'Eclectic Traditions'. Styling a trend with IKEA.

This post is in partnership with IKEA.

They say that a change is as good as a holiday, so since 2020 has been devoid of leisurely adventure, a change it is. It doesn’t take much to convince me to revamp a room, so when IKEA got in touch and asked me to style up their Eclectic Traditions trend in our home, I took this as the perfect opportunity to have a little refresh of our bedroom.

Can you believe that it has been two years since I redecorated the bedroom for Revamp, Restyle, Reveal? Time flies when you’re renovating a whole house. Constantly. On a loop.

Whilst we wanted a change, we didn’t want to undertake a complete overhaul as we still love the key elements of the room. The bed and wardrobe were charity shop finds, bought because we loved them. The bedside table was made from an old table top that I found in the shed when we moved in… I decided to make a matching one for the other side, just for this project. See how I make jobs escalate?

These key pieces would form the perfect base for the Eclectic Traditions trend, which is based in nostalgia and embracing sustainability.

“Establishing an environment that combines secondhand elements with modern-day pieces, this trend is about appreciating the past for its heritage, all the while investing in quality products to create a home where memories are made and will last a lifetime.“

Eclectic Traditions is so DesignSixtyNine that it almost pains me to call it a trend. THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD ALL LIVE, FOREVER!

Styling the Trend

Whenever I shop for our home, I’m always on the lookout for classic pieces that will stand the test of time. Be it furnishings or accessories, it’s important to me to ‘invest’ in style, rather than into throwaway fads. As you’ll already know if you’re a blog follower, IKEA has long been a go-to for me for affordable design. Not only for the most agreeable price-tags but for the timeless style that IKEA products offer. If I’m buying something, I want to love it and have it forever. I’m weird like that.

With the keyword ‘classic’ in mind I chose a mix of vintage, traditional and contemporary products to bring my vision of Eclectic Traditions to life.

The main focal point of the room hasn’t changed; the gallery wall. Vintage finds and personal artworks have been displayed in both charity shop and IKEA frames. Check out the HOVSTA and LOMVIKEN frames for a slim, elegant way to display your artwork. Mixing up your frame style helps to keep the look informal and adds to the eclectic feel.

Whilst I wanted to embrace the eclectic style, I also felt that I needed to create some balance in the room. An easy way to do this is by pairing cushions on the bed. Here, I went for the oversized SANELA cushion cover in classic Olive velvet, with the striking Black and white striped SNOEFRID cushion to add pattern and contrast. Adding strong symmetry on the bed helps to balance the asymmetry of the gallery wall.

Introducing texture and pattern is key to nailing the look of the Eclectic Traditions trend. I’m not a massive fan of heavily clashing pattern personally, so opted for simple stripes and spots. The throw over the foot of the bed is in fact the DEKORERA tablecloth. A perfect solution if you want to add light layers and it’s the perfect size for the end of a king size bed. The pattern gives a contemporary twist to what would otherwise be a traditional bed styling.

Further texture has been added with these ANILINARE wicker storage boxes. Not only useful storage but beautiful display pieces in their own right. I love these so much. As they have been made by hand by skilled craftspeople, no two are exactly the same.

Texture has been carried over to the seating area of the bedroom, where our RADVIKEN armchair (from a previous IKEA collaboration) creates a super-comfy corner. The HEDDAMARIA cushion in natural stripe is a lovely contrast with the dark rattan and stops this corner looking too heavy. To light this dark corner, I couldn’t resist slipping in my DIY IKEA lamp. It looks great in here, even if I do say so myself. You can check out how I made it here.

On the subject of lighting, how amazing is this EVEDAL table lamp? The mix of grey glass, black marble and brushed brass detailing is the epitome of luxury… and the smooth movement of the dimmer lever is ridiculously pleasing. This kind of detail makes me so happy.

In contrast, the simplicity of the FADO table lamp, is equally pleasing. This is a piece that would look good anywhere, in any setting. I’ve styled it with the DEKORERA vase and FULLTALIG candle sticks.

3 Top Tips to Recreate the Eclectic Traditions Trend

Mix vintage and contemporary to create a balanced style that incorporates the traditions of the past with modern design. The new DEKORERA range has lots of gorgeous accessories to help you on your way. Traditional craftsmanship should sit alongside extravagant luxury.