13 Awesome Maximalist Decor Ideas and Resources

Maximalist Decor Ideas

Do you know what your design style is? Normally, we use terms like farmhouse, French, country, traditional or coastal. But there is also a Maximalism home decor style. The Minimalist design trends have been slowly waning as Maximalism is gaining in popularity. To learn more about this style, I found 13 awesome maximalist decor ideas and resources.

Are you familiar with the term Maximalism in home decor? Are you a Maximalist? Do you have a Maximalist home? Oh, dear, what to do! Do I want to be a Maximalist with a Maximalist style?

I’ve never worn a maxi dress in my life. Maxi is not my style. I like mini. Does that disqualify me?

To be honest, when I think of Maximalism decor ideas, I think of big furniture and lots of it. I think opulent and overdone. Is that right? I don’t know. 

Just like wanting to know my Enneagram number, I want to know if I’m a Maximalist. Am I in the Maximalism decor club or out?

What is Maximalist Decor in Home Decor?

I was dying to know the answers. As it turns out I was totally wrong about my assumptions. Here’s what I discovered:

  • Maximalism is a home decor style that celebrates boldness, richness, and personal expression.  OK, I like that.
  • It encourages us to embrace a wide range of vibrant colors, playful patterns, and eclectic accessories to create a space that is uniquely our own.  I really like those interior design styles.
  • Maximalism is all about embracing the “more is more” mentality. Sweet Shark would tell you that is me.
  • Maximalism creates a space that is both visually stimulating and deeply personal. I love personal, but I’m not sure stimulating decor is in my wheelhouse.
  • Maximalism style invites us to mix and match different patterns, textures, and colors in unexpected ways. I do love to mix and match, as long it’s pleasing, not jarring to the eye. I think I’m a Maximalist!

What words come to mind in the maximalism club?

  • unique
  • bold
  • freedom
  • vibrant
  • eclectic
  • bright
  • contrasts
  • versatile
  • personal

I also surmise that Maximalism isn’t about traditional vs. modern, farmhouse vs. classic or Scandinavian style vs. coastal vs. bohemian. I get the impression that any of these typical home decor styles could be maximalist. 

Let’s look at some great Maximalism decor ideas. These resources will help you understand maximalism and learn how to use it in your own home – if you are in the club.

One of the great things about maximalism is that it allows us to showcase our personalities and interests in our home decor.

Whether we’re collectors of vintage finds, fans of bold graphic prints, or simply drawn to bright colors and textures, Maximalism gives us the freedom to incorporate these elements into our design scheme. 

Definition of Maximalist Decor

I’ve always been drawn to bold and vibrant home decor, incorporating a wide range of colors, patterns, textures, and accessories into your space. It’s about creating a home that’s full of personality and that truly reflects your unique tastes and interests.

At its core, Maximalist decor is about breaking the rules and letting your creativity run wild. This style is all about mixing and matching different elements to create a look that’s eclectic and visually interesting.

It’s not about following a strict set of guidelines or sticking to a particular color scheme or design aesthetic.

One of the great things about Maximalism is that it’s incredibly versatile.

Whether you prefer a bohemian, vintage, or modern look, you can incorporate maximalist elements into your decor to create a space that’s uniquely your own.

Because there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to Maximalism, you can feel free to experiment and try out new things until you find a look that you love.

Welcome to 10 or More Fabulous Finds at Bluesky Browsing #93.

Think of Fabulous Finds as a home decor/DIY/Craft/recipe Readers’ Digest.

If you are new to Bluesky at Home, what fabulous finds do I share at Bluesky Browsing?

  • ideas to help you in your home decor efforts
  • fun holiday decoration ideas
  • ideas for better organization and efficiency
  • a yummy recipe or cocktail
  • fun DIY projects
  • the latest trends in home decor
  • a quirky new find or two

I do what I always do when faced with a decorating dilemma, I go to Pinterest. 

Are You a Maximalist or a Minimalist? – 13 Resources to Check Out

Overall, Maximalism is a fun and exciting way to decorate your home. It’s all about expressing yourself and creating a space that’s full of personality and charm.

So if you’re ready to embrace the bold and vibrant world of Maximalism, then let your imagination run wild and see where it takes you!

Let’s look at these articles about Maximalism and the variations in it. 

Focusing on finding new projects, resources, tips, new ideas, and inspiration for you is my main task. I’m constantly discovering fabulous finds to inspire us. My goal is to help you find ideas for your home decor, your crafting, your home organization, and anything about home.

Maximalism home decor with blue sofa and green hutch

Highlighting a Maximalist Expert

Emily Shwake on Buzzfeed featured the esthetic of Justina of Jungalow. Her sense of color and mix of elements will wow you. Definitely check out Justina’s style.

Maximalism living room

More is More in Maximalism

Velvet of Velvet Karatzas explains the mantra of Maximalism as “more is more” and shares examples of how to achieve this colorful and bold look.

Maximalist living room

Mistakes to Avoid in Maximalism

Raquel of Room Crush shares how to avoid 10 mistakes when adopting the Maximalist style. People can go too far if they don’t know these guidelines. For example, make sure your bright colors blend from room to room.

Maximalism bookshelf

Go Bold, Go Big in a Small Home

Michael of Michael Helwig Interiors shares tips for using Maximalism in small rooms. One thing he loves most about maximalism is that you can break “the rules” and mix different styles, eras, and influences.

Maximalism bedroom

6 Ways to Make Your Maximalist Room Feel Curated

Apartment Therapy shares advice on creating a curated and cohesive look with a Maximalist style. This article helps you avoid a cluttered look.

Maximalist living room

Maximalism vs. Minimalism – Which Style is Right for You?

Here is the resource that explains the difference between Maximalism and Minimalism. Rebecca of American Lifestyle Mag explains the differences in the styles. I found this article very helpful.

Maximalist living room

Maximalism Living Room Ideas

My Domaine focuses on using Maximalism in the living room space. Notice the large colorful art, the graphic rug, sculptured coffee table, and the combination of pillow colors and patterns.

maximalist bedroom

What is Maximalism?

Tina of Eclectic Twist is a devoted follower of Maximalism. She displays how to combine different furniture and accessories to achieve this style

Maximalism kitchen

Maximalist Kitchen Decor

DigsDig shares multiple ideas for incorporating Maximalism into a working kitchen. Here you can see rich teal cabinets, bright yellow walls, lots of greenery, and a pop of red in the pepper grinders. She makes use of sculptures as accessories.

cozy Maximalism living room

Cozy Maximalist Style

You may not think of this living room from Brittany of The Beauty Revival as Maximalism. With the neutral walls and furniture, it shouts farmhouse. But let her explain how this room falls into the Maximalist club. She calls it cozy Maximalism with lots of natural wood, quirky home decor accessories, and lots of texture.

maximalist bookshelf with curtains

9 Ideas for Using Maximalist Decor

Taylor of Flourishmentary explains ideas such as these eye-catching curtains in green velvet to add a touch of luxe. The packed bookshelves become a focal point along with the graphic rug.

Maximalism living room

Gallery of Maximalist Decor

Emilie of Studio Munroe shares a gallery of Maximalism decor ideas. No text, but just enjoy all the amazing images. You won’t doubt what home decor style they are.

Maximalist living room

Inspiration Interiors for Maximalism Style

Clare of Claire Heffer Designs shows off a rainbow of color, pattern, and unique spaces. Again, not a lot of text. Whether you are a fan of Maximalism or not, the images are stunning.

The Flip Side of Maximalist Decor

On the flip side of Maximalism is the Minimalist style, which has been popular for quite some time.  I was pretty sure I wasn’t a strict minimalist. I like pretty stuff and decorative accessories too much. I have items that just don’t give me joy, but also serve a practical purpose. 

After reading these blog posts about the Maximalism look, I realize that Maximalism and Minimalism have similarities and differences.

What are the Similarities?

  • Both use simple lines combined with light colors so that each room feels cohesive overall without feeling bland.
  • Both styles avoid clutter. It may appear at first that Maximalism is all about clutter, but it’s not about having a lot of stuff. It’s about being intentional with the decor pieces so they essentially tell a story in the room.
  • Both create a cohesive, harmonious look in a space. In Maximalist design, this is achieved through carefully selecting and arranging decorative elements. In Minimalism, it is achieved through the use of a limited color palette and a consistent design aesthetic.

What are the Differences?

  • Maximalism focuses on the entire room; in Minimalism, the focus is on individual elements.
  • Maximalism decor includes several cohesive items; in Minimalism, the decor is subtle with few items.
  • In Maximalism, the intention is boldness and drama; in Minimalism, the intention is calmness and serenity.
  • In Maximalism, the color palette is bold with distinct patterns; In Minimalism, the color palette is simple and natural.

So after reading these articles and evaluating my own home, am I a Maximalist?

On a scale of 1 – 10, with 1 being a member of the Marie Kondo cult and 10 being a confirmed Maximalist, I think I’m a 5. I’m in the middle.

My friend Cindy of County Road 407 calls this Middlism. I like that – a little bit of this and that. We’re somewhere in the middle. We like moderation without being boring.

I think it comes down to what is your comfort zone. Most of us can walk into any room and know instantly if we love and feel comfortable in it. I bet when you walk into a Maximalist’s home, you know it instantly. The same thing would be true in a Minimalist’s home.

I think for me, it’s about moderation. I’m not on the side of the Maxi or the Mini. I like beautiful spaces in a comfortable setting. I think at heart, I’m slightly a Minimalist with a little bit of Maximalist.

Could you blend Maximalist and Minimalist styles together? I think so.

Why am I in the Middle?

I think the most interesting spaces have a mix of both styles.

  • I love neutral colors as a background with bold pops of color, but not too many. I tend to limit my color choices to two or three in each room. 
  • I love mixing patterns but to an extent. My pattern choices tend to be classic – checks, gingham, Ikat, florals, and paisley. My patterns tend to be small to medium.
  • I love decorative accessories and art on the walls in different styles. We have both classic and modern art in our home. We bought this large piece of art before I knew it was Maximalism.
  • I love decorative vignettes with both new and old elements. 
  • I have to mix classic antiques, vintage items from thrift stores, and modern furniture.
  • My favorite colors are white and blue with a bit of pink and yellow. (Yes, that’s a ladder in the background. Not a decor item!)
  • I want my spaces to feel spacious and not crowded.

I hope my reflections on Maximalist decor help you identify your style. Do you have a better idea about Maximalist decor ideas? I think this is so helpful to avoid decorating mistakes that don’t match your inner style.

Be sure to PIN this post for future reference and inspiration.

PIn graphic for now for later

I’ll be browsing away between writing posts, listening to podcasts, reading, doing various blogging tasks, playing tennis, and walking Nola.

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6 Comments

  1. Irene Madrid says:

    Wish I could send photos of my MAXIMALIST newly remodeled/redecorated French Normandy home. I redid ALL rooms with new wallpaper with my fav pinks, teals and whites connecting everything, handcrafted teal mermaid tail backsplash that goes beautifully with my brown mottled granite and almond wrap around cabinets, ceramic pink/gold/ivory pulls, blush velvet stools/chairs , over sized floral teal sofa in the big kitchen, antiques mixed with traditional and modern furniture. It is so ME..romantic, elegant and whimsical. It ended up a version of French/English Cottage, Glam, Coastal and I get raves. I also entertain a lot more.I have little tickets tucked in corners of every room for the little children to find a la Where’s Waldo. Having so much fun. I like to change out pillows and bedding/quilts when the mood strikes, moving things around until it ” feels right “.

    1. Oh what fun! Sounds like you have been really busy. I wish you could share pictures, too. I would love to see your home. I’m sure it’s beautiful. What a great idea for entertaining kids. Thanks so much for sharing, Irene.

      P

  2. Debbie- Dabble says:

    Carol,
    I have been a Maximalist fr a very long time as I am a lover of the Victorian Era and styles and after all, it was the Victorians that originated the More is More philosophy as they used it as a way to show off their wealth…I am also a lover of color, no white walls in my house…Also a trend established by the Victorians who loved color….So who knew that the style I love and have kept in my own house would be trending again…What goes around always comes back around in style…I just needed to wait for it…Thanks so much for sharing!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

    1. Exactly! I’m usually trying to pare back, but after researching for this post, I find myself want to add back more. Thanks for your input.

  3. Cindy@CountyRoad407 says:

    Lots of great info here. Cheers to the Middlists! 😉

  4. Some of the maxi decor is quite pretty
    However, if I had to spend more than a few minutes in those rooms, my sanity would be gone. All internal springs would be sprung in my composure

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