5 Golden Rules for Making Maximalist Décor Work

As with life, the only constant in interior design is change - and we love seeing how trends adapt and evolve over time. Some styles and trends change subtly, while others make more dramatic shifts from one end of the spectrum to the other - like the move from minimalism to maximalism, for example.

Minimalist interior design has reigned supreme for years, but now it's time for maximalism to shine. Today, we’ll be laying out 5 golden rules for making maximalist décor work, helping you transform your home into a character-filled space that’s brimming with style statements.

Rule #1: Make it Personal

There’s no denying that stripped back, minimalist living spaces look amazing, but often they can lack a sense of personalisation and character. But that can all be a thing of the past. One of the key elements of maximalist interior design is putting your own personal stamp on a space. Whether it’s your bedroom, living room or even your home office, make sure you surround yourself with all the things you love - from your favourite colours to all those quirky trinkets you’ve acquired over the years.

To pull this look off successfully and avoid your home looking like a hoarder’s paradise with zero cohesion, you’ll need to exercise some restraint. Pick a few of your favourite colours or patterns as your core theme, using different textures and finishes in these hues to create a layered and luscious finish that feels all you.

Rule #2: Load up on Colour

Speaking of colours, maximalist decor is all about injecting vibrant colours into a space. Best of all, you don’t even need to limit yourself to just one shade! If you’re serious about maximalist décor, forget your pale greys, all-whites and bland neutrals and go loud and proud with bright, bold colours instead.

For a gorgeously dramatic look, why not try black or navy walls? Yes it sounds a bit extreme, but paired with splashes of striking coloured accents like sunshine yellow, fuchsia pink, turquoise and burnt orange (not to mention bold patterns), and you’ll have a combination that demands to be noticed.

Rule #3: Forget perfection

Minimalist interiors focus on carefully coordinated colours, textures and decorative elements designed to deliver a perfect looking finish. But maximalism sits on the other end of the scale, celebrating imperfections in all their glory.

Although your decor should strive to have some level of cohesion with common colours or patterns, this shouldn’t be the main focus here. Forget spending time painstakingly matching furniture, fabrics and decorative elements and instead embrace the beauty of having a room filled with elements that don’t necessarily go together but do bring added comfort and character. Providing there’s an obvious theme or colour scheme, you can mix and match until your heart’s content

Rule #4: Create Statement Features

Maximalism thrives on statement-making décor and there are so many ways you can do this throughout your home. In living rooms for instance, up the ante of focal features like fireplaces by giving them a colourful and glamorous makeover with brightly coloured fireplace tiles. Elsewhere, create your own art gallery wall with bold prints and vivid artwork that guarantees to catch everyone’s eye.

For more functional areas of the home like bathrooms and kitchens, add a touch of elegance to vanity units, showers and sinks by upgrading to gold or brass fixtures and fittings. Paired with dark colours and high-end materials like granite and quartz, you can transform a typically practical area into an opulent oasis.

Rule #5: Embrace Luxurious Lighting

Last but by no means least, luxury lighting is a must-have element for completing your maximalist decor. Of course, the style of lighting you choose will be dependent on your colour scheme and theme, but the key is to go big and bold - and as we’ve said before, don’t worry about matching it with everything else.

For example, a stunning and sparkling chandelier will work wonders in bringing a touch of luxury into living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms and can work with all kinds of decorative styles from boho-chic to classic vintage.

Lighting can go beyond illumination though as you can choose styles that also bring extra colour and texture into the mix. Why not pay homage to the past with one of our retro lights? We stock a wide range of vintage inspired fittings and lamps like the Olson Arc Floor Lamp in White and the Darcy Fringed Easyfit Shade. Whatever style you have your heart set on, just try to make sure it complements the overall theme you’re striving for.

So there you have it - 5 golden rules to stick to when it comes to pulling off a successful maximalist decor update in your home. Bursting with character, colour and texture, you can nail this look in any room of the house, creating a comfy space you’ll love spending time in.

Written by Suhayl Laher at Tiles Direct, one of the UK's largest independent tile distributors and retailers - bringing design inspiration to homeowners, architects and developers.