An eclectic style is full of the unexpected, with hints of at least two of the other main styles included. This living room combines a vibrant color print by Wassily Kandinsky with a more traditional area rug and a country-inspired wood stove.

An eclectic decorating style is easiest to define by what it is not. Eclectic style doesn't rigidly adhere to any one major style. It is characterized by a freedom of expression and a vibrant individuality. If you were the kind of child who deliberately colored outside the lines, this is the style for you.

Eclectic style is also great for those individuals who love too much. For example, if you love the richness of Asian and the serenity of contemporary, you may find these two styles combine in a unique way in your personal eclectic decorating style.

However, eclectic decorating is not a jumble of whatever catches your eye. It only works when the basic principles of design are understood and work together to create a unified design. These five principles are: line, color, texture, mass and form. Think of your eclectic room as a work of art composed of these five basic elements and your unique decorating style will be spectacular.