If you love everything to be a little ‘extra’, there’s a decor style just for you – Maximalist! This style says that ‘more is more’, so you can go all out!

If bareness isn’t your cup of tea and you like your stuff where you can see it, you know that minimalism is not for you. Enter maximalism, a style that is as bold as bold can be, and doesn’t skimp on showing your true self!

Decor Styles 101: Maximalist

Minimalism is something we’ve been seeing for quite a while now, with lots of celebrities and influencers celebrating the austereness of this style, which is actually a living philosophy. However, as people started getting locked into their homes as the pandemic raged, they found that minimalism wasn’t working.

Don’t get me wrong – there are many people who have embraced the minimalist lifestyle and couldn’t be happier. But for those of us who need some more life in our homes, minimalism can seem too stark. We want our homes to reflect our lives, our stories. We want to be surrounded by the things we love. And that’s why we love maximalism!

Contrary to popular belief, maximalism isn’t about hoarding stuff or being a pack rat; it’s about celebrating your possessions and your space, and using everything to create a comfortable, cheery abode that feels like it is an extension of your personality. This style may seem similar to eclectic style or kitsch style, but this is more about mixing various styles to create a coherent style. Let’s understand this better by looking at what characterizes a maximalist style.

Characteristics of Maximalist Style

• The maximalist style features a bold use of colors, and no color is off limits
• There is a prominent mix of textures and patterns
• Furniture usually belongs to different styles and eras
• Personal artefacts make their presence felt in prominent positions
• Art is welcomed in various forms
• The entire look is held together by some kind of repetition

8 Ways to bring Maximalist Style to your Space

1. Focus on Layering

Maximalism may seem like you have a blank check to do anything you want, but you’ll soon realize that it gets overwhelming when you think that way. Instead, focus on layering. Start with the rug and wall paint. Move on to the furniture and furnishings. Then get in the drapes, art work and accessories. Start small in a section of your home before going all out.

2. Don’t Put Limits on Color

Maximalism is the perfect style for people who love their colors and enjoy spending time in a place that evokes a sense of joy and cheer. Choose any three colors and focus on them to keep some sense of balance. No colors are off limits for anything, and you can feel free to paint the walls or ceiling a dark shade, or go with brightly colored furniture.

3. Bring in lots of Art

Maximalism loves collections and groupings of items, like gallery walls and vignettes. Gallery walls are a great way to display all your favorite art works. Try to maintain a balanced look by placing the frames so that there is enough space between them and you aren’t congesting the wall. Mix and match frame materials and sizes for a truly fun look.

4. Ensure Comfort

Maximalist style is all about enjoying the space, so comfort is key. This is one of the reasons maximalism is popular – bringing a sense of Hygge or coziness requires a few things lying around, like soft throws, fluffy cushions and cushy rugs. Make sure everything ‘feels’ soft and comfortable and the overall look will automatically become warm and inviting.

5. Play with Patterns

When you’re including lots of colors, you’ll also have to think about how patterns fit in the space. Thankfully, in maximalism, you can feel free to mix and match patterns to your heart’s content! Florals, paisleys, animal prints and ethnic prints all coexist to create a wonderful atmosphere. Try to keep the colors continuous to prevent things looking too random.

6. Bring about Repetition

Since maximalism involves so many different things – colors, patterns, prints, textures and styles – it is essential to ensure there is some cohesion throughout the space. The easiest way to do this is through repetition. For instance you can repeat one color in furnishings, accessories, books etc. Or you can choose a particular motif and base everything around it.

7. Combine Decor Styles

Like minimalism, maximalism is more of a philosophy than a decor style, which means it can actually include any or a combination of decor styles. Bohemian, eclectic, farmhouse, desi and art deco are all styles which can embrace maximalism within their own unique identities and principles.

8. Display your Personality

This is the perfect style to show off your personality and display bits and pieces of your life. Travel souvenirs, medals, books all have a place in this style, but the trick is in styling them right. The best way is to create vignettes of odd numbered items, including books, plants and your favorite accessories.

As people spend more time indoors, they prefer having everything they need on hand, especially since they don’t have the option of going elsewhere for entertainment. Maximalism helps keep the chaos under control and actually make it beautiful. Maximalism doesn’t mean that you leave your home cluttered – quite the contrary! Clear up your space and style it purposefully, giving your precious possessions the spotlight they truly deserve!

This post is a part of the Blogchatter A2Z Blogging Challenge 2021.