Forget Kim and Kanye’s barren mansion and the notion of ‘less is more’. A welcome antidote to the clean lines, white walls, and ‘sad beige’ often espoused by advocates of minimalism, the maximalist design trend embraces saturated colours, contrasting textures, and unique patterns. While maximalist design often employs a more is more approach to decor, it doesn’t entail stuffing your home to the brim. When done well, maximalist design is intentional and even curated. In fact, the design trend can even coexist in harmony with the Marie Kondo method, which is often employed by essentialists. Ideally, all knick-knacks, objects of art, and decor will indeed spark joy.
In the words of iconic wallpaper designer William Morris: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
With that in mind, here’s how to create a maximalist home that sparks joy.
Ebonex Australia by Tom Mark Henry | Photography by Damian Bennett
Tie it together
While the maximalist decor trend can encompass a wide range of interior design styles – from grandmillennial to Memphis Milano – tying your space together with an overarching link can aid in fostering cohesion and make your home look intentional rather than thrown together. Connect the elements in a space by selecting a base colour that appears throughout; perhaps cool blues and greens or warm tones of red and orange.
Balaclava Residence by AV-ID | Photography by Peter Marko
Embrace patterns and prints
One of the easiest ways to bring the maximalist interior design trend into your home without having to invest in a horde of new furniture and decorative objects is patterned wallpaper. Undeniably the quiet way to add visual interest to a room, a bold wallpaper makes a statement without trying too hard. Geometric patterns work well in contemporary homes while botanical designs and abstract prints suit more traditionally styled homes.
Crane in the Sky by YSG | Photography by Prue Roscoe
Don’t forget the fifth wall
When injecting a welcome dose of pattern and colour into your space, don’t neglect the ceiling. Consider papering your ceiling in matching wallpaper or painting it a complementary colour – this will add an extra ‘wow’ factor to your space.
Fitzroy House III by Kate Challis Interiors | Photography by Sharyn Cairns
Lay down a rug
Beneath every well-designed maximalist room lies a bold rug. Rugs with saturated hues, unexpected shapes, and loud patterns are a foolproof way to inject fun (and function) into your space. For high-traffic areas, select a rug crafted from a hardwearing fabric such as cotton, sisal, jute, or wool.
Dawes Point House by Greg Natale | Photography by Anson Smart
Exercise restraint
We know; we just said more is more. However, even excess requires restraint to work. When selecting colours to use in your space, stick to two to three main foundational tones for your walls, rugs, ceiling, and furniture, and use decor and art to add additional pops of colour.
Northbridge House by No Chintz | Photography by Prue Ruscoe
Ivanhoe Residence by Full of Grace Interiors | Photography by Fiona Storey
Use clutter to your advantage
From vintage vases to leatherbound books, trinkets and tokens abound are welcome in a maximalist space. To make them look curated and intentional, group similar pieces together. Try arranging a few hardback books on a coffee table or clustering candlesticks together on the mantlepiece.
Mirror Image by Smac Studio | Photography by Anson Smart
Create a gallery wall
Show off your artistic eye while making a maximalist statement with a gallery wall. Filling up a single wall with complementary and contrasting artwork adds visual interest to a space and turns your wall into a synergistic work of art in itself. Start by hanging larger pieces before scattering smaller-scale artwork around them until the wall is (almost) covered.
La Casa Rosa by Arent&Pyke | Photography by Prue Ruscoe
Incorporate metallic accents
Add a touch of opulence to a maximalist space by incorporating metallic accents. Cool tones such as silver and steel lean into the slick, moody, almost industrial modern aesthetic, while warm hues such as gold, rose gold, brass, and bronze set a distinctly glamorous tone. Incorporate metallics through tapware and hardware, lighting fixtures, and even furniture.
