Eccentric design elements can transform your abode from vanilla to exotic in no time. Choosing the right decor can be quite the challenge, though, especially when you consider the sheer amount of options available at any given moment.
Inspiration for your ideas can come from absolutely anywhere, whether it’s avant-garde examples of architecture or extravagant things in soccer players homes. That being said, there are a few general tips that can help to guide your design decisions. Here are five strategies you can use to make your home stand out from the crowd.
Draw from personal experience
The easiest way to make your house one-of-a-kind is to have it reflect your personality. After all, every individual is unique in their own way, and a little introspection goes a long way when it comes to what inspires the look you’re going for.
You can go a step further by using items you’ve accumulated over time around the house. These elements can be things you’ve made yourself, cherished gifts from others or simply random items that have caught your eye. The more personal your chosen items are, the less likely you are to see them anywhere else.
Picture frames, signed sports jerseys, and trophy cabinets are some of the simplest examples that come to mind. What you choose to use isn’t nearly as important as the connection you have to that object. It tells a personal story, and there’s nothing more eccentric than that.
Photo by Ashley West Edwards on Unsplash
Paint with bold colors
Walls don’t have to be blank canvases. They can tell a story all on their own and can even go as far as affecting your mood in subtle ways. Bright colors can be uplifting when you’re having a difficult day, while muted tones can be a great boon for someone who seeks a tranquil atmosphere.
Did you know that lighter shades make a room feel bigger? Or that darker colors appear warmer and more sophisticated? Color is an extremely important element of any design, and a white wall is a waste of space if you want to make your home as eccentric as possible.
However, because color can also affect your mood, you have to be careful of how bold you go. In general, you should avoid jarring palette combinations, choose wall texture carefully, and stick to colors that please the eye.
Choose uncommon furniture
Bespoke furniture adds a lot of personality to your home. The key is to find items that aren’t mass-produced, which means that you should avoid chain stores like the plague.
No matter what item is on the shelves, someone already has that product in their home.
The extravagance of your lampshades and lounge tables will depend on the level of eccentricity you want to convey. Do you want mirrors everywhere you look, a crazy couch and pillow combination, or a Victorian cabinet filled with stuffed animals? The only limit to what you can achieve is your imagination.
No matter how random your furniture appears, it needs to fit in with the rest of the room in some way. To be eccentric means you have to be comfortable in your own skin, and the same applies to your furniture. When in doubt, comfort is always the main priority.
Hunt for antiques
If you’re struggling to find unique items at the mall or in online stores, you can always go antique hunting. Antiques can be found in several places, such as thrift stores, garage sales, and auctions. You might have to do a little legwork to find good deals, but the effort is worth the end result.
You can even turn the exercise into a pastime. Many households treat antique shopping as a fun activity, going out on weekends to find remote sellers of uncommon items. Towns and settlements away from the hustle and bustle of major cities are your best bet, and journeying to these places is often an adventure in and of itself.
If you can’t find something you like, you can always make things by yourself. You don’t have to be a building contractor to paint a wall, and you don’t need carpentry knowledge to make a simple set of shelves.
Use the power of art
Artwork can spruce up any house. Use paintings, illustrations, and photographs to amplify your home’s eccentricity factor. It doesn’t have to be daring art or controversial subject matter either, it just has to be a reflection of your personality.
If you want to add a bit of extra variety, spice things up by selecting a different theme for every room. Crossing each threshold will feel like you’re entering a new world, and your home becomes an enticing mix of pleasing visuals and striking contrasts.
Get different flooring for each room, and you’ll have enough variety to last a lifetime. Your guests will appreciate all the effort that’s gone into making each room unique, and your home will feel as complex and multifaceted as you are. Combine all the other tips we’ve listed, and your home will be eccentric by every definition of the word.
