How To Unleash Your Unique Décor Style With Expressive Eclecticism

Ready to break the mold in home decor? Enter Expressive Eclecticism—a bold design approach celebrating individuality through vibrant color pairings, layered textures, and a mix of styles. Behr Paint’s designer spokesperson, Amanda Aerin, shares her expert tips on how to use BEHR’s versatile palette to transform any space into a unique reflection of your personality. Dive in for creative DIY ideas that bring Expressive Eclecticism to life in your home! —Noa Nichol

What does Expressive Eclecticism mean to you, and how can it transform a space?

Expressive Eclecticism embodies different design styles coming together in harmony to create a room that feels elevated and lovingly curated. This combination of styles creates a cohesive feeling that adds richness and luxury to a room.

Can you share some of your favorite color combinations using BEHR Paints that exemplify this design trend?

The BEHR® Colour of the Year, Rumors (MQ1-15) in a flat finish, paired with BEHR Gardener’s Soil  (MQ2-54) are two of the hottest colours in design right now. These deep, rich shades paired with tarnished brass, bold art and warm woods create the perfect blend of moodiness and eclecticism that is a favorite look of mine in design today.

How do you suggest homeowners approach mixing different textures and patterns to achieve an eclectic look?

Mixing and matching patterns is easy with these 3 simple steps:

1. Choose a bold pattern (about 90% of the piece of art or fabric is patterned)

2. Choose a medium pattern (about 40% of the art or fabric is patterned)

3. Choose a textured element that is in one or two colours from the patterned pieces.

What are some common mistakes people make when trying to incorporate bold colors into their home, and how can they avoid them?

I don’t really feel there are mistakes when it comes to colours if you love it! Having said that, I do find most people are comfortable having areas where your eyes can rest. As an example, keep your hallway neutral if each of your rooms are colourful. That gives your eyes a chance to rest when walking from room to room.

Can you provide examples of DIY projects that can help someone get started with Expressive Eclecticism in their own home?

A fun DIY project would be to paint a dresser! Paint the frame of the dresser a bold colour, and then paint the drawers a secondary more neutral colour, add brass knobs, and you’re guaranteed a gorgeous expressive look!

How do you think incorporating personal artwork can enhance the overall eclectic aesthetic of a space?

Personalizing a room with art brings so much joy to a space. Painting your own art is the perfect way to use colours that you already have in the room to pull the entire space together. Plus, it’s one of a kind!

What advice would you give to someone who feels overwhelmed by the idea of mixing styles and colors in their home?

Practice is your best friend! Try removing décor accessories from the room entirely, then put them back into the space in a new location, plus try shopping for the rest of your home to find new ways of incorporating older items into a new space. It’s amazing what you can do by just re-purposing what you already own.

Personal question: your very fave (paint) colours to decorate with?

There are so many colours I love! But I do tend to often lean towards blue palettes such as Black Sapphire (PPU15-19), a mysterious deep blue-black that exudes power and reliability or Aerial View (S530-3), a soft sky blue that is both uplifting and evokes peaceful reflection.