You create an eclectic look when you borrow from wide range of styles. You make it soulful when it says something about you, what you love, and what makes you really feel at home.

By definition, an eclectic décor doesn’t follow any particular style rules. That means it’s relaxed and fairly casual and it’s as individual as you are.

Just as the eyes are the windows to the soul, your style choice can be, too. A soulful eclectic style says a lot about you. It’s a way of expressing your personality in the places you love to live.

What will the finished look say? Will your choices include vibrant colours and patterns? Do you like to emphasise certain accents or patterns? Or echoes of a favourite cultural motif? The beauty of eclecticism (yes, it’s a thing) is that the choice is all yours.

‘Eclectic’ is about borrowing

That means, if you like a particular style or theme, you can borrow the best and forget the rest. Take ideas and inspiration from whatever and from wherever you like.

Do you simply adore that provincial piece? Do you want to add African tribal artifacts, as a reminder of a fabulous adventure? Is your centrepiece an exquisite example of bone inlay because you appreciate its fine tradition and craftsmanship?

Maybe you love nature and you’d like to include plant or animal motifs in your décor or wall art. Or perhaps just a hint of the coastal vibe. What about a decorator piece with whispers of Moroccan mystique?

The appeal of ‘eclectic’ is that your whole home can be designed with ‘the theme you have when you don’t have a specific theme’. That’s why it should reflect your personality and how you live. The ‘trend of the season’ you’ll find in home décor magazines isn’t for you if you want the soulful eclectic look.

Think about colour

The tone is often set by the strength of the colours you choose. Stark two-colour contrasts or strict monochromes would suggest a more severe or minimalist style, which isn’t really what the eclectic look is all about. It’s probably better to start with a fairly neutral base and one accent shade; that way, your various décor choices will have a chance to shine without being overwhelmed by competing colours, and any statement piece in a stronger colour will also feel more at home.

You’ll achieve a more soulful atmosphere with colour that doesn’t assault the senses. Your home is your personal space. You might want restful colours in some rooms, energising and affirming colours in others. Choose colours and tones that work for you.

Play with textures

As with colour, you’ll choose textures that will make you feel ‘at home’. If you like natural fibres, as most of us do, then you can mix and match them to your heart’s (or soul’s) content. For a cooler look, cotton, linen, cane and rattan might take centre stage. Then choose wool, jute, leather and furs (faux, if you prefer) to complement them when you want to add warmth for your body and soul.

The eclectic look might change with the seasons. It certainly makes it easier to move items around and shift the focus, to take advantages of spaces you use differently at different times of the year.

‘Eclectic’ isn’t an excuse for ‘messy’

You might hear people’s response to a chaotic jumble as ‘Oh... an eclectic mix’. They’re just being tactful. A haphazard mess is still just a mess.

An eclectic style is mix ’n’ match (or even mix ’n’ mismatch) but it’s always done with thought and care. If you love to have the trappings of your life all around you, a simple decision turns ‘mess’ into an eclectic style choice. Instead of scattering them around, group your books, your travel souvenirs, your hat or your teddy bear collection and display them in an unusual but purposeful way. It says, ‘I chose to do this, deliberately’.

The eclectic look is about you. It speaks to, and from, your soul. Above all it says, ‘This is where I live, and how I live, and it’s about what’s right for me’.