Maximalism; Will this trend survive?

Maximalism is a term that most people have not heard of. In essence, it’s the direct opposite of minimalism. The general rule of thumb with maximalists is that “More is More”. Maximalism as an aesthetic began in the 1950 with the early Styles of design such as Victorian, Georgian and Gothic styles. Read more about the Victorian style from my 2017 blog: https://interiordesigncafe.blogspot.com/2017/08/understanding-styles-01-victorian_28.html

In this style, there is no limit. All elements of design are used together in extra potions. The style encourages boldness and excess. Maximalists are sometimes seen to be materialistic. In this design, the eye wonders throughout the space. There is so much of everything. A bold mix of patterns, textures, colours and scale is observed. This style by far is loved by collectors.

A well-coordinated maximalist style is not easy to put together. Elements may conflict and look tacky; too much colour may become unappealing. For a space to look well put together, a base template needs to be put in place. For example, a colour palette can be generated to guide the general look and feel. Different elements with similar colours and textures may look better than those with different colours. 

Several ways one can achieve a well styled maximalist space is by;

1.      Layering: This is the art of arranging things in different layers e.g. scatter cushions, rugs etc. 

2.       Repetitive Patterns in prints such as florals, abstract and animal prints 

3.       Rich bold colours 

4.       Unique statement pieces

5.       Mixing and matching of textures and colours

6.       Multiples of items such as books, statues, artworks etc

7.       Blending of styles e.g. Mixing farmhouse style with Victorian

 a.       Entry porch

The entry porch is the first area of contact and visibility when getting into a home. In a lot of homes, this area is set up as an easy sitting area so that guests who are just passing by can rest for a few minutes. It’s an area of entertainment and therefore, it needs to be well designed. As in the picture above, different styles of furniture can be put together to bring character. Multiple colours and prints can be used in scatter cushions to bring the pop of colour. Multiple plants placed on the table, floor or hang on the wall also bring the garden feel.

b.      Entry hall

The entry hall is the area immediately after the entry way. Most entry halls are corridors because in modern day design, the entry way is uses to connect to the other parts of the house. The corridors give good wall space for displays. A lot of people use these walls as a photo gallery for the family and a sort of a memoir. Other times, one can use these walls as a collectors display area. One can mount art, pictures, mirrors or any other collectibles that can be mounted on the wall. This creates a point of interest as you transit from the entry to the rest of the house.

 c.       Bedroom

 

Bedrooms are those spaces in the house that are personal and can be personalized. The idea of excess can be implemented in patterns and not necessarily in quantities of things. A bedroom is a place of rest and therefore too much can take away this comfort. Excess can become clutter both physical and visual. For a maximalist’s bedroom to look and feel well designed, one can select a colour scheme and work within 4 colours to avoid conflict. Out of the four colours, one colour should be bold, one colour neutral and the rest subtle. Use of white as the accompanying neutral colour makes the bold colour pop while use of black tones it down.

 d.      Sunroom

 

Sunrooms are not a common type of space here in Africa and within the tropics. This room ideally was created for homes located in the northern and southern hemisphere that receive little amounts of sunlight and with adverse weather. The sunroom therefore allows the sun rays to come through while sealing off wind, rain or humidity. This area is characterised by large panes of glass and therefore, very visible from the outside. Plants and a play of colour can make this place not only comfortably but also aesthetic. Like in the case above, one can use bright and bold colours to bring character. By reducing the number of colours, one can have many items within this space without making it feel overly cluttered or too off the top.

 e.      Living room

A major characteristic in the Victorian and Georgian styles of design is use of one colour in different tonal variations and different patterns. This inspired fabric manufacturers to always produce new designs of fabric in six or eight variations. While layering, one not only uses multiples of the same item but also a variety of patterns on these items. Maximalists use bold patterns. Plain fabrics do not appear a lot of times in their spaces unless the plain fabric has a bold colour.

Inspiration pour le Journee

As Featured in the September 2020 Issue of House & Home Magazine, More is more! Designer Cynthia Ferguson takes us inside her 1930s bijou Toronto home saturated with color, pattern and artwork. She shares the dos and don'ts of maximalist design. Watch more of this in the video below.