How to create a maximalist living room
Maximalism has been thriving in recent years after making a triumphant comeback in the interior design industry. This concept of ‘more is more’ boasts an exciting opportunity for those looking to revamp their living spaces as it features bold colours, unique items, and cosy aesthetics.
If you’re looking to turn a bland living room into a vibrant maximalist space, keep reading as we discuss more about this design trend and offer more insight into creating your dream interior.
What is a maximalist design?
Maximalism is movement that is colour rich, boasting vibrant hues and combining vivid patterns, motifs, and intricate hues. The contrasting colourways are usually complemented by elaborate detailing and a myriad of different materials that add texture and depth. Of course, this aesthetic also means that the more decor you have, the better. Adding accessories, artworks, and soft furnishings helps to bring character and inject your personality into the space you’re working with. Put simply, the ultimate goal of maximalism is to have the least amount of white space possible without creating a cluttered or overwhelmingly busy space. Getting the right balance can incur a bit of trial and error, but your choices are endless, meaning that with guidance you’ll be able to create a truly unique living room that perfectly reflects your style.
What is maximalist furniture?
Technically speaking, there is no such thing as maximalist furniture. It’s all about how you style what you have, and choosing things that would work well with your style of decor. That being said, there are definitely criteria that you can abide by to help embrace the maximalist look.
Whilst it has been adopted by millennials and the younger generations in recent years, this is by no means a contemporary concept. Historically, those who steered towards maximalism made big and bold decisions, and that’s what you’ll need to look out for too. To do this, try looking for furniture pieces that have exciting colourways, unusual features, and intriguing textures. You’ll often find that on their own, furniture pieces don’t appear maximalist at first glance, but rather you need to envision them nestled alongside other decorations. For example, take this patchwork bench; at first sight it is exciting and colourful on its own but doesn’t inherently embody maximalism and could fit with any aesthetic. However, when you start to place it with other items such as the ornate gold frame in the background, the vision of maximalism starts to come into fruition.
This is also why antique pieces are very popular within maximalism. Thinking about bygone times, you can imagine elaborately decorated living areas in noble and luxury homes that acted almost like a ‘cabinet of curiosities’. Usually these rooms featured treasures from all around the world which were proudly displayed in various cabinets, hung on walls, or on shelves. These treasures were also uniquely made by skilled artisans, and so by incorporating them into modern spaces you can create a maximalist living room like no-other.
How to use vintage maximalist furniture
There are plenty of ways to incorporate vintage maximalist furniture into your living room, aside from just placing it there and hoping that it will work how you want it to. Because maximalist decor doesn’t have any rules, you can just pick pieces that you like and add them into your home, but for a more cohesive look we recommend the following tips:
Select a time period or theme for your furniture
This is one of the easiest methods, because it allows you to narrow down your search. For example, if you like the vintage look of the 1960s or 1970s, you can choose furniture pieces that are only from this time period. Alternatively, if you prefer an art deco style, look for pieces that are from the 1920s and 1930s or contemporary pieces that utilise this design.
Choose a colour palette
Plenty of maximalists combine multiple colours to create a vivid dreamland that captures the eye. However, you don’t have to take this route, you can still adhere to maximalism whilst embracing a strict colour palette. Decide whether you want warm and earthy tones like reds and yellows or more cool hues like blues and whites. Once you’ve decided on a scheme, choose your furnishings based on this for a more seamless approach.
Mix furniture styles
The mixing of different styles is encouraged within maximalism. This means you can combine vintage pieces with contemporary decorations for an eclectic collaboration of aesthetics. One way to do this is to mismatch your larger furniture pieces such as your armchairs or bookshelves.
Maximalism doesn’t have to mean vintage. Whilst lots of maximalists prefer to opt for a vintage theme, this isn’t always necessary and you can use contemporary pieces to enhance your decor. Alternatively, you can go for contemporary pieces in a vintage style, or just use modern objects to add character. To help you visualise this, you can opt for something like the Harry Vintage Club Armchair which dotes on the vintage style but is made brand new for a timeless look. Or you can go for something like the Lilly Armchair which is perfect for those who prefer a more modern look.
Tips for maximalist design style
Once you’ve chosen your core furniture pieces, you’ll need to take some additional steps to curate your perfect aesthetic. To do this, you might wish to consider the following style tips to truly make your living room stand out.
Create a feature wall: A feature wall is the perfect way to complete your maximalist living room. You can experiment with textures by using wall coverings, or add patterns with wallpaper. Though our favourite way to make a wall stand out is to create a gallery wall full of ornate frames and interesting artworks.
Layer your soft furnishings: Layering your sofas with blankets, tables with runners or cloth, and bookshelves with plants and accessories helps to encapsulate cosier and more homely vibes whilst also creating more visual intrigue.
Paint your ceiling: An excellent way to add a splash of colour, painting your ceiling can help balance your space and also offer a more unique element to your design. Opt for a singular colour, or some venetian plaster for added texture.
Create your dream interior with Vintage Sofa Warehouse
No matter your style, we offer furniture that is suitable for every aesthetic and every room of the house. Whether you’re looking for living room inspiration, bedroom furnishings, or items to make a grand impression when guests enter your home, there’s something for everyone. We highly recommend that you pop into our Durham showroom to see our full range, including our carefully curated vintage pieces. However, if you can’t make it, you can also browse through a selection of our wares online to help create your dream home.