Is maximalism the new, modern trend? What you need to know about the More is More philosophy
"Less is More", first promoted by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, lead to the elimination of the superfluous and was considered a show of refinement and good taste. This trend caught on and became the now-famous "minimalism" approach, where the goal is to eliminate the unnecessary in favor of functionality.
Its opposite, however, has never completely disappeared; maximalism has its roots in the Baroque and Rococo of the 18th century and has resurfaced at various times in the past - for example, during the Victorian era and with the Postmodernism and Art Nouveau movements.
Maximalism is becoming popular again these days, but what exactly does it consist of? Let's find out below:
More is More: the maximalist philosophy explained
@kateclaridgephotography/Instagram
As previously stated, maximalism has its origins in the Baroque and Rococo styles, and later in the Victorian era when interior design was seen as a means of expression and distinction. Consider the sumptuous Palace of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV, for example: possessions were flaunted and on full display.
Maximalism is associated with ostentation, eccentricity, and richness/wealth - of colors, materials and textures. It is a rebellion against established rules that has now resurfaced in a more mature and elegant manner.
@the_shoestring_home/Instagram
Where minimalism is a style that tolerates no chaos or clutter, enforcing strict discipline, maximalism, on the contrary, celebrates self-expression, allowing for strong, mixed colors, a blend of objects from different eras, as well as diverse materials and decorations. This results in vibrant and, at times, eccentric environments, sometimes described as dopamine-inducing.
How Maximalism is expressed today
Today's designers aim to express the homeowner's personality, with bold overlays of bright contrasting colours, mixing different materials and superimposing different textures, and always keeping an eye on the natural. The search for well-being and a simpler, more natural lifestyle has also left its mark on this trend, causing a search for greater fluidity and contact with nature.
Maximalist-styled homes today are vividly colored and filled with chandeliers, mirrors, artwork, and sometimes eccentric decorations. They are also furnished with accessories from bygone eras, all united by the use of color as the true protagonist of the style.
No more neutral colors, then. In modern maximalism, colors take center stage in interior design, making us forget the neutrality of minimalism and daring us with vibrant color combinations. Colors are used not just as a neutral backdrop to a bland environment but as tools for furnishing and decorating.
What do you think? Will you redecorate your home in the Maximalist style?
