Take it to the max
Forget restrained and bijou, says lesley taylor, it’s time to go big and go home as the interiors world embraces maximalism
Maximalism has been creeping back into the home for some time now.gone are the days when the height of interior design meant clearing out your clutter and painting your walls in calming neutrals. Instead, interior design is embracing all things colourful, patterned and bold! From wallpaper to accessories, flooring to frames, if you want to bring your home into 2019 it’s time to turn the old ‘less is more’ adage on its head. More is more and clutter is cool. Time to get shopping!
Start Small
Maximalism is all about clashing colours, bold patterns and more accessories than a second-hand interiors shop.
And embracing it can be daunting. Especially if your current décor echoes the minimalism school of design.
So start small. Invest in some new cushions in bright clashing colours and patterns. Cushions are a fabulously versatile accessory that won’t break the bank, meaning if you really don’t like the look, you can replace them relatively reasonably.
Once you’re confident with the feel of your clashing cushions, embrace more accessories such as rugs, lampshades and artwork and pop them in prominent positions around the home. And don’t feel tied to any particular theme. Maximalism is all about what you want, not what fits.
If you don’t like the idea of clashing colours, you can always choose accessories from the same palette. When combined with a pink-heavy feature wall and similar lampshade, a hot pink cushion will draw together all the different elements in your room. Just don’t be too matchy matchy – throw in some mixed metals to contrast the swathe of colour.
time pieces
Can’t decide between mid-century modern or antique furniture? Don’t sweat it. Maximalism is all about bringing together furnishings inspired by different time periods.
try it in the dining room by teaming a rustic shabby chic table with some Eames-inspired chairs. Be extra bold and opt for a seat in a bright colour instead of classic white or grey.
Add some antique candelabras, colourful crockery and cutlery, and voila, a perfectly maximised dining room.
For extra points, source a rug large enough to sit under your table and fill an entire wall – floor to ceiling – with a selection of framed and unframed prints and pictures. Keep the image sizes varied, bringing together everything from postcard-sized prints to full-on posters.
Shelve it Maximalism is a great way to express your personality; showing off the items that fill you completely with joy. A great way to do this is to invest in some quality shelving to ensure your prized possessions are firmly on show. Style your shelves as an artist would a blank canvas. Handpick your favourite pieces, from battered books and chipped vases to holiday souvenirs and candles. Play around with them – mix and match items of varying heights and fix photographs and prints to the walls around the shelves to frame your work. It’s a scheme that works well across all rooms in the home. From the hallway where chunky shelving can be used to hold
umbrellas, hats and school bags to the bathroom, where candles, apothecary jars and plants will complete the look. But if you really want to use it to full effect, the kitchen is perfect. Use open shelving to display your extensive collection of crockery, glassware and recipe books. This will give your kitchen a true on-trend industrial feel and will create a focal point out of the most everyday items.