SOURCE: Casa Vilora Interiors
You may be familiar with the expression “less is more” but not everyone’s on board with that sentiment. What if you love maximalism and want to embrace a “more is more” design aesthetic? If you rely on social media to become informed of trends it’s even more confusing because on any day you can find posts that contradict each other. And then there’s those who aren’t even sure what it means to be a minimalist or a maximalist and that’s where I’m stepping in. I want to break down what the design aesthetic of each is so that you’re designing in a way that suits your lifestyle and not the trends of today.
What Is Minimalist Design?
SOURCE: Sissy + Marley Interior Design
One of the overlooked aspects of minimalism is that it encompasses more than just interior design. Minimalism is a movement that dates back to the 50’s and refers specifically to art and not interiors. Today, the minimalist movement embraces the concept of having only that which brings you joy. This can include your home, your wardrobe, your technology and generally the way you inhabit your life. Similar to Marie Kondo’s decluttering approach, minimalists want to be unfettered by things. It’s about the clarity of mind that comes from an uncluttered and simple life. (cleaner, more organized life)
So if you look at a space and think it looks cold and impersonal you might actually be seeing a peaceful retreat that allows for a calm mind. But what are the characteristics of a minimalist home?
- Clean lines
- Neutral colour palette
- Heavy use of texture
- Restrained use of decor and objects that are intentional and specific
- Relies heavily on natural lighting
Popular Examples of Minimalist Design
SOURCE: My Decor Inspo
From Europe to Asia we see examples of countries that embrace minimalist design in both interiors and fashion.
Both Japan and South Korea are respected for their inspiring interiors that are minimalist. Their design is often derived from the practicality of living in smaller spaces than we’re accustomed to in North America. They rely heavily on integrating natural materials into their spaces and favour pieces that combine functionality and style.
Most of us are familiar with the concept of Hygge which originates in Denmark and relies on minimalism (read more about it here). Aside from our Scandinavian friends we also see most of Europe embrace minimalism and nobody does it better than in Italy. They’ve long been known for their minimalist furniture design and interiors. And if that’s not enough, Australia has long been applauded for its minimalist interior design.
What Is Maximalist Design?
SOURCE: Desiree Burns Interiors
It seems like anyone with a messy home might embrace the term maximalist as a way to defer from their cluttered space but there’s much more to it. We often associate it with chaos and messiness but it’s more refined and thoughtful than disorganized.
Maximalism is actually a reflection of the desire to be surrounded by joy and delight. I think there’s a strong pull to sentimental pieces that remind us of a place or time or person that brings joy to the space. The pieces stuffed into the home of a maximalist reflect the trips they’ve taken, the family heirlooms and the pieces that have been carefully collected over time to reflect their love of person, place and time. These are the characteristics of a maximalist home:
- Heavy use of colour and pattern
- Display of curated collections
- Bold and daring
- Reflects the life of the homeowner versus following trends
- Balanced layering
Popular Examples of Maximalist Design
SOURCE: Kelly Wearstler
There are a lot of countries around the world that embrace maximalism including Morocco, China, and India but we have plenty of examples of it right here in North America. Designers like Kelly Wearstler and Martyn Lawrence Bullard have popularized the style and created a huge fan base for the style.
Maximalist style is being embraced in hotels and restaurants as well as a way for business owners to stand out and flex their unique design perspective. The image above is the Peacock Bar inside the Proper Hotel in Austin designed by Kelly Wearstler and people travel from across the world to partake in the design.
SOURCE: left – Pinterest, right – KES Studio
Do you want a space that fills you with joy? Or maybe you want to escape from the outside world into a sanctuary of peace and tranquility. Colour plays an important role in our homes and how you react to it is an important part in figuring out what you love.
FURNITURE STYLE
SOURCE: left – Pinterest, right – KES Studio
Do you want a space that fills you with joy? Or maybe you want to escape from the outside world into a sanctuary of peace and tranquility. Colour plays an important role in our homes and how you react to it is an important part in figuring out what you love.
FURNITURE STYLE
SOURCE: left – Cynthia Ferguson Designs, right – Urbanology Designs
Minimalism relies on shape more than maximalism. There’s a lot of reliance on natural materials but more importantly we tend to see a lot of sculptural pieces that stand out without a lot of fuss. They also tend to be built in the mid-century tradition of constructing simple pieces that fit the body’s form so they tend to be much more comfortable than they appear.
Maximalism doesn’t lean towards any particular shape or style because it’s a curated look of beloved pieces. There are no rules about what works because anything you love will work.
PATTERN
SOURCE: left – Ali Budd Interiors, right – Ripples
If you’re really drawn to patterns and love to see several patterns layered in the same space you may already know you’re a maximalist. The bathroom on the left is a perfect example of how even in a tiny space it can look bold and exciting to pair three patterns together.
Minimalist design may incorporate pattern but it tends to be through the use of natural materials. Stone and marble have the perfect veining, wallpaper like grasscloth or some other natural fibre with little to no pattern are also heavily favoured. Same goes for textiles where texture wins favour over pattern.
DECOR
SOURCE: left – Studio Monroe right – Urbanology Designs
Maximalism is all about collections and being surrounded by the pieces and things you love so it stands to reason that there will be a lot of decor. The more the merrier is truly applicable to this design style.
Conversely, minimalism will rely on a few pieces that can stand on their own through shape and texture. Small pieces are rare because they’ll be lost on their own and instead a single oversized piece will take the place of many smaller pieces.
I hope this helps you to understand the differences between these two equally exciting design styles. If you need help designing your own space, reach out to me. We’d love to be part of your upcoming project.
If you know your design style but you struggle with which paint to use, take a look at my Made-For-You paint palettes. They take the guesswork out and give you the confidence to get started.
