HOME: Maximalist Trends
Lifestyle expert gives tips on how to add individuality to your home with maximalist touches
Homes should reflect their owners – vibrant, diverse and full of personality. Here Catharina Björkman, Scandi lifestyle expert at Swedish wood burning stove manufacturer Contura, shares her guide to adopting maximalist trends in your home.
Catharina says: ‘Whilst many of us strive for an ordered, neutral-toned home with Marie Kondo levels of organisation and minimalism, the reality is that our homes are a collection of old and new, mismatched furniture and quirky knick-knacks representing lives lived to the fullest.
“We may relish the opportunity to start afresh, buying all new matching furniture, wallpaper and decorative items, but it’s important to embrace, enjoy and make the most of what we already have.
“The maximalist interior trend is about just this – embracing the visually interesting and eye-catching items that you love, and not hiding them away because they don’t perfectly match the décor of your home. Meaningful pops of colour and patterns, funky furniture and travel mementos, these things should all have a place in your home.
“And don’t panic – maximalism doesn’t mean clutter or untidiness.”
Read on for Catharina’s full tips.
Embrace colour
A feature wall is a fantastic way to add personality to your home without worrying about overwhelming the room. The colour should complement the rest of the room so consider soft tones like calming blues, ashy greys and warming honey tones. And if you want to add a bit of oomph to your room, opt for a printed wallpaper, as opposed to a single block colour wall, to create a striking contrast.
If you’re unsure, why not try exposing a brick wall for a more rustic feature wall? Or even try creating a living wall using green plants and succulents? Have a look in your local garden centre or contact local artisans on sites like Etsy for inspiration and specially designed wall-planters.
Mix the old with the new
You should only keep things that you love or that have a special meaning, so it’s worth going through your knick-knacks and decorative items to ensure you aren’t cluttering your home by trying to display everything.
And if it is time to invest in a few new items, take your time researching products and consider sourcing second-hand items from charity shops and by checking local forums to see what household items can be found nearby. Remember one person’s trash is another person’s treasure and you could unearth some unique finds.
Create a gallery wall
A gallery wall is a simple and creative way to incorporate the maximalist trend into your home. Measure the wall space you want to update and clear an area on the floor of the same size. Fill the floor space with a mix of frames – play with different sizes, colours and shapes until you have the combination you love. A mix of prints, photos and drawings works well. Then simply affix the frames to the corresponding space on your wall. Voila, your very own gallery wall.
Add some foliage
Plants are a great way to add colour and personality to your home and they can be relatively inexpensive too. They also make us feel happier, calmer, more productive and more relaxed – what more could you want from your home?
Opt for easy-care varieties like cheese plants and succulents, air purifying plants like Aloe Vera and relaxing scented herbs like basil, mint and rosemary. You can also have fun with plant pots by choosing quirky patterns and designs.
Do it your own way
If neutral colour palettes, clean lines and fewer decorations are how you best enjoy your home, don’t think you have to completely switch it up in order to stay on trend.
Instead incorporate subtle pops of colour by distributing smaller decorative items such as vases, photo frames, travel mementos and ornaments that would otherwise be stored out of sight, throughout your home.
For more information, visit www.contura.eu
