By Shelby Deering | Photography by Stoffer Photography
There’s a design dilemma that I deal with daily and I’m sure a lot of surrounded by my many thrifted finds, always questing after treasures to add to my abode. I’ve been turning to this visually saturated way of doing things for a while that requires me to get creative with the space that I have and, as it turns out, it has a name, and it’s on trend — maximalism.
While minimalism has had its moment for the last few years, maximalism is now quickly gaining steam.
Instead of those sparsely decorated, all-white spaces, maximalism is just the opposite with “bold and saturated colors, lots of different types of patterns, flourishes on anything that can be flourished and a lot of oversized artwork covering the walls,” as Nancy Higgs, owner and lead designer of Insighed Designs, describes it.
Another way to put it? Maximalism “maximizes” your spaces with pretty much as much decor as you please.
Maximalism has sprung up in minimalism’s wake because people are craving cozy interiors that showcase collections and tell a story. But to avoid overpowering, chaotic spaces, there is a right way to go about it. First of all, you should start small. Higgs recommends leading with a powder room.
“Because it’s a small space, it’s naturally less of an investment in project materials,” she says. “It’s also a room that you don’t spend a lot of time in during each visit, so it’s a good test to see if the style feels comforting or overwhelming.”
Then there’s scale to consider. Chelsea Goeser, interior designer and showroom manager at Zander’s Interiors, says, “Playing with scale is crucial — for example, mixing small-scale prints (i.e., geometrics, dots, animal print) with a large-scale floral moves your eye around the room without getting hung up in awkward empty space.”
And what about your color palette? For this, Higgs recommends utilizing color drenching (when you use the same color on all the walls, trim and ceiling) as an entry point.
“Stick to rich jewel tones like navy, teal, burgundy and emerald,” she says. “When selecting your color, look at samples in the actual space and on a white background against the trim.”
Gallery walls tend to be a staple of maximalist spaces, but they can also quickly make a space look overly busy.
For a spot-on look, Higgs suggests oversized artwork, since fewer pieces will naturally feel calmer.
“Also, the subject and colors within the artwork can vary, but the frame finish should be consistent,” she advises. “Find yourself some quality gold-finish spray paint and turn thrifted frames into the gallery wall of your dreams.”
And while there are certain design guidelines that can streamline a maximalist room and make it look its best, at the end of the day, you just have to do whatever makes your heart happy. “Design should be fun and there are no true set ‘rules,’ so if it feels right, you should go for it,” Goeser concludes.
