I get it, minimalist design is popular, but sometimes a room just needs more personality!
If you’re ready to break some rules and create a space that’s bursting with color and character, then we need to talk about maximalism.
Colour palette: an all you can eat candy buffet
Okay, this is where the real fun starts!
Color is absolutely the heart of the maximalist adventure. It’s all about bold wall colors like lime greens and fuchsias.
You could even go with black! Mix those up with highlighter yellow sofas and little touches of bubblegum pink and peacock blues. The color palette you land on should feel extravagant, almost to the point where it’s a little startling.
If this feels a little too much for you to live with every day, a great way to start is with a common theme. Just pick one bright color and build your room around it.
I’ve found it’s often easiest to start with the most outrageous color or pattern in the room and then work your way backwards from there.
Furniture: Ms Haversham meets Coco Chanel
When it comes to maximalism, picking out furniture can be so much fun.
Try to avoid that ‘I just moved out and grabbed whatever I could find’ look and aim more for an ‘I have carefully chosen every single piece in this room to tell a story’ vibe.
If you can help it, none of your furniture pieces should match. So, if you’ve got a matching sofa set, my best advice is to break it up! Add in a funky reading chair and a sinful ottoman in a color that really pops.
Another fun design rule to break is combining furniture from different decades or style eras. Do you think 1920s art deco pieces won’t work with something from the 1950s? Think again! It totally works.
Ornate fixtures: Time to call the taxidermist
Once you’ve got your foundation of color, furniture, and patterns all set, it’s time to add those finishing touches that really scream lavishness and opulence.
Sparkling chandeliers, wall sconces, oversized vases, a ton of plants, animal heads, busts, floral art, and vintage-inspired items all make fantastic additions. You could even have one of each, if you want!
And to really set the style off, think about exposed wooden beams painted in a vibrant color, neon signs, feathers, fruit bowls, and bell jars. It’s all about that glitzy, showgirl glamour to the max!
Not totally ready to jump all the way in? You can start your maximalism journey with small steps, like adding a patterned art print to bring some depth and color into your space.
Clashing patterns and textures: It’s a zoo in here
This might go against everything you think is true about decorating, but it’s time to flip those ideas upside down. Layer your patterns with even more patterns.
Then, just when you think you have enough, add another clashing pattern on top! I know it’s wild, but it looks amazing.
Looks we love: Animal prints mixed with chevron and gold are a foundational clash in any maximalist’s design kit.
But just mixing patterns isn’t quite enough. It’s time to take it to the next level by throwing a bunch of different textures together.
The textures should be varied and a little untamed. Think velvet fur, rich woods, wool, rattan, and metal. Yes, all of them. And yes, all in the same room.
Your next mission is to bring in a mix of sharp angles, fluffy fabrics, and spiky plants.
Pop art vibes: neon your world
Maximalism is all about bright, vibrant colors and a pop art feeling. Just imagine it’s an eclectic sci-fi movie that has a surrealist twist.
Maximalism is absolutely a reaction. It’s an expression of your colorful inner world. But it’s definitely not missing any glamour or flamboyance.
Just like pop art is a response to mass culture, turning all that media overload into something beautiful, maximalism does the same thing.
This super chintzed-up and hyper-glitzy take on commercialism is a firm, but totally stunning, statement.
For anyone just dipping their toes into maximalism, a fantastic way to begin is with an eye-catching retro art print.
