Many of us have heard of minimalist décor, which adheres to strict rules such as using a limited color palette, reducing the number of decorative items in a room, maximizing floor space, and lightly scattering a space with sleek, simple pieces of furniture.
For those who like to have their personal belongings around them and cannot live without color and adornments in their midst, maximalism has come to the rescue, and here are four ways to embrace the style.
The Color Palette
The minimalist palette is limited to one or two colors or shades, such as white and grey. However, if you wish to create a maximalist aesthetic, you can use as many colors as you like, and the bolder, the better! Think bright, bold, and busy.
Clashing colors can create a vibrant statement. Use a color palette of intense jewel colors such as amethyst purple, emerald green, sapphire blue, and ruby red.
Don’t be afraid to paint your walls with dark, saturated colors, even if your rooms are small. Enclosed spaces that have become dark and moody can look great and enhance the look. The color of 2020/2021 is deep blue – it looks great when teamed with accents of gold, rose gold, or copper, and is a popular choice for kitchen cabinets and feature walls.
Plenty of Patterns
The rules are, there are no rules! Bold patterns are essential to achieving a maximalist look. When implementing this look, you do not have to limit yourself to a single design; layering many different patterns yields the best effect.
Look for luxurious fabrics decorated with floral, geometric, and animal patterns and use them to make cushions, curtains, sofa covers, lampshades, or tablecloths. Leopard print or jungle-themed prints look great with jewel tones and can serve as a base for your decorative look. Fabrics with green palm trees and ferns work well with pink hues like blush or rose gold.
Intricate and Interesting
The most appealing aspect of maximalist décor is that it champions the overuse of ornaments, art, and other visual adornments.
Walls can be covered with as many pieces of art as you like. Frame some of your favorite pictures using an assortment of frames in different colors, sizes, and materials. Accentuate your wall art with stylish picture lights placed above it. When illuminated on a dark night, such lights can create a beautiful ambiance.
Lifesize ceramic leopards beside your fireplace look great against jungle print or botanical wallpaper. If you are a keen traveler and have picked up souvenirs from all over the world, showcase them in a display cabinet that reaches from floor to ceiling. Browse charity shops, antique stores, flea markets, and websites selling second-hand goods for elaborate, even kitsch, decorative pieces. Make your home a feast for the eyes.
Maximalist style is all about expressing your personality through your décor. It is not a look that can be acquired overnight; rather, it is most effective when built up over the years and evolves as you collect pieces from travel, shopping, and inheritance. Each item in your home probably tells a story and has earned its place in your décor.
The Furniture
A mixture of old and new furniture can create the desired look, but avoid too much modern, sleekly lined furniture.
The maximalist style looks best with old, elaborate furniture, such as pieces with intricate carving or antique styling. The basic idea is to fill as much space as possible with things you love and not worry about items clashing—team a velvet Chesterfield sofa scattered with leopard-print cushions with an ethnic embroidered footstool. Mixing historical eras and cultures, like Victorian with African tribal prints, will look spot on.
Maximalist rooms should be comfortable and welcoming. People should enjoy being in their homes and feel comfortable relaxing and kicking off their shoes without worrying about tarnishing or damaging priceless pieces of furniture or art.
Make your living areas cozy by incorporating soft fabrics such as velvet and silk and embellishing with sheepskin rugs, mohair, and angora blanket throws. Consider hanging a colorful rug or tapestry on the wall to add texture, color, and visual interest.
Remember that although you can mix and match lots of styles, colors, and patterns, keep it tasteful. There is a fine line between maximalism and being just plain tacky.
