Being an interior designer in Las Vegas requires me to deliver on the wow factor for every client, every time. Whether I am designing a corporate lounge space, an artsy new restaurant or a residential remodel, I rely on one particular interior design style to give me my signature curated, layered look: Maximalism.
Maximalism is less about style and more about attitude. You can be a fan of any style — from Modern to Traditional — and still utilize Maximalism. The key to creating a cohesive look is to build your design around a consistent color family, balanced with furnishings that ground the space and provide a visual break from the layers of pattern and color in the room.
Let’s take a look at a few of the basics of Maximalism and how you can use them in your own home.
Express Your Personal Style
Maximalism is all about expression so try to think of your space as a museum dedicated to all of the things you love. Use colors that make you feel alive and cozy. Embrace your hobbies and incorporate them into your space (think photography or music). If you like gardening, consider incorporating a floral wallpaper or area rug that highlights your favorite flowers. If you have a collection of trinkets from global travels, display them together or split them up into smaller groups.
This sweet little statue is made of cast aluminum in a matte black finish. The long-bodied black sculpture is a whimsical design that will add playfulness to a room.
In this spectacular volume, Istanbul-born interior designer, international lecturer, Ottoman art expert, and collector specializing in historical interiors., narrates a tour of his beautiful home, a historic mansion on the Asian side of the Bosporus.
This modern, organic sculpture has a striated surface and will hold its own in the foyer of a modern home filled with contemporary art.
Practice The Art Of Layering
Layering is the key to achieving the luxurious look of Maximalism. Layering isn’t as laid-back as it sounds. It requires forethought and planning so that your furnishings and decor are proportional and in keeping with your overall color scheme. Nothing is worse than ordering a rug that turns out to be too small for the space, even if it is the perfect color. By planning ahead, you can build your look slowly and edit as you go.
My advice is to plan first and then execute in phases:
- Phase 1: Rugs and Furnishings
- Phase 2: Window Treatments
- Phase 3: Wall Art
- Phase 4: Accessories and Decor
Escapades is an abstract composition of brush strokes in a full spectrum of color. Vibrant tones of magenta, green, blue, and yellow add energy to the piece.
Chic, comfortable, and timeless, the Garson Kona Chair is an updated take on the classic wingback design. The frame is made of mahogany with an antique gold finish.
The Pavillion Lamp is grand in scale, inspired by the chain pattern of the “Pavillion Trellis” wallpaper and fabric by Scalamandre. It is accented with highlights of a gold trellis border, lucite base, and crystal ball finial.
Embrace Bold Touches
Maximalism is not for the faint of heart, but don’t let that scare you. It’s a flexible style that empowers you to be bold in your own way. If you are not a fan of bright colors, consider sticking to a neutral palette and look for furniture silhouettes, surfaces, and textiles that make a big visual impact. For example:
- Wallpaper your ceiling. It’s a guaranteed way to go bold! If wallpaper intimidates you, there are many great removable options on the market.
- Paint your trimwork. You can use black for a grounding effect, or choose a color that is prominent in your space.
- Create a gallery wall of various artworks and prints, unified by color.
Like the ocean meeting the sky on a cool summer morning, this subtle, ombre-stripe has a calming presence. Indistinguishable shapes feature an artistically distressed watercolor effect accentuated by a hint of shimmer for a glamorously modern feel.
Made out of metal with a glossy lacquer finish, the Flower Wall Art is perfect for any space. The botanically-inspired wall decor gives exuberant
life to any interior.
The Costa Credenza features a hand-painted white finish and four ocean blue finished cabinet doors with gold leaf-finished textured handles. Select from multiple choices of hardware in brushed nickel or brass. This coastal-inspired sideboard gives a stylish look perfect for any contemporary dining room or living room.
Weave In The Unexpected
Juxtaposition also plays a role in Maximalism and is used to keep the design fresh and unexpected. By combining colors, decor, and furnishings with other items that oppose or contrast them, you create a balance that keeps you on your toes. Here are a few tips:
- Recover traditional and formal furniture silhouettes with bold, modern upholstery.
- Mix patterns — florals, plaids, geometrics and stripes — using color as the uniting factor.
- Display artwork in brightly-colored and ornate frames.
- Cover hard-surface furnishings like side tables with fabric or wallpaper.
- Mix the metal finishes of your door hardware, lighting and plumbing fixtures — think of these pieces like jewelry and let them take center stage!
With the look of a cherished heirloom, this chest will add magic to your home. Functional as well as pretty, the piece includes a power bar with 3 electrical outlets and one USB port, and a light underneath with a 3-intensity touch switch.
Monarca is a wall painting of elegant class, breathtaking appearance, and shrouded mystery. This accent is meticulous in every detail, it is a lovely installation of art décor, perfect for any contemporary home.
The subtle glamour of aged brass covers this clean-lined sideboard. Mitered doors and industrial spit-tack detailing. Inside features natural grey finished mango wood shelves for storage.
Strike An Eclectic Balance
While Maximalism’s innate characteristics make it harder to pin down than other styles, its core is found in an off-kilter balance. It is a loud, in-your-face design style that fills every nook and cranny with purposeful design choices and stops just shy of “cluttered.”
It’s the sexiest desk alive, with jewelry-like pulls and elegant interior wallpaper inside each file drawer. The center drawer has a drop-front for keyboard use, one locking file drawer with Pendaflex letter/legal filing system.
Made of solid oak covered with natural vellum veneer, the Karlson Credenza is a well-made choice.
Bold in character, this dazzling chair is unique in every way. Cast in solid brass and finished in Gold Brush with white enamel, it has the feel of branches or coral reaching up toward the light.
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