A Minimalist’s Guide to Maximalism
Consider 7 lessons we can learn from the reemerging maximalist trend
Kelly LaPlante
March 13, 2017
Houzz Contributor
For those of us who have truly embraced minimalism — with its ever-present clean lines, bright spaces and an impressive lack of things to dust — the rapidly developing trend of maximalism might feel completely demoralizing.
It’s true that hashtags like #maximalism and #maximalistdesign are making more frequent appearances on Instagram, and the Wall Street Journal recently proclaimed that maximalism is “vanquishing” minimalism, but let’s be clear: Minimalism isn’t going anywhere. That’s because the tried-and-true idea that less is more isn’t a trend. It’s a classic and enduing principle. And here’s some good news: There are plenty of ways to embrace the fun of maximalism without compromising one’s minimalist morals. Here’s how.
It’s true that hashtags like #maximalism and #maximalistdesign are making more frequent appearances on Instagram, and the Wall Street Journal recently proclaimed that maximalism is “vanquishing” minimalism, but let’s be clear: Minimalism isn’t going anywhere. That’s because the tried-and-true idea that less is more isn’t a trend. It’s a classic and enduing principle. And here’s some good news: There are plenty of ways to embrace the fun of maximalism without compromising one’s minimalist morals. Here’s how.
First, a quick history lesson on maximalism — most easily summed up with the phrase “More is more.”
The undisputed godfather of this movement is the late, great Tony Duquette, whose Dawnridge home is pictured here. In the middle of the 20th century, the theatrical costumer, sculptor, painter and jeweler embraced every fanciful element of his trades and spun them into grandiose flurries of interior decoration. Duquette quite literally wrote the book on maximalism, and we have him to thank for those richly layered, patterned, frescoed, gilded spaces that today are inspiring a new generation of designers.
Here are a few lessons I’ve learned from studying the master of maximalism, slightly augmented for the minimalist set.
The undisputed godfather of this movement is the late, great Tony Duquette, whose Dawnridge home is pictured here. In the middle of the 20th century, the theatrical costumer, sculptor, painter and jeweler embraced every fanciful element of his trades and spun them into grandiose flurries of interior decoration. Duquette quite literally wrote the book on maximalism, and we have him to thank for those richly layered, patterned, frescoed, gilded spaces that today are inspiring a new generation of designers.
Here are a few lessons I’ve learned from studying the master of maximalism, slightly augmented for the minimalist set.
1. Embrace jewel tones. Duquette was a big fan of using hues of emerald, sapphire and ruby, which capture one’s attention with more visual stimuli. Feel free to keep your crisp white walls and just layer in these tones in furniture, art or even tile (like the suffused hexagons from Fireclay shown here).
If you’ve already espoused the trend of employing gold for your lighting and plumbing fixtures, congratulations, Duquette would approve. Mix your gold and jewels with blond woods, Scandinavian silhouettes and farmhouse features to achieve a sparser aesthetic that appeases your minimalist heart.
If you’ve already espoused the trend of employing gold for your lighting and plumbing fixtures, congratulations, Duquette would approve. Mix your gold and jewels with blond woods, Scandinavian silhouettes and farmhouse features to achieve a sparser aesthetic that appeases your minimalist heart.
2. Covet your collections. Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, better known as The Minimalists, have often professed that being minimal doesn’t mean giving up your collections, or even acquiring new pieces, as long as the things you own are meaningful to you.
Minimalism isn’t about scarcity, it’s about choosing to live only with items that bring you joy and improve your life. So if you have a trove of old books or a collection of Italian dishes that have been in hiding, now’s the time to put them on display and let them shine.
What’s meaningful is subjective, of course, but it’s important to evaluate, honestly, how much value a collection truly brings.
Minimalism isn’t about scarcity, it’s about choosing to live only with items that bring you joy and improve your life. So if you have a trove of old books or a collection of Italian dishes that have been in hiding, now’s the time to put them on display and let them shine.
What’s meaningful is subjective, of course, but it’s important to evaluate, honestly, how much value a collection truly brings.
3. Go big with a mural. It’s almost unbelievable how powerful a mural can be. A plain, austere space quickly becomes a wildly fantastic wonderland when you add a scene, as designer Maureen Stevens did in this tropical-meets-midcentury-modern space.
Visually, this space is maximal, but in reality it’s actually quite minimal, with just a smattering of simple furnishings and a handful of accessories.
Visually, this space is maximal, but in reality it’s actually quite minimal, with just a smattering of simple furnishings and a handful of accessories.
4. Layer with texture. Layering is really what maximalism is all about, and it’s actually not the worst thing in the world. Thoughtful layers create warm, inviting environments — and, let’s face it, sometimes minimalism can end up feeling a bit cold. Finding ways to add warmth might be something reasonable for a minimalist to adopt.
To take a minimal approach to this principle, layer whites, neutrals and plenty of organic textures rather than an abundance of color and pattern. This significantly lowers the risk of accidentally hosting a visual circus in your living room.
To take a minimal approach to this principle, layer whites, neutrals and plenty of organic textures rather than an abundance of color and pattern. This significantly lowers the risk of accidentally hosting a visual circus in your living room.
5. One word: art. By far the most effective way to produce maximum drama with minimal furnishings is to invest in a large piece of art to anchor a space, provide dimension and build visual intrigue.
This dining room by Christopher Elliott Design proves that a simple expressionist piece, saturated with color, can do wonders to elevate a minimal space.
How to Buy a Painting
This dining room by Christopher Elliott Design proves that a simple expressionist piece, saturated with color, can do wonders to elevate a minimal space.
How to Buy a Painting
6. Just dip a toe in. There’s nothing more delightful than a surprise. Take a cue from MF Architecture and insert a bold swatch as an accent on stair risers in a modern, minimal design. The walls of a powder room, or the ceiling of a foyer, are also ideal spots for a feature like this.
7. Commit to one whole wall. Last summer in Europe, when I had the fortunate luxury of time to appreciate the details, I saw a simple but effective formula, over and over: classic architecture + spare, modern furnishings + one wall, stacked from floor to ceiling with books and art.
Yes, this is kind of a big leap into maximalism, but by limiting it to just one wall, you can keep savoring your clean lines, bright spaces and (for the most part) an impressive lack of things to dust.
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Wow , this isn’t Facebook .
This is sharing for people who are open for opinions And willing to grow.
Thanks for sharing Athina.
Bluesanne and Lidarose, among others have expressed it well...
I may lean toward Max, but appreciate the effort and consideration my friends have put into their Min homes. I find and mention the good I see in their effort; don't feel the need to find fault (as if there were some superiority of MY style versus theirs. Sure wish some Min's would do the same upon viewing my semi-max home.
As Mother used to say "If you can't say something nice (or constructive....)"
Gentle friend, unless asked, please find the beauty and / or at least ACT interested in another's unique style and know you can return to enjoy your own home.
Well, well, we do have many different styles we swear by and live by. That is why there are guidelines to good design, which is neither over-the-top crowded, nor leaves me wondering if the owners are finished with their design. For those of us who design, and have been for many years, we design for the client, not how we feel we would like to live in our own home. The client who likes maximal, will undoubtedly add to what I have created for them, and that is fine with me because it is their home. Likewise, when we design for a minimalist, they may subtract a few things that I think complete the design. Either way, I am not threatened by that addition or subtraction, but can appreciate their needs to live respectively their own ways. I am not the judge of their choices until they hire me to do so, and then in conversations, we will find a meeting of the minds, while still using good design concepts and principles.
Kathleen Peterson, retired Interior Designer and Design faculty