalkboard would be fun, do it.

Consider cottage chic. Eclectic welcomes a little homespun charm. Features like harvest tables with bench seating, open shelves for display/storage and a skirt tail cover to replace under the sink doors are spectacular in juxtaposition to urban styling.

Don’t overlook lighting and ceilings. In an eclectic kitchen, lighting can be deliberately mismatched, unified by the same material or colour – for example, several clear glass pendants featuring traditional, retro and modern styling. And what about a ceiling with wallpaper or painted pale sky blue?

Always have an anchor. While diversity is your mantra, you need an anchor to prevent an eclectic space from looking messy. An eclectic kitchen must have a foundation that brings it together – ideas include a common accent colour, matching stainless steel appliances, or a reclaimed wood floor under all elements.

What makes eclectic décor so popular is that it throws out the rules and lets you express your style. But do remember that your space should look intentionally mismatched and beautifully random, never chaotic.

 

Tags: decor, design tips, trends