Eclectorian is the playful design trend giving Victorian homes new life

Homeowners and renters alike seem to be moving away from stark minimalism to interiors that speak to and for them personally. "People want interiors that tell a story and reflect the lives they've lived through meaningful collections, antiques, and pieces with history," says interior designer Meghan Jay. "Victorian architecture naturally lends itself to layering pattern, texture, and character, so maximalism feels like an authentic extension of the architecture rather than something forced." 

As millennials and Gen Zers attempt to buy homes, older places are appealing due to their anti-cookie-cutter vibes and fixer-upper-friendly price points, at least in some areas. But they're not looking to fully restore these spaces. They didn't necessarily grow up with their parents having Victorian antiques, so they lack some of the context to fill these spaces with period-accurate dark furniture and ornate accessories. That's what makes Eclectorian fresh and fun. Jay was ahead of the Eclectorian style curve in her own Victorian, specifically, a Shingle-style home, in Chicago. When designing, she researched the history and vowed to respect it while also adding contemporary touches, which is what this mix-and-match aesthetic is all about.

Across the country in recent years, thrifting has been gaining more and more popularity. So it's no surprise that Eclectorian style is a perfect vehicle for displaying these sentimental, storied items. "The catalog life where everything is matched and organized is appealing for a split second as a sales tool," says designer Celerie Kemble of Kemble Interiors. "But it doesn't feel real. It feels like, I would say, a purchased identity as opposed to an evolved or grown identity." 

On the other hand, filling a home with thoughtful items you sourced or somehow stumbled upon is part of the joy of Eclectorian design. Kemble says the following about quickly filling a home with brand-new items: "Maybe it solves a problem quickly, but it doesn't provide much nourishment or the tableau of anything that represents memory, personhood, gracious entertaining, or a life that you've been included in. There's no intimacy in that." 

Eclectorian style may mean putting a modern twist on a historic space, but it's not a complete erasure of those charming, original features. Instead, use them to your decorative advantage! 

"An Eclectorian home celebrates the beautiful details found in Victorian architecture - whether that's highlighting intricate moldings with contrasting paint colors or restoring original fireplaces and millwork," shares Jay. "At the same time, it embraces a thoughtful mix of eras."

Both Jay and Kemble believe in juxtaposing contemporary lighting against the historical backdrop of a Victorian. Kemble appreciates contemporary lighting because of the modern control they allow her. Contemporary doesn't mean recessed or canned lighting, though, but rather streamlined yet interesting, modern light fixtures. "I like to respect the moody way light moves around an old house," explains Kemble. "You can have one ceiling light, a few reading lamps, a few table lamps, and create moments. It's in the variety that things feel human and natural." 

This contrast doesn't stop at just lighting. You can apply this thinking to any furnishings in the home. "That blend of old and new creates interiors that feel layered, collected, and full of personality rather than being tied to a single moment in time," notes Jay. 

Pattern mixing is such an easy way to add visual, modern intrigue to a Victorian home. Jay admits that this style naturally lends itself to layering. Kemble agrees, adding that "mixing patterns was a sort of Victorian ideal because people were busy showing that they had access to many vendors and exotic things." Bonus: It doesn't have to be just on the walls, either. For example, pair striped chairs with a floral-covered wallpaper in the living room, or a chevron-print coffee table with a Moroccan-inspired rug. 

If you're stuck on how to start pattern-maxxing, Kemble says to focus on carrying "certain colors [she specifies three] through all the different textiles." She also suggests having a variety of scales; for example, don't include small flowers on the wallpaper and then have a floral couch that also has similarly sized flowers. 

Vibrant color palettes seem to be a theme in Eclectorian style homes. Kemble says you can lean into traditional bold Victorian colors (think: "absinthe rich green"), but limiting yourself to that scheme, at least to her, seems "like a silly restraint." Basically, the more, the merrier. As long as there's thought and continuity behind the color choices, Kemble says that "anything can be made to go together."

Jay herself has finessed the traditional Victorian palettes in her own projects. For example, inspired by the period's original color palette of ochre, burgundy, and forest green, she used that historic inspiration as a springboard to "interpret those hues in a lighter, brighter, and more modern way," she explains. The point here? Eclectorian is all about banishing beige and embracing more saturated hues and colorful pairings.

Mixing new and old - and high and low - pieces is a major tenet of Eclectorian style (and maximalism, generally). Having too many precious heirloom pieces veers into museum territory, so it's a good idea to have a few less  "serious" finds to add casual balance. 

For example, when referencing lighting selections, Kemble says that using only vintage lighting throughout the house "wouldn't work very well" and, to her personally, looks "fuddy-duddy." The Eclectorian sensibility is all about having fun. So pair the everyday with the special treasures.

One of the best things about Eclectorian style is that you can absolutely copy elements of it, whether you live in a Victorian or not! If you were inspired by what these designers had to say, consider giving this style a go in your interiors.