6 Easy Ways to Give A Room An Eclectic Makeover

This week we welcome Guest Blogger and interiors queen Siobhan Lam of April and the Bear. She'll be sharing her DIY secrets for fixing up your home and how to embrace the sweetest hue of the season.  "I love the term eclectic. Anytime I’m asked about the style of my home, or my own sense of style, the only answer that seems in any way adequate is eclectic. According to the Internet, eclectic means deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources – to me that means surrounding yourself with things or ideas you love and, in the words of style-queen Ru Paul, ‘making it WERK’. From an interiors perspective, ‘eclectic’ is a thrown-together look, it’s a bohemian aesthetic that's very individual. Because of this, replicating it can seem tricky but it doesn’t have to be. If you want to create that relaxed, easygoing aesthetic in your home, here are a few simple steps to follow. 1. GET THEE TO A CHARITY SHOP Charity shops are Mecca for homewares junkies and crucial for creating this type of look. In the past, I’ve found gilded picture frames, retro cameras, a beautiful walnut cabinet and this beautiful brass chandelier, which I paid a FIVER for! My favourites include Oxfam on Francis Street and Age Action on Camden Street, Dublin. 2. PUT CURIOS UNDER BELL JARS Gather curios and or childhood memorabilia and place under different sized bell jars for a beautiful bohemian display. The addition of a bell jar elevates the object inside it somehow and adds meaning – also it keeps dust off your stuff. BONUS.   3. ADD AN ANIMAL SKULL Nothing adds more character to a room than an animal skull – there’s something refreshingly ‘cowboy’ yet chic about adorning your wall with one. And no, I’m not suggested you grab a shotgun and hi-tail it to Phoenix Park, there are plenty of replica skulls on the market these days – including this gorgeous bull skull.   4. TAKE TIME FOR TEXTURE Texture is crucial for creating a warm, inviting eclectic space. An easy way to introduce this is by adding sheepskin rugs and piles of tactile cushions to your seating area.   5. GREENERY IS GOOD For instant eclectic juju – just add plants. Succulents and cacti are great because they’re practically impossible to kill, gorgeous to look at and easy to source. Alternatively try to find lush plants with large leaves, for a big, green, bold statement.   6. AVOID UNIFORMITY Uniformity is the opposite of eclectic.  We’re channeling care-free and almost haphazard placement here, people! Symmetry and ‘matching sets’ are out – mish mash arrangements are in! Take this picture wall, the frames vary in size and colour but the overall tones make sense and the off-kilter arrangement ties it all together. Siobhan Lam is currently based in Portobello, Dublin - where she runs her unique homewares e-store April and the Bear with her husband Jamie and pooch Gizmo. Pop by for a visit at aprilandthebear.com or swing by her Facebook/Instragram or Twitter.