It's easy to get'eclectic'and'eccentric'confused in your mind.One paints you out as a well-travelled,cultural maven with an eye for a signature piece that just evokes history and secrets;the other is your mad aunt,the one that lives with all those cats and wears neon purple fleeces.
And distinguishing between'mentalist auntie'and'diversely cultural and refined'can be tricky when it comes to furnishing your home,especially if you have a whole raft of flea market finds and odd souvenirs from your previous travels and shopping trips.
Which is why Real Simple spoke to design pro Sabine Tucker,an interiors guru and queen of creating serene spaces to live in which reflect the warmth and personality of those whose home it is.
"If you're drawn to worn-in pieces but you don't want your room to look like a flea market,devote some space to a spare,modern display,"she tells the publication.
A grey painted feature wall with a grid-like array of monochrome framed art makes a neat,lo-fi contrast to any jumble of furniture and throws you might have masterfully scattered around your home.
Similarly,when it comes to colour,Ms Tucker advocates the use of neutral shades with spikes of aquamarine blues,heather greens or vivacious reds with the use of intricate pillows,throws and decorative objects,rather than more overwhelming colour blocks from rugs and sofas.
And collecting your most treasured belongings into'islands of beauty'-eye-catching clusters of belongings-makes a feature fit for the tops of cupboards,cabinets and hallways."It's a nice way to enter a room,"says Tucker.
Of course,you need some lighting to illuminate it all by,and while modern ceilings lights may not always be appropriate-they can steal the show a little-you can strike the right balance by installing flush ceiling lights for basic illumination,and a vintage feature lamp for a little chic support.
