Eclectic Style 101

Eclectic style encompasses a variety of periods and styles and is brought together through the use of color, texture, shape and finish. Here's how it breaks down:

Colors: The palette can vary, but it's best to stick with a few neutrals to help tie all the elements together. In the red and gold room pictured, creams and browns are used to ground the palette so the great design isn't lost among the many hues.

Furniture: Lines, finishes and materials of the pieces in a room are tied together with paint, fabric or a more refined or roughed-up finish.

Fabrics: An eclectic look is partly defined by the multitude of fabrics, whether they be patterned, textured or both. Choose a color scheme and stick with a neutral as your grounding force, and add to it with colored and textured solids and patterns and trims, tassels or fringe.

Finishes: A combination of finishes and textures sets an eclectic look apart from the rest. The burnished bronze lamp bases contrast with a black-and-white box but tie in with the golden tones in the ceiling and wall behind.