The names say it all; when you want to consider whether to employ minimalism or maximalism in your home décor, you’re going to two opposite ends of the spectrum.
When you think of these two decorating styles, one sounds like you’re sitting in an empty room with as little stuff as you can, while the other hints at becoming a hoarder. In actuality, these two decorating styles are very different, but they can work as similar styles in different areas of your home. Which way will you lean; are you a fan of minimalism or maximalism in your home décor?
Empty vs. Full
There is a cluttered and sterile aspect of these two decorating styles. If you love the full look that has a cozy feeling and something on every table, shelf, or tray, you might want to lean towards a maximalist home. On the other hand, if you enjoy clean lines and a “less is more” philosophy with everything put away at the end of the day, you’ll lean toward a minimalist style in your home. Of course, you can utilize both styles in different rooms of your home, giving you the best of both.
Colors Matter
One of the key aspects of minimalism vs maximalism in your home décor is the colors chosen. If you prefer a home covered in neutral colors and a monochrome palette with white and earthy tones, you’ll be more inclined to a minimalist style in your home. Conversely, if you favor bright, bold, and loud colors, you’re leaning toward being a maximalist. This means creating rooms with lots of color, and some of which are covered from the floor to the ceiling in bold wallpaper. If you want to mix and match playful patterns, you’re certainly leaning toward the maximalist décor.
Personal vs. Practical
Do you like to display family photos or images from places you’ve visited? Do you have a lot of items in a single space, but everything has a place and tells a story? If so, you’re certainly on the path to being a maximalist, which is fine. On the contrary, if you don’t see the purpose in displaying anything that doesn’t have a practical purpose, you’re probably on the pathway to being a minimalist. When you want to see less clutter and muted pieces that flow into the background, minimalism is your decorating style.
Architectural Style
The difference between minimalism and maximalism in home décor is astounding when it comes to architectural style. Maximalists tend to have the walls and everything decorated, which leaves little space for any architectural features to be added. Minimalists focus on a cleaner palette, which leaves room for large casings and moldings around windows and doors to create a timeless appearance. These added details would get lost in a maximalist’s home.
Furniture Differences
Because minimalists like to have a clean look and decluttered space, storage spaces in furniture are extremely important. This adds to the functional and practical nature of furniture in the home. The furniture must also feature strong, clean lines with raw materials to emphasize the essentials of nature. On the other hand, maximalists can have furniture that matches their passion and doesn’t feature any storage options. When you see lots of mismatched pillows on the couches, chunky throw blankets, and lots of patterns, you’re in the home of a maximalist.
Can you blend the two styles?
You don’t have to lean toward being a minimalist or a maximalist; the two aren’t mutually exclusive of each other. When you blend some of the elements of minimalism with maximalism in your home décor, you’ve got a wonderful space that you love to enjoy.
How can you blend these two styles together? Here are some ideas:
Photos without clutter
Create clean surfaces and lines in your home to have the minimalist look, but add bright colors and personalized photos to your walls to add the maximalist approach. This gives you a clean and uncluttered look on the horizontal surfaces while adding interesting colors and pictures to the walls.
Use natural furniture in a brightly colored room
You can add browns, tans, and whites to your furniture and have those colors fit in perfectly in a room that’s been painted a bright color. These colors could work well in a blue room, giving you the accentuating style that you want to enjoy.
Add architectural elements then wallpaper
If you love the look of wide molding around doors and windows but want a beautiful wallpaper pattern on your walls, you can make it happen. Add the molding first, and then add the wallpaper to get the best of both worlds.
When you want to choose between minimalism and maximalism for your home décor, you might quickly realize that you don’t have to choose; just do both.
