9 Styling Tips for a Perfectly Eclectic Kitchen
Follow these simple tips and guidelines for an eclectic kitchen that's full of personality and uniqueness
If you love creating an eclectic look for your home, don’t forget about your kitchen. Eclectic decor encompasses a variety of styles, borrowing elements from different periods, and is brought together using a few key rules. However, true to the eclectic style, rules can be broken and are there merely as jumping-off points.
Kitchens are the heart of the home, and provide a great space for adding personality and a sense of uniqueness. Here are some inspiring spaces and tips to consider for your own place.
Kitchens are the heart of the home, and provide a great space for adding personality and a sense of uniqueness. Here are some inspiring spaces and tips to consider for your own place.
2. Combine styles
Different styles of cabinetry, joinery, shelves, benchtops and furniture can be included in your kitchen to give it an eclectic look. The trick to making it cohesive is to tie everything together with pops of the same colour, or similar paint finishes and stains.
Aged and roughed-up timber is a consistent feature in this kitchen, with the shelves, cupboard and benchtop adding similar rustic appeal. Shiny metal stools add contrast, while pastel blues, pinks and greens have been used throughout in paint finishes and accessories to inject personality.
Different styles of cabinetry, joinery, shelves, benchtops and furniture can be included in your kitchen to give it an eclectic look. The trick to making it cohesive is to tie everything together with pops of the same colour, or similar paint finishes and stains.
Aged and roughed-up timber is a consistent feature in this kitchen, with the shelves, cupboard and benchtop adding similar rustic appeal. Shiny metal stools add contrast, while pastel blues, pinks and greens have been used throughout in paint finishes and accessories to inject personality.
3. Define open-plan zones
If you have an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, ensure the kitchen reflects the rest of your eclectic-style home. Colour inspiration has been taken here from the large artwork above the sofa and included through the splashback tiles, finished off with a traditional-style cast iron pot in a vibrant hue.
A traditional oven and stove have been added in jet black to add contrast with the colour pops, and to include another style from a different period. If a more contemporary oven had been chosen, the kitchen would not have the same appeal or personality. It would look like every other kitchen.
If you have an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, ensure the kitchen reflects the rest of your eclectic-style home. Colour inspiration has been taken here from the large artwork above the sofa and included through the splashback tiles, finished off with a traditional-style cast iron pot in a vibrant hue.
A traditional oven and stove have been added in jet black to add contrast with the colour pops, and to include another style from a different period. If a more contemporary oven had been chosen, the kitchen would not have the same appeal or personality. It would look like every other kitchen.
If you are working with a smaller kitchen and dining area, use pendant lights to help define the dining space. Be sure to choose a style that works with the eclectic look and tie in the colours of the cabinets. Or if you can’t decide, choose a few different colour chairs.
Colourful and creative eat-in kitchens
Colourful and creative eat-in kitchens
4. Vary textures
For an eclectic-style kitchen include an array of textures throughout the fixtures, fittings and furniture. Wallpaper can be mixed with paint shades, and why not throw in timbers, metallics, plastic, glass and chrome – variety is key in an eclectic space. In this kitchen, an added (and unexpected) texture is the chalkboard wall, which is quirky and functional. Great if you have kids: they can be entertained while you’re cooking dinner.
For an eclectic-style kitchen include an array of textures throughout the fixtures, fittings and furniture. Wallpaper can be mixed with paint shades, and why not throw in timbers, metallics, plastic, glass and chrome – variety is key in an eclectic space. In this kitchen, an added (and unexpected) texture is the chalkboard wall, which is quirky and functional. Great if you have kids: they can be entertained while you’re cooking dinner.
5. Add quirk
Eclectic kitchens have a sense of humour. Even if you are on the more reserved spectrum of eclectic, be sure to include something that adds fun, like this giant tomato sitting on the refrigerator.
Browse more eclectic kitchens
Eclectic kitchens have a sense of humour. Even if you are on the more reserved spectrum of eclectic, be sure to include something that adds fun, like this giant tomato sitting on the refrigerator.
Browse more eclectic kitchens
6. Try feature tiles
The eclectic style lives for pattern and colour, and you can do this in your kitchen through the choice of tile. Choose a colour that you love, or that runs throughout the rest of your home, helping to create a common thread.
Stylist’s tip: If you are using a bold, colourful pattern on the tiles, opt for a neutral cupboard – either light or dark. By doing so, you are keeping the tiles as the focal point and also providing a place for the eye to rest. If you’re daring and a rule breaker, choose a colour from the tiles and have your cabinetry complement them.
The eclectic style lives for pattern and colour, and you can do this in your kitchen through the choice of tile. Choose a colour that you love, or that runs throughout the rest of your home, helping to create a common thread.
Stylist’s tip: If you are using a bold, colourful pattern on the tiles, opt for a neutral cupboard – either light or dark. By doing so, you are keeping the tiles as the focal point and also providing a place for the eye to rest. If you’re daring and a rule breaker, choose a colour from the tiles and have your cabinetry complement them.
Here, the feature tiles are used on the back wall of this galley kitchen. Dark cabinetry has been used to create quite a sophisticated eclectic look.
7. Include mementos
Eclectic interiors are more on the maximalist scale, loving more things than less, so don’t stop just because you’re in the kitchen. Use your shelves for displaying a mix of canisters and containers, Grandma’s plates and your favourite print.
To ensure order and a pleasing finished look, only display your absolute favourite things and pop the canisters that you use every day within arm’s reach. Is there a theme running with your mementos? Perhaps colour, shape, age or style can be grouped together to help tell your story.
Style a shelf like a stylist
Eclectic interiors are more on the maximalist scale, loving more things than less, so don’t stop just because you’re in the kitchen. Use your shelves for displaying a mix of canisters and containers, Grandma’s plates and your favourite print.
To ensure order and a pleasing finished look, only display your absolute favourite things and pop the canisters that you use every day within arm’s reach. Is there a theme running with your mementos? Perhaps colour, shape, age or style can be grouped together to help tell your story.
Style a shelf like a stylist
8. Combine old and new
In this kitchen, an old work bench has been reinvigorated with a minty shade of green paint, and a new marble slab on top to act as an island bench. A vintage framed print hangs above the timber bench and looks right at home next to the old brickwork fireplace. The new twist in this space is the contemporary-style cabinets and the modern subway tiles.
In this kitchen, an old work bench has been reinvigorated with a minty shade of green paint, and a new marble slab on top to act as an island bench. A vintage framed print hangs above the timber bench and looks right at home next to the old brickwork fireplace. The new twist in this space is the contemporary-style cabinets and the modern subway tiles.
9. Use the vertical space
To create a personalised look, add a few of your favourite prints to the walls. Plus, if you love to cook and experiment with flavours, include a retro spice rack or a cabinet containing all your favourite ingredients. A printer’s tray filled with mini spice bottles would also work well.
Eclectic kitchens help to bring out your own personality, and by adopting these tricks you can be assured you won’t see another one like yours.
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Do you have an eclectic kitchen? Share your photos and your top styling tips in the Comments.
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To create a personalised look, add a few of your favourite prints to the walls. Plus, if you love to cook and experiment with flavours, include a retro spice rack or a cabinet containing all your favourite ingredients. A printer’s tray filled with mini spice bottles would also work well.
Eclectic kitchens help to bring out your own personality, and by adopting these tricks you can be assured you won’t see another one like yours.
TELL US
Do you have an eclectic kitchen? Share your photos and your top styling tips in the Comments.
MORE
Read more decorating stories
Colour can help bring an eclectic scheme together when running with a unique look. Eclectic lovers believe rules are made for breaking, so blue and green must always be seen!
Colour has been used thoughtfully in this kitchen, with beautiful bold green contrasting the blue patterned wallpaper, and white cabinetry and a marble splashback to calm everything down.
Stylist’s tip: As a rule of thumb, try to stick to three to four colours at a time and play with the proportions of those colours to add interest.