Discover how to style eclectic interiors with timeless charm! Learn how to mix vintage and thrifted finds, create unique focal points, and blend various styles effortlessly.
Creating an eclectic space is like telling a story—one filled with character, charm, and unexpected treasures.
Eclectic style is all about mixing different styles, layering textures, and curating pieces that make your home feel uniquely yours.
I’ve been busy thrifting these past few weeks, and I can’t wait to share some of my latest vintage finds—from a beautifully refinished dish rack to the perfect piece of yellowware.
Join me for another round of Thrifting with the Gals as we dive into how to style eclectic interiors with timeless charm!
Thrifting with the Gals
It’s the third Thursday of the month, and that means it’s time for Thrifting with the Gals. The time when the gals and I all get together to share our favorite monthly thrifted finds with you, along with a few tips and tricks in vintage home decorating.
We are excited to welcome our guest host, Laura of Decor To Adore, back with us this month. Today, Laura is sharing a A Lovely Dinner Party With Thrifted Finds!
Embracing Eclectic Interiors
If you’ve been following along, you might have noticed my style has evolved—what started as purely vintage and antique decorating has naturally grown into a love for eclectic interiors. And it turns out, I’m not alone! So many of you have taken my decor style quiz, and the overwhelming favorite? Eclectic decorating! It makes perfect sense—whether you love a mix of farmhouse, cottage, modern, coastal, alpine, or antique treasures, it all comes together under the eclectic umbrella.
I’d love to know—what’s your decor style? Drop a comment below and let’s chat! 💬✨
Eclectic Interiors
Eclectic decor is all about embracing the unexpected—mixing different eras, styles, and textures to create a home that feels uniquely yours.
It’s for those who love the charm of a vintage flea market find, the character of an antique statement piece, and the thrill of discovering something unexpected at a thrift store.
The beauty of eclectic interiors lies in the freedom to blend styles effortlessly—whether it’s a touch of cottage charm, a nod to farmhouse warmth, or even a splash of modern simplicity.
A well-styled eclectic home balances key elements like texture and pattern while playing with a color scheme that allows pops of color to shine in just the right places.
Whether it’s a bold rug, a stack of well-loved books, or a perfectly imperfect dish rack you refinished yourself, eclectic decor tells a story—one that is layered, collected, and completely personal.
Different Styles Eclectic Interiors
Blending different styles is what makes eclectic interiors so effortlessly charming—it’s all about mixing vintage decor, flea market finds, antiques, cottage charm, farmhouse warmth, and even modern or industrial touches to create a home that feels curated over time.
A gallery wall filled with collected art and flea market treasures is a great way to showcase your unique style, while statement pieces like an antique cabinet or a bold-patterned rug bring personality to a space.
Vibrant colors and bold patterns can add energy, but the key is to balance them with neutral tones or natural textures for a cohesive look that feels intentional rather than chaotic.
The result?
A home that feels layered, lived-in, and completely one-of-a-kind!
Pro Tip
You may also find inspiration in this Plant Decor in Living Room Book Nook post. All about creating cozy eclectic interiors in pockets of your home.
Thrifted Decor Design Approach
Some people follow trends, but I love following the thrill of the hunt—especially in winter in Maine, where the shops are quiet, the prices are low, and the vintage treasures are waiting to be discovered.
My thrifted decor design approach isn’t about filling a home with new pieces but rather curating a collection that tells a story, adds charm, and reflects my personal taste.
Thrifted Finds for Eclectic Interiors
A Hat and Delft Mugs
On my latest southern Maine thrifting adventure, I stumbled upon a beautiful brown vintage hat—a perfect match for the antique trader’s fur stretching board I repurposed into a hat rack—and a charming set of four Delft mugs that will bring a bit of coastal European flair to our Maine kitchen.
Interior designers talk about layering textures, colors, and styles, but I love layering meaning, blending the old with the new to create a living space that feels collected, not decorated.
It’s these small, unexpected finds that give a home its personal touch—and I can’t wait to share more of my Maine thrifted treasures with you!
Pro Tip
Learn more about the antique trader’s board turned hat rack in this Your Guide to a Rustic DIY Coat Rack with Antique Finds post.
Old Fashioned Picnic Basket
Thrifting is all about finding those decorative items that not only serve a purpose but also add a personal touch to everyday moments.
This old-fashioned picnic basket is the perfect example—an ideal companion for summer beach days and our antiquing RV road trips, yet styled in the snow with some vintage black Head skis and our 1968 VW Fastback; it captures that unique blend of nostalgia and adventure.
With my mother’s blue scarf tied to the handles, it’s a small but meaningful detail that makes the space feel even more personal and charming.
Kay Dee Linen Prints
There’s something so charming about bold colors in vintage art, and these Kay Dee linen prints of a red covered bridge and a snowy red barn instantly caught my eye.
Kay Dee Designs became popular in the mid-20th century for their beautifully printed linen textiles, often featuring scenic landscapes, charming rural settings, and classic Americana themes.
Printed on linen and framed in vintage wooden frames, these pieces will add the perfect accent to our Vermont home, where red is a common element—right down to our little red house!
Here are the Kay Dee linen prints in warm wooden frames, bringing the perfect pop of red to our guest bedroom’s new blue wallpaper, adding that cozy, collected charm to our Vermont home.
With a retro red alarm clock, a vintage lamp with a red shade, and a white bedside table handcrafted by my father, this space has all the warmth of a quaint Vermont country inn—exactly the vibe I love creating in our eclectic interiors.
Pro Tip
If you love decorating with bold colors, you may also enjoy this Red Decor Home Decorative Objects post on decorating with red—a perfect way to add personality to eclectic interiors!
Yellow Ware
Yellowware has recently stolen my heart, and my latest thrift haul proves it!
I finally found four blue-striped bowls in different sizes—just what I was hunting for—and they bring such a standout piece to my collection.
With its rich golden hue and soft use of color, yellowware is the perfect way to brighten up a space, even on a snowy ice storm of a day.
And let’s talk about this yellow pitcher with blue stripes—a lucky Vermont find that fits right in!
Walk with me through the second-hand shops of southern Maine:
Taking an eclectic interior approach to collecting means embracing the hunt, mixing old with new, and having the creative freedom to style your finds in a way that feels uniquely yours.
If you love vintage pottery as much as I do, don’t miss my full post on decorating with yellowware!
Pro Tip
Looking for the best second-hand shops from Maine to Vermont? Here are my favorites in this Vintage & Thrift Shopping Guide: Vermont to Maine’s Best Finds post.
Traders’ Fur Stretching Boards
Who knew antique traders’ stretching boards could be so versatile?
Mixing pieces from different periods is one of my favorite ways to create eclectic interiors, blending diverse elements that bring both function and character to a space.
I repurposed one into a coat and hat rack, while another found new life as a charcuterie board, incorporating natural elements with a touch of history.
Want to see more? Check out the full blog post for all the details!
L.L. Bean Boots & a Basket
Thrifting never disappoints, and this time, I scored the quintessential L.L. Bean Maine Boots—the perfect mix of function and charm for our eclectic interiors.
Paired with a vintage shoeshine box by the door or styled fireside, they bring that cozy, lived-in feel with a nod to diverse styles and cultural influences.
And let’s talk about this basket—tossed over a chair, hanging off the end of a bed, or even repurposed as a beach bag; it’s all about different textures and a well-traveled, collected-over-time look.
Eclectic Interiors Parisian Treasures
Since we last met for Thrifting with the Gals, our Parisian treasures have finally arrived—because good things (especially antiques!) are worth the wait.
From an antique bar cart that rolls effortlessly between indoors and out to a stack of colorful soup tureens perfect for layering in eclectic interiors, these finds are straight out of a vintage lover’s dream.
Come check them out—in this Antiquing in Paris & Flea Market Shopping with the Gals post, and trust me, you won’t want to miss this French-inspired haul!
Statement Pieces
Let’s not forget—eclectic interiors don’t stop at the front door! Styling your exterior with unique, unexpected finds plays a crucial role in creating a home that feels like an extension of you.
Cultural Influences
Take, for example, this red ski bob I found while antiquing in Paris, now leaning effortlessly against our split rail fence, framed by fresh snow and mountain views.
On a bluebird day, there’s nothing better than raising one of the funky MacKenzie-Childs mugs of hot cocoa to the peaks, soaking in the beauty of a space that reflects personal style in every detail.
And as the sun rises over the mountains, casting a golden glow on that same scene, it’s a reminder that the best statement pieces aren’t just decorative—they’re moments of personal expression woven into a home’s landscape.
Pro Tip
You may find more inspiration in another of our favorite blog series, Vintage Alpine Nordic Decor Home Interior Series.
Thrifting & Antiquing with an Eclectic Style
Last week, I got together with my friend Bernadette from B Home with Bernadette to do a little antiquing and thrifting in southern Vermont.
And did we have fun!
From a local favorite, Stone House Antique Center, to the ever-eclectic interiors of The Big Red Barn in Bellows Falls, Vermont.
Yellowware and Mugs
It was on this adventure that I discovered this yellowware pitcher with blue stripes and a set of Ralph Lauren’s Somerset Island floral mugs to add to our kitchen.
Dish Rack
At The Big Red Barn, I stumbled upon this vintage furniture gem—a large white farmhouse-style dish rack, tucked under a counter and waiting for a little love. For just $40, it was the perfect eclectic approach to adding both function and charm to a small space in our kitchen.
After a fresh coat of paint and some TLC, it now proudly displays my favorite blue and white dishes, proving that secondhand finds can bring timeless style to any home!
Cake Stands
To add even more charm and dimension, I styled the top of my newly refreshed dish rack with a trio of cake stands—an amber glass, a white, and a clear glass—each bringing its own unique touch.
Collecting cake or pie stands is a simple yet stylish way to add layers, height, and decorative details to a kitchen or dining room’s eclectic interior.
Whether displaying treats, stacking dishes, or simply acting as a beautiful focal point, they create a curated look that feels both functional and effortlessly collected over time.
In the world of interior design, the magic of eclectic interiors comes from the ability to blend pieces from different eras, places, and styles into a cohesive, collected-over-time feel.
Lining my refinished white dish rack with a curated mix of styles—from vintage Johnson Brothers tea and toast plates to Parisian antique finds and other blue and white collectibles—creates an eclectic blend that adds charm and personality.
This layered combination of delicate patterns and well-loved pieces brings depth and character to the overall look, turning a simple display into a story of treasured finds and timeless style.
Pro Tip
You may find more inspiration in this 12 Table Topics with Thrifted Tea and Toast Fanfare post.
Thank you for being part of this incredible thrifting and decorating journey with me—four years of Thrifting with the Gals wouldn’t be the same without you!
Most Common Questions About Eclectic Interiors
Is eclectic interior design a good idea for a home office?
Eclectic interior design is a great idea for a home office or craft room because it allows you to mix different styles, colors, and textures, creating a space that reflects your personality while staying functional. By layering vintage furniture, unique decor, and meaningful collections, you can design an inspiring workspace that feels both creative and inviting—perfect for productivity or artistic projects. (Check out my own eclectic home office/craft room here!)
What makes eclectic interior design sustainable?
Eclectic interior design is inherently sustainable because it embraces secondhand, vintage, and repurposed pieces, reducing waste and giving well-loved items a new life in a thoughtfully curated space.
How to create an eclectic interior design?
To create an eclectic interior design, focus on mixing vintage, thrifted, and antique finds with different styles, textures, and colors to curate a space that feels layered and personal—just like I’ve done throughout this blog post with my latest thrifted treasures!
What is global inspired eclectic interior design?
Global-inspired eclectic interior design is a style that blends cultural influences, textures, and decor from around the world, creating a space that feels collected and well-traveled. By incorporating artisan textiles, handcrafted furniture, vintage treasures, and traditional patterns from different regions, this style celebrates diversity while maintaining a layered and cohesive look that tells a story of adventure and personal taste.
Your Guide to an Eclectic Style~
If you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions, I’d love to hear from you. Please share in the comments below. And be sure to share this blog post link with your friends who are also vintage enthusiasts.
Do you have a flair for all things vintage, too? I would love to see and feature you in our Reader’s Showcase Series. A place for you to share and be recognized for your talents and passion for all things thrifting, vintage, and antique decor-related inspired by your time here with Dabbling & Decorating. Email me at annck@dabblinganddecorating.com
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Love the yelloware with the blue; such a pretty combo. I could be tempted to scoop that up if I found some. You’re going to love that plate rack; fun to switch up the dishes for the season. Great eclectic decor post!
Thanks so much Lora!
I’m so glad you got the dish rack! I love the new white paint. Your dishes really pop up there! Loved all your finds. Happy hunting! pinned
Thanks so much Cindy, I always enjoy when you stop by, thanks kindly!
What an absolutely wonderful post Ann chock full of decorating eye candy. Your new plate rack is such a fabulous find! I can’t wait to now read your post on yellowware. Thank you so much for hosting such a fabulous series.
Thank you so much Laura, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Ann you have an “old soul ”
So many of the treasures you collect are in my home & it just makes me smile !
You are a treasure…
Lol, I do Sharon! Thank you for your sweet note, I’m so glad you are enjoying the blog!
Your styling is just perfect, Ann! I love these ideas. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks so much Robyn, I love yours too!
Ann
Great post! I love all your recent finds and how you’ve styled them in your homes. Thrifting at its best. Have the best day!
Thanks so much Rachel, you too!