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This post will show you 18 ideas to incorporate maximalist decor into your home to create rooms that shine with boldness and personality!
Have you ever spent hours roaming the Internet or walking through Ikea, only to be left disappointed by the sheer sea of beige and minimalist pieces? If the answer is yes, then you may be a maximalist at heart!
I like to think that maximalist decor channels the same energy as a single, chic aunt: it can be intimidating if you are not well acquainted with it, but it is full of surprises and a great ally to develop a unique and sophisticated taste when it comes to interior design.
Keep on reading to discover 18 ideas to seamlessly incorporate maximalist decor into your home, learning how to embrace bold design and select unique items. Time to leave neutrals behind and embrace loud elegance!
Creating Your Own Version of a Maximalist Home
One of the wonderful aspects of maximalist decor is that it leaves plenty of room for personal interpretation. This interior style is firmly centered on giving you the ability to express your taste and personality without boundaries, effectively encouraging you to create a home that speaks of and looks like you.
However, it is this very level of freedom that can make maximalism a daunting challenge for a lot of inexperienced decorators. After all, how can one manage to pull together such eclectic pieces and different colors without creating utter chaos?
The secret to successful maximalism is choosing a subtle common thread that effortlessly ties all the excess together, defining a cohesive design that will be the perfect canvas for your decor. For instance, stick to only a couple of materials and combine them in different colors to ensure your pieces look varied but not unrelated. Alternatively, you can focus on a small selection of bright, contrasting colors and have them repeat across your space for a playful combination that can set a theme.
Keeping this in mind, let us look at 18 maximalist decor ideas to fully embrace this interior style with confidence!
18 Maximalist Decor Ideas
1. Velvet Colourful Couch
Source: Boz Gagovski for House & Garden UK
If you have to choose one item worth investing in when it comes to maximalist decor, then look no further: a colorful velvet couch is all you need.
Go out of your comfort zone and pick a color that can be the foundation of your entire space: green, blue, pink…the options are truly endless. I have linked above a beautiful 3-seater from Made.com. I have had this couch for years and both the color and the material have held up wonderfully – such a great deal for its affordable price!
Be mindful that the rest of your decor will not need to match the couch, but it will need to complement it. If you are not willing to spend some time searching for more unique pieces, make it easy for yourself and go for a more common color. You will save plenty of time.
2. Mirror as Part of Gallery Wall
Gallery walls are an evergreen of interior decor; a perfect example of how items can be adapted and re-imagined to fit any style.
When it comes to maximalist decor, a great way to elevate your gallery wall and add a touch of spice, is to replace some of the art with mirrors. Bonus point if they are vintage or with a particularly unique frame.
Play around with several sizes, placing them at different heights to open up your space and create an original composition. Make sure to diversify: maximalism does not like perfect matches – your pieces should be siblings but now twins!
3. Patterned Wallpaper
It would be a crime to talk about maximalist decor and leave out one of its main stars: wallpaper.
If, like me, you have always been enchanted by the transformative power of wallpaper, this idea is for you. Choose a botanical pattern and don’t be afraid to layer your wallpaper with beautiful wall decor to fully embrace the sophisticated chaos that is maximalism.
A great option, in case you are renting or trying to renovate on a budget, is to go for peel & stick wallpaper. Make it a fun DIY project, and you will be able to create something just as beautiful in your home at a fraction of the price.
4. Colourful Pillows
Maximalist decor rarely lends itself to compromise, approaching more of an all-or-nothing philosophy. However, if you want to simply dip your toes in this style, a set of colorful pillows is a perfect starting point.
Choose a variety of patterns and materials to liven up even the blandest interior with minimal commitment. I love embroidered throw pillows, especially if handmade, they are sure to add a unique touch to your space.
5. Creative Bar Cart
The beauty of maximalist decor is that it’s a pervasive approach to all corners of your home, even unexpected ones.
The inspiration photo above is a great example of how combining unusual elements like a cute lamp or a photo with a classic piece of decor such as a bar cart, embraces the maximalist spirit.
Small touches like these are crucial to create the impression of effortless design, as if the beauty of this miscellaneous composition were completely accidental. Not trying too hard while going all the way is the wonderful contradiction that sits at the very heart of maximalism!
6. Fresh Wild Flowers
Forget pristine bouquets of identical, well-arranged roses, maximalist decor asks you to venture into the wilder side of things.
Opt for a beautifully designed vase, such as a chinoiserie, and fill it with various flowers, making sure to maintain a large part of their greenery. The abundance of colors will look like a painting brought to life in your very own home.
7. Patterned Area Rug
Another piece of decor that plays a fundamental role in maximalist spaces is rugs.
Especially if you are working with very modern, neutral floors, you will want to invest in a large area rug that can fill the environment with color and visually ground your decor.
Geometric shapes are a fantastic way to add an interesting pattern to your room, but if you are not feeling too bold, a solid-color rug will work too. Simply be mindful of choosing high-quality materials like wool and selecting colors that do not shy away from your maximalist palette. Lean into it!
8. Bathroom Wall Art
Recreate this photo:
Bathroom wall decor is a niche within interior design that most styles struggle to nail. Maximalist decor, on the other hand, takes it to the next level and is perhaps one of the best ways to create a dreamy bathroom.
If you can invest in some minor remodeling, install paneling and paint your bathroom walls to play with color contrasts and changes in materials.
A great alternative is also to purchase some decorative pieces like vintage prints of ceramic display plates to create a charming collection that will turn your bathroom into one of the most unique rooms of your home.
9. Stacked Books to Complement Furniture
In order to fully lean into maximalist decor, you will need to learn to love some organized chaos. Enter book piles.
Few things are as chic as culture and, while you may not have time to read as much as you’d like to show, you can at least prove to have great taste in books by incorporating them into your decor.
Pick up those old books from your parents’ old bookshelf or go thrift shopping for some coffee table book gems and then start piling. This is a brilliant way to show some of your interests through the volumes you buy and have your house speak a little bit more of yourself and your passions.
10. Large Original Art
Easier said than done, the advice of placing a huge piece of original art on your wall may seem a bit out of reach unless you are ready to invest a few thousand dollars.
However, I believe that the best art a home can display is the one made by the people living in it.
Scour Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration and create your art. All you need is an affordable canvas, a set of colors, and enough white to start mixing your fantasy away. I love following painting tutorials on TikTok; you will be shocked at how talented people can walk you through creating a masterpiece without even realizing it!
11. Layered Coffe Table
Recreate this photo:
Next on our series of beautiful chaos, we find coffee tables.
When it comes to maximalist decor, you will need to think of your coffee table as precious real estate whose only purpose is to showcase as many interesting decor items as you can fit in it.
Forget solitary candles or perfectly matched books, now it’s your time to collect all unique items you have been accumulating over the years (random souvenirs from forgotten holidays, I’m talking about you) and put them to good use. Be creative and think of your coffee table as the background to the story you want your decor to tell.
I am sure you have plenty of pieces that will serve as great conversation starters with your guests.
12. Upholstered Vintage Armchair
There is a special place in maximalist decor heaven for upholstered colorful chairs. They make any environment a bit cozier and much more visually interesting.
Step outside your comfort zone and choose a bright pattern for a piece that can make a statement. For a truly unique item, you can also thrift a vintage chair and have it reupholstered with a fabric of your choice. The possibilities are endless.
13. Mismatched Gallery Wall
There is a selection of people who love maximalist decor but cannot live without perfectly organized spaces.
If you are part of this struggling group, here is a smart way to embrace maximalist decor in a symmetrical, classic gallery wall. Opt for a daring material like gold for your frames, and then simply fill them with colorful, different prints.
You do not need to sacrifice clean lines and organized spaces to achieve a maximalist look.
14. Patterned Bedside Table
The one item that has been on my wish list since I moved into my first big-girl apartment has been mother-of-pearl inlaid bedside tables. They are stunning and can transform the look of a room.
Play with the combination of such patterns with interesting fabrics on your bed, curtains, and walls to bring maximalist decor into your bedroom.
If you prefer your bedroom not to be too visually overwhelming, balance the patterns out with lighter colors to create a calming atmosphere that is still filled with beauty and character.
15. Light Maximalism
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I like to think of this idea as maximalist decor for reformed minimalists.
If you are just now starting to appreciate maximalism but until last month you were committed to a fully neutral decor palette, then you will need to take a more transitional approach to your decor choices.
No need to get rid of all the items you already have, simply include a few new pieces that can match the current decor while bringing some of the core principles of maximalism into the picture. A neutral chair in a fun shape and a small colorful pouf are the perfect examples of how to achieve this!
16. Mirrored Coffee Table
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One of the more playful aspects of maximalist decor is the ability to explore a large variety of different materials that can cross decor styles. The artful combination of vintage and very modern pieces is a common interpretation of maximalism that can yield wonderful results.
If you’re looking for a modern piece to make a statement in your maximalist room, consider a fully mirrored coffee table. The unusual, glam look can help reduce the need for additional items of decor, making it easier to keep the space organized.
However, be mindful of the quality of the table you choose. I would suggest viewing such a piece in real life to get a good understanding of the quality of the glass/mirroring effect, as well as what it might look like as usage starts to add up.
17. Modern Armchair with a Fun Design
If the perfect maximalist reading corner exists, then it surely has a statement armchair in it.
Don’t limit yourself to classic, colorful upholstery; the inspiration photo above shows that even a modern, minimalist material like bouclé can add the perfect maximalist touch when combined with interesting and unexpected shapes.
18. Upholstered Ottoman to replace Coffee Table
When working with a small space, it may seem challenging to incorporate all the pieces textbook maximalist decor calls for.
A great way to tackle this is to choose multifunctional pieces. For instance, a patterned ottoman can add more color than a classic wooden coffee table, replacing the need for both a coffee table and a colorful armchair to complement your couch.
Top your ottoman with a scalloped tray and a small plant to transform your room with only three items of decor!
To Conclude
Maximalist decor is the perfect way to introduce pieces into your home that speak of you in a vibrant way.
At the very heart of this interior design style, you will find the ability to be creative and bold, while never losing sight of the overall picture you are trying to achieve. A great balance of over-the-top and effortless beauty that can create the home of your dreams.
Always make sure to step out of our comfort zone and embrace the fun that is so characteristic of maximalist decor. You will not regret embracing colors and patterns!
