About Ethnic-Eclectic Decor
Eclectic design is an excellent choice for those who prefer a more organic style of decorating. The guidelines for eclectic design allow for mixing items from different eras; use color, line and scale to unify these disparate objects to create unity.
Now add to this organic mix a touch of ethnicity. Bring in African prints, Hispanic statuary, Native American pottery or 1950s Americana to a mix of furnishings to create an ethnic-eclectic decorating scheme.
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Approach
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There are two approaches you could take to creating this style. The first approach is to limit the ethnic component to accessories. The second approach is to create a globalization scheme.
Your current furnishings, your budget and your personal taste all factor into your decision as to how to achieve this highly personalized style.
Accessories
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If your current furnishings are an eclectic mix of modern and traditional, but a neutral color palette pulls it together, make use of the existing scheme to add your ethnic element.
Choose an ethnic culture, such as African, and accessorize with all things African. Use African masks, prints, pottery and baskets throughout. If your original scheme included personal collections, incorporate a few pieces alongside the African pieces. -
Globalization
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In this approach, you can use objects and elements from around the globe. Create ethnic vignettes throughout by grouping together cultural objects. For example, your kitchen may be Italian while your living room is Spanish.
By allowing each culture its own space, you create a kind of travelogue throughout your home.
Victorian Origins
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The Victorians were well traveled and well read. The Victorian style of decorating included extensive displays of mementos from travels and sizeable book collections. The style also borrowed from the past and mixed those elements with contemporary fashions.
Though certainly not the first to mix it up a bit in their interior design, the Victorians brought the concept of collectibles as display to a new height. Their use of ethnic artifacts as decorative objects could be said to be the origin of modern-day ethnic-eclectic design.
Considerations
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The ethnic-eclectic design scheme, like eclectic décor, can be difficult to control. It can cross over from eclectic to clutter. One of the techniques for keeping the design on track is to establish unifying elements.
Color is one of the best ways to do this. Any element that goes into the room or rooms must relate to the color palette. Use line and scale as well to give the scheme cohesion.
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