Four Design Schemes to Make Maximalism Work

Maximalism has seemingly taken over. Whereas, it seems just recently, minimalism was the leading light in the design world. What gives? What’s the point of tipping over to the other extreme? Names aside, maximalism is more than just turning up everything to ten. Like minimalism, it is a philosophy, best described as “more is more.” But both styles are more than just their extreme versions. They also find themselves expressed in more lightly applied or “guided by” versions. For the purposes of this article, we will avoid the overtly extravagant, purposely lavish designs. But we will embrace the funky. For your own purposes, use what works and apply the rest. After all, our feeling is that maximalism can mean something very personal. Instead of “more is more,” we will focus “more of you is more.” Curious now? We’ve outlined four design paradigms for bringing this style into your own home.

Textures

Give in the tactile. Add things to your space you want to touch. Think heavy woods complimented by soft lamb’s wool, or plush carpets with high piles contrasted by velvet upholstery.

Patterns

Create excitement with different patterns, sometimes even seemingly antagonistic to each other. Don’t worry about things clashing. Instead, find patterns that capture your imagination. Wallpaper can now be made removeable. Or try pillows, which are easy to replace.

Colors

Primary colors are obvious. Try out some really expressive hues. We are talking about purples, mauves, pinks, roses, aquas, turquoises, taupes, magentas – colors with an identity. Think this is chaos? Two tips. Reintroduce colors throughout your house to create a continuity. And also try black as a base. That includes black and white stripes or checkers. Yes, even a black wall can help.

Fascination (Yours)

This style is all about letting yourself love the things you love. And that means all the things. Instead of stripping away, pile it on. Think of your space is a place to experiment. Try out different things and see what works. Fill your home with objects that fascinate you. Let them circulate and interact. Nothing needs to be static. Life is dynamic. So is your space, your personality, and your desires.