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Discover how modern maximalism blends personality, warmth, and intention to create expressive, lived-in spaces. Learn simple ways to incorporate bold colours, layered textures, and meaningful décor into your home.
Minimalism has long been a popular choice when it comes to home decor. Its peak came during the 2000s and 2010s, as more people embraced intentional living and environmental awareness. The idea of buying with purpose, choosing fewer, more meaningful items, began to resonate with people.
With the influence of shows like Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and the rise of lifestyle trends like the 'clean girl' aesthetic, minimalism became a go-to look for creating calm, uncluttered spaces.
And for good reason, decorating your home is a personal expression, and if minimalism speaks to you, it can absolutely create a beautiful, peaceful environment.
That said, over time, we’ve started to notice a certain sameness creeping in. As the minimalist trend grew, the decor that supported it became widely available, resulting in many homes featuring similar pieces and palettes.
Enter refined maximalism, a design approach that invites personality, richness, and individuality back into the space, without losing the intention behind what you choose to keep around you.
Maximalism has often had a bad reputation. In the 1980s and 90s, it was seen as a symbol of wealth—the more you had, the better. Dramatic design, bold choices, and rooms filled with things were considered the height of style at the time.
Because of this, many people today still associate maximalism with clutter and chaos. It can feel overwhelming or too busy, especially when compared to the clean simplicity of minimalism.
But now, maximalism is making a comeback, with a fresh perspective.
Today’s approach is more thoughtful and refined. People are turning to maximalism to bring personality and warmth back into their homes. While minimalism can be calm and elegant, it doesn’t always reflect the unique character of the person living there.
Modern maximalism isn’t about filling a space with random items. It’s about telling a story through design. It’s about choosing meaningful pieces, layering colours and textures, and creating a space that feels lived-in and personal.
It’s less about clutter and more about curation.
As with everything, a strong foundation is always the best way to begin and then to build upon it. A strong foundation can look like many things, but a solid choice is wall colour. Instead of sticking to beige and white, go for a bold colour that you like.
Laying décor is a great way to create dimension in a room without much effort. An easy way to layer décor is through lighting. Having lamps that create hotspots of light can draw the eye to where you want people to look.
Another easy way to layer décor is in details, think pillows on pillows, photo frames on shelves and rugs on rugs. Just keep in mind that you are cultivating a space, not overcrowding it.
One of the main reasons people are moving to a more maximalist look is to better highlight their personality and interests in their spaces. So be sure to do that, Vinyl collections, book shelves, travel souvenirs and art you like, display it for everyone to see and be proud of what you have.
If you are feeling brave, a staple of maximalism is to mess a bit with scale, having things that are comically large, like a lamp or a painting, as a focal point of the room. If done correctly, it can come off as unique and chic rather than tacky.
Vintage furniture brings character and soul to a home. Even a single piece, like a vintage mirror, can dramatically change the feel of a room and add a sense of history.
With the new wave of maximalism, it’s all about intention. A room doesn’t need to be loud or filled with items to feel expressive. Sometimes, a carefully chosen statement piece, paired with a few supporting details, is enough to make a space feel unique and personal.
Modern maximalism allows for quieter moments. It’s about thoughtful design that reflects your style, without overwhelming the space.
Modern maximalism offers a refreshing alternative to uniform, minimalist interiors by bringing individuality and warmth back into our homes. It encourages thoughtful design choices that reflect personal style without sacrificing intention or balance. Whether through bold colours, layered textures, or meaningful pieces, this approach helps create spaces that feel truly lived in. Embracing maximalism isn’t about having more; it’s about surrounding yourself with what matters most to you.
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