Taking it to the Max!

What Is Maximalism in Interior Design?

There's so much chatter as of late regarding maximalism in interior design. Is it a trend that's coming back? (Was it ever truly "out"?) Are we rebelling from minimalism? Are we talking about "quiet" versus "loud" design? Is one just "clean design" and the other "cluttered design"?

All valid questions worth exploring.

Admittedly, I find the debate over maximalism versus minimalism a wee bit reductive. Both are less fleeting trends and more fundamental approaches to design—two distinct philosophies that speak to different souls. For many, one design approach feels more natural while the other feels constraining. In the end, I personally feel it's a deeper question about who we are and how we want to live.

Some people love the idea of less is more. While others see less as a bore! But why? Let's explore.

Defining Maximalist Design: The Art of Intentional Abundance

Taking it for its definition, maximalism in design is a style that appreciates a "more is more" approach. It tends to rely on a rich abundance of bold colors, layered patterns, and varied textures. It seems to go in the face of minimalist principles and focuses on creating visually full, abundant spaces. Some expressions of maximalist decor layer collections, vintage items, and eclectic pieces to tell a unique story. A lot to digest, right?

The beauty of maximalist interiors lies in their refusal to hold back. Where minimalism whispers, maximalism sings—sometimes in full chorus. It's design that celebrates abundance, personality, and the accumulated beauty of a life well-lived.

That said, maximalism doesn't have to be unchecked abundance for the sake of abundance. Rather, I think that the true art in maximalism is in the editing process, what I like to call "fearless curation". How you select what makes the cut in the space and what stays out. The process of selection is purposeful, it is strategic and it requires thought. Therein lies what I love about maximalism. It makes us contemplate each item in consideration for the space. We assign a design value that somehow makes sense for that room, or doesn't. A little more about my approach in the following sections.

A Modern Victorian Perspective on Maximalism

When I started my studio, I knew that my approach would lean maximalist. I love the look of a space that tells a story through the items within it. (Whether those items would be new or vintage would be up to the clients and myself. That's where the design collaboration comes in.) I knew that I loved layers—the way they create depth and intrigue, inviting the eye to wander and discover. It was a way to create a "lean-in" moment for the design with color, pattern and texture.  

I love the process of curating a space with found items, whether they're new discoveries or vintage treasures. It was a puzzle, and I've always loved puzzles. Each piece needs to find its perfect place, its conversation partners, its moment to shine without overwhelming the chorus.

Finding Balance Between Minimalism and Maximalism

As I looked at the design zeitgeist before me, so much of the current "trends" were about light, airy, clutter-free spaces. Admittedly, for me as I looked at some of these images in magazines or online, they looked like abandoned homes. As if the homeowners had fled in the middle of the night in the middle of eating the only peach in the house. They took with them everything but the last celery stalk in the veggie bowl in the kitchen and the off-white decorative bowl that sits lonely in the large bookcase. Left there not because it wasn't valuable, but because they forgot it existed given it got washed out against everything else in the room that was off-white.

The other end of the spectrum, were the visually assaulting spaces with floor-to-ceiling decor pieces that I could just get lost in for days. Everything with a story, with a "purpose." A veritable feast for the senses. They did feel darker, at times impassable. Perhaps too fussy and a tad too mature.

That said, I felt there was an opportunity to balance both. I started researching and going back further. I'd always been a fan of British interiors—their somewhat tailored look with a hint of whimsy. I did also like the oftentimes irreverence of French interiors effortlessly blending vintage items in a modern way.

Victorian Era Design: The Catalyst of More Personalized Interiors

As I looked into British design a little more closely and leaned into the Victorian era, I was drawn in. During the Victorian era a few things happened in the world of interiors. "Decor" items became more accessible at a broader scale. Mass production allowed money to circulate among the "middle" class, items became more affordable and quicker to produce.

Decor wasn't just for the elite, but rather it became slightly more "democratized," if one can use such a term. As such, homes were being more personalized. They were heavily ornamentalized. By today's standards they'd be way over the top. That said, I could tell that there was a true desire for people to tell their story by the items they collected and showcased. There was something so inherently romantic in that idea. The spaces were eclectic and visually full.

The seeds were being laid and an idea was forming in my head. Perhaps there was a way to balance the minimal with the maximalist, while still keeping it modern, updated, bright, airy? That was the question I posed myself.

Modern American Maximalism: Finding My Design Voice

As with all design, it evolves. My personal approach to design continues to be rooted in creating layered spaces that lean into a maximalist visual aesthetic. I tend to interpret that as a parallel to the eclecticism with which we in the United States design our homes. We are, after all, a nation of many influences, countless stories and diverse histories all sharing space together. I find that to be the ethos of my designs. This notion of what Modern American Maximalism is and can be.

In the end, it is a design philosophy that appreciates an eclectic aesthetic that is bold, well-curated, personalized, and always timeless. It balances vintage and modern, old and new.

Storyboarding a Design Experience: My Approach to Maximalist Interiors

In many of my projects, I like to storyboard the design. (A nod to my days working in entertainment in Hollywood.) I think about how the design evolves over the various spaces. What you see when you first enter the home and what follows start to tell a story. Sometimes that story can be of color, of light, of pattern, or even texture.  As such, I will sketch out the progression of the design from room to room. The wall colors, the textiles, the lighting, the wallpaper, and more. Being mindful to reveal elements in a progression that feels like a bit of discovery.

Ultimately, I aim to tell stories with my designs which I find to be part of the fun of it all. That story might be one of constant collection. It might be of the interplay of shadow and light. Or perhaps it is an expression of layered patterns or texture.  Each story is unique; no two the same because the collaboration with the client is always different.  

I've had the pleasure of working with truly wonderful clients who appreciate the deisgn journey and are willing to go along for the ride.  With every project, I learn a great deal about my clients and how they live in their spaces.  It is an added layer to the design process that is so important in achieving a successful space.  

-Alex