Minimalism VS Maximalism
Personal style; self-expression; passion… we live in a society that advocates unique design style and encourages folks to share their stories via their surroundings.
A quick search on the internet will reveal a plethora of opinions and guidelines on trending home design styles. Instagram, Pinterest, home decorating blogs and magazines… wherever you look you can find ideas, viewpoints, and speculations on what your home should and shouldn’t look like.
But at the end of the day, it’s your home. Your sanctuary. And you make the rules.
Minimalism and maximalism are two trends that are equally beautiful and stylish, albeit poles apart. So, let’s zone in and have a closer look at these decorating styles and the elements that are characteristic of each, and determine… which you align with!
What is Minimalism?
Clean lines; open space; basic textures; neutral colours. This style centers around removing excess and celebrating essential components.
Minimalism is all about marrying form and function in simplicity: removing visual noise to allow the beholder to appreciate beauty in restraint.
In its true form, minimalism goes beyond a decorating style – it’s a way of life. To the minimalist, removing clutter and maintaining clean, open spaces is essential to contentment, satisfaction, and freedom. And this ethos highly valued by many Melbournians in 2021.
Where some may see clinical, the minimalist sees sleek; where some may see boring, the minimalist sees modest beauty.
Elements of Minimalism Design
So, is there more to this design style than meets the eye? Yes! Below we cover the basics:
Quality over Quantity
Minimalism isn’t necessarily about spending less. In fact, quirky designer furniture, high-end fixtures and custom-made storage units are often found in the minimalist home.
Less is more: celebrating one or two quality furniture items or creating a focal point with a single oversized wall hanging is very common.
Variety in Texture
Minimalism isn’t about being ‘matchy-matchy’ or boring. In fact, creating interest with contrasting textures is important to remove any austerity and create a space that’s comforting and inviting.
Pottery, ceramic, leather, timber, glass, and canvas… visual interest and contrast can be easily achieved using multifarious textures. But remember, maintaining a neutral colour palette is a critical design element to this style.
Make the Most of the View
If you’re lucky enough to have a home or apartment in Melbourne’s North with beautiful views, it’s important to celebrate them!
You can ensure that your windows are the focal point by scaling back the complexity inside. Decorating with an indoor plant or two is a great way to blur the boundary between inside and out, while enjoying a little slice of nature indoors.
Capitalise on Lighting
Lighting, both natural and artificial is essential in any home, and for the minimalist, it offers great possibilities.
Decorating with lights is a great way to mesh both form and function: installing a beautiful pendant light will brighten up a space and add style and beauty. As the old cliché goes, it’s a great way to ‘kill two birds with one stone’.
Oversized windows, glass panels and ceiling windows can all become design features as well as allowing your home to be flooded with natural light. As we know, a well-lit room can often appear larger than it really is, and for the minimalist, creating that feeling of open space is crucial.
Ok So What is Maximalism?
Big. Bright. Busy. It’s the philosophy of embracing and decorating with excess. In short, it’s everything that minimalism isn’t!
Maximalists don’t style to please others: they love to surround themselves with ‘things’ that bring joy to them. They express themselves and their individuality freely, regardless of popular opinion – it’s a style that’s intensely personal.
Elements of Maximalist Design
So, does maximalism mean throwing all sorts of odd items together in a room? No. It’s a clever design style that celebrates everything about the individual and what they love.
There’s a common misconception that maximalism means hoarding and overfilling rooms, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While the prevailing motto for maximalists is ‘more is more’, this style is clever, and every décor piece serves a purpose.
Repetition, saturated colour palettes, curious items, and curated collections… every item is part of an overall scheme, and serves to tell its unique piece of the maximalist’s story.
Colour and Texture
Multiple patterns within the same space are very common in the maximalist home. However, these aren’t just random items thrown together – these patterns are generally united by a common colour, or colour scheme.
Bold patterns, high impact colours, intricate designs… items that energize a space and create interest. For example, Christian Lacroix wallpapers and fabrics, animal prints, brightly coloured, funky furniture pieces and floor rugs – textures and fabrics are cleverly chosen and blended to create a beautiful and harmonious space.
Layering is a technique that’s often practiced – items of varied pattern, colour and texture can be beautifully married by thoughtful overlaying.
Statement Furniture/Art Pieces
Incorporating a few statement furniture/art pieces into the maximalist room is common practice – family heirlooms, oversized art pieces, a chair with an unusual shape or design, or a striking pendant light can become a wonderful focal point.
(Flea markets and second-hand shops are a great place to find intriguing, one-of-a-kind furniture pieces, so be sure to make these some of your regular haunts!)
Accessories in Abundance
The maximalist loves to display collections of items that say volumes about their hobbies, travels, interests, and family history. And these collections are carefully curated and displayed to add interest to the overall scheme of the room, not merely for visual noise.
Books, ornaments, souvenirs, potted plants, figurines… each item will be well-appointed, dictated by the taste of the individual and presented in a manner that’s thoughtful and deliberate.
Whilst we recommend those looking to sell or lease their properties pair back any eccentric or extremist styles to assist buyers in envisioning how they would use each of the spaces, we also celebrate individuality and take pride in seeing our clients turn houses into homes. “You do you” as they say!
Whether yours is a classic family home filled with old-world character or a smaller slick apartment with all the mod-cons, decorating your space and making it “yours” is so rewarding, so let yourself go and enjoy the results!