Maximalist interior design embraces bold patterns, luxurious textures, and an eclectic mix of decor elements. You’ll find vibrant colors, intricate details, and an overall sense of luxury in a maximalist space. It’s a style that encourages mixing and matching various furniture pieces, combining different eras and styles to create a visually stimulating and dynamic environment. Maximalist interiors often feature elaborate wall art, richly patterned upholstery, and layers of decorative elements that create a lavish and captivating aesthetic. If you’re drawn to the idea of an exuberant and expressive living space, maximalist interior design might be the perfect choice for you.
A home is a sanctuary, a place to rest and recharge. So, we model it and decorate it in a way that comforts us. For some people, it’s all about empty spaces, decluttering, and minimalism. But others live by the motto that more is more. For them, it’s all about color, eccentricity, and excess.
These people are maximalists, and today, we’re covering the sanctuary of their aesthetic—the Maximalist subreddit. Its enthusiasts reject the sad beige millennial aesthetic and celebrate colors, shapes, and textures. Today, we have a selection of the most stunning maximalist interior designs to inspire you for your next home makeover.
01. My Living Room
02. My Messy Bedroom
03. Enjoying My Living Room In The Sun
Interior design has been dominated by gray colors, minimalism, and huge open spaces for the last ten years. And interior design is not the only victim of the sad beige aesthetic. Clothes, household items, and even children’s fashion are victims, too. At least that’s what the TikTok account That Sad Beige Lady points out with her sarcastic Werner Herzog impression as she made fun of “sad beige toys for sad beige children.”
The interior design aesthetic dominated by neutral colors and decluttered spaces has long been associated with millennials. We wrote about the differences between Gen Z and millennial decor not long ago. People pointed out the equivalents of millennial interior design trends to what Gen Zers choose today. For example, fairy lights were all the rage back in the day, and today, people opt for neon strips.
04. Gilded Golden Hour
05. I Think I’m Almost Done W/ This Corner. Before I Moved In Was A Super Depressing Space
06. My Ancestry Gallery Wall
However, it seems that the sad beige aesthetic trend is ending. Even millennials are only ditching it. They’re swapping muted home decor and clothing for what they call de-modernization. And while it’s not quite the same thing as maximalism, it’s still an excellent (in my opinion) move toward something more expressive and authentic.
Business Insider describes de-modernization as “an interior design aesthetic that values second-hand furnishings, items built to last, and interiors that speak to the personality of the homeowner or renter.” And most proponents say they don’t wish it to become a trend; they want it to be a movement.
07. Looking For Bathroom Ideas? Too Much?
08. My “Bird Bath” Powder Room
09. I Did A Little Redecorating In My Bathroom 🎉
Maximalist interiors often feature playful, bright-colored designs. Living in a colorful space can be beneficial. Mental health experts say that happy, bright colors increase mental activity and can make us feel more energized.
They recommend colorful interiors for people who often experience low moods or struggle with depression. However, some rooms, like a bedroom or a bathroom, might need a more calming aura. That’s why more muted, cold colors that reduce energy levels might be a better option in these rooms.
10. I Told You Guys Might Like My Space!
11. My Living Room ❤️
12. It Took Six Months – I’m Finally Feeling “Moved In” At My Private Tattoo Studio
Many associate maximalist interiors with excess decorations, furniture, patterns, and textures. Critics say they are just too overwhelming. But a maximalist interior doesn’t have to be chaotic.
When done right, maximalist design can be very pleasing. Archwhispers writes that the trick is “to group similar objects and avoid negative space altogether.” They also advise “to use color and material repetition and similar textures to anchor the look rightly” for a more cohesive maximalist look.
13. I’m Getting Insane Hate For My Garden Of Eden Bathroom In The Interior Decorating Sub 😩
14. I Just Rearranged My Sitting Room To Accommodate My Dream Couch!
15. Maximum Maximalism, Maximalist Interior Design
An excellent way to start planning a room’s maximalist interior is to start with a neutral foundation. For example, a sofa in a muted tone goes very well with some brightly colored decorative pillows. It’s about making a neutral base and adding playful accents, whether a rug, a sofa, or a wall.
“This way, you aren’t incorporating too many areas where patterns can clash, and you also allow yourself the opportunity to swap things out if you eventually get sick of a pattern or color scheme,” Designer Ariel Okin told Apartment Therapy.
16. This Is Where I Sleep
17. I Painted The Doors Of My Baby’s Room
18. Kitschy Corner Of My Kitchen
When an untrained eye looks at a maximalist design, it might see chaos and clutter. However, designers say every item in a maximalist room should be placed carefully.
To achieve the look of curated chaos, Designer Ana Claudia Schultz recommends layering items using different heights or depths of the field. That means not putting things in a perfectly straight line. “Move one piece off-center and center the other,” Schultz explained to Apartment Therapy.
19. I Wanted To Share A Glimpse Of My Maximalist Hallway
20. My Home Bar
21. My Bedroom
Lighting also plays a significant role in maximalist design. Evelina Juzėnaitė, principal interior designer at home improvement and interior design platform Planner 5D, told Mansion Global that it can help highlight or hide things. “A wall lamp can illuminate a busy painting or picture, while a table lamp or accent lighting can be adjusted to show things differently at different times.”
22. My Style Is Kinda “Moody Eclectic,” But Maximalist Is The Goal!
23. My Home Might Not Be Everyone’s Taste, But I’m Obsessed. 🖤
24. Welcome To Wackadoo World
Accessories are a big part of maximalist interiors. The motto is “More is more,” fitting? However, interior designers urge people to decorate in a meaningful way as well. Showcase your collections, they say. Sohnne writes that a maximalist interior is a dream come true for a collector. “Whether it’s vintage cameras, travel souvenirs, or antique dishes, find a way to display them.”
25. I Posted This On R/Rainboweverything, And It Dawned On Me That It Might Be Appreciated Here (I’m A Frequent Lurker). Here’s My Crazy, Cluttered, Colorful Bathroom🌈
26. Staircase At The 21c Museum Hotel In St. Louis
27. Making The Most Of My Half Of The Room ✨️
As evident from the many entries in our list, maximalism often means an abundance of greenery. Some people might want their living room as lush as a jungle. Others who have a black thumb might opt for a plant-print wallpaper. Maximalist interiors are often about leafy plants: ferns, succulents, or cacti. They add more greenery to a room and bring it to life.
28. I Posted My Gallery Wall A Few Days Ago. Here Is The Rest Of The Room
29. Marigold And Sage Green Go Together, Sure Why Not!? Meet My Maximalist Guest Room. Always Wanted A Two Twin Bed Setup!
30. Feeling Like My Style Doesn’t Fit In Other Decor Spaces, Maybe It’s Appreciated Here?
What are your favorite characteristics of maximalist design? Or are you a proponent of minimalist interiors? Let us know in the comments! And if you’re planning a home or room makeover, share your best tips with other Pandas. I know I can certainly always use some help in the decorating department.
31. Rainy Morning In My Living Room!
32. Wall Update Part 3, Right-Hand Side
33. My Victorian-Inspired Studio Apartment
34. Insane Interior Pics Of An Upcoming Local Estate Sale
35. I Have Found My People! You Inspired Me To (Almost) Finish My Dining Room. I’m Embarrassed That I Didn’t Know What Maximalism Was Until A Few Months Ago. I’ve Always Called It My Organized Hoard
36. It’s A Relaxing Night With My Lights!
37. My Son’s Colorful, Maximalist Bedroom!
38. Morning Coffee In My Cozy Living Room 🧡
39. Progress On My Home Office So Far. I’m Sure The Desk Will Be Much More Cluttered In A Few Weeks
40. A Little Extra
41. Did I Go Too Far?
42. Here’s My Craft Room 🙂
43. I Ditched The Modern Farmhouse Gig Earlier This Year, And I Feel So Much More At Home
44. I Present The Og Maximalist’s House. Grandma’s
45. The Sun Hitting My Bathroom Just Right And Reminding Me Why I Like It
46. Keep It Or Rearrange?
47. Another Sub Told Me To Post My Living Room Here. I Painted Or Made Most Of The Stuff Pictured
48. My House Maximalist Interior Design
49. My Moody Maximalist Bedroom. It’s A Work In Progress, But I Love It So Much
50. Getting A Lot Of Hate In Another Sub. Heard My Living Room Might Be Better Suited Here😊
51. My Maximalist Ocean/Pirate/Mermaid Bathroom!
52. My Study Maximalist Interior Design
53. Curated Chaos In My Tiny Dining Area
54. One Of The Things I Used For My Plants Were Hoops For The Vines To Grow Thru And Around. Then I Decided To Go Off the Script And Put My Favorite Plates, Too! I Love The Way It Is Evolving!
55. Wife Says I’m An Organized Hoarder. I’m OK With That
56. Welcome To My Hallway
57. Someone Posted That My House Should Be Here. Lol
58. Trying To Make Every Wall In My Apartment A Gallery Wall
59. Finished A Corner Of The Kitchen
60. I’m Not Done Until There’s No Wall Space Left
61. Maximum Vintage, Maximalist Interior Design
62. What Do You Guys Think?
63. Thank You So Much For The Compliments On My Dining Room! This Is My Living Room. The Colors Were Inspired By 3 Teapots Sitting Next To Each Other At Target. It Didn’t Look Right With Just Yellow And Red, So Why Not Throw In Some Turquoise?
64. My Thrifted/Eclectic House With A Bunch Of Kids, Animals And A Husband
65. My Cozy Living Room, Maximalist Interior Design
66. More, More, More!! I’m So Glad To Find My People.
67. New Rug 🪩💟
68. My Small Office Is Incredibly Cozy
69. Cheap Redo Of Bathroom?
70. The More Art, The Better
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