Your Guide to Maximalist Interior Design

Maximalism is a design philosophy that embraces boldness, abundance, and personality. At its core, it’s about creating spaces that reflect who you are—your passions, memories, and unique style. Unlike minimalism, which pares back to the essentials, maximalism invites you to layer textures, mix patterns, and showcase vibrant colors, all while telling a story.

Maximalism encourages you to break the rules, have fun with your decor, and create a space that sparks joy and creativity every day. It’s not just a style; it’s a celebration of individuality and self-expression.

Catherine Jacob, Head of Design at Hovia explains more about maximalist style:
“If you aim to make a bold, striking statement in your home while infusing it with your unique personality, maximalism is the way to go. It’s a perfect fit for those who find energy in the clash of colors and the fusion of various prints and patterns—here, we firmly believe that more truly means more. One of the best features of this style is that you’re not confined by the need for everything to match perfectly. The eclectic nature of adding pieces over time means you can cherish those statement items that you love, and your space will evolve with you.”

When it comes to interior design, maximalism and minimalism represent two sides of the style spectrum, each offering a unique approach to creating beautiful spaces.

Minimalism: Defined by simplicity, minimalism focuses on “less is more.” It emphasises clean lines, neutral palettes, and uncluttered spaces to create a calm, serene environment. Minimalist spaces are all about intentionality—keeping only what serves a purpose or sparks joy.

Maximalism: The opposite of restraint, maximalism celebrates “more is more.” It’s about layering colors, patterns, and textures, mixing styles, and showcasing meaningful pieces that reflect your personality. Maximalist interiors feel alive, dynamic, and full of character, offering a sense of abundance and individuality.

While minimalism creates tranquil spaces where simplicity shines, maximalism creates vibrant, energizing environments where personal expression takes center stage. Both styles have their strengths, but whichever you choose, the goal is the same: creating a home that feels uniquely you.

This guide is all about how to achieve the perfect maximalist decor, so if minimalism is more your thing, you might want to browse our minimalist design guide instead.

While this eclectic style thrives on individuality and creative freedom, there are a few defining elements that define the maximalist aesthetic:

Think dramatic jewel tones, vivid contrasts, and layers of playful patterns. Maximalism is your chance to mix different styles of patterns across all types of surfaces, fabrics and furniture.

A maximalist space feels personal and meaningful. Showcase items with a story—whether it’s a travel souvenir, a family heirloom, or your favorite quirky finds.

Maximalism thrives on layers. Plush rugs, textured throws, patterned cushions, and statement drapery all come together to create a rich, tactile space.

It’s not about filling every corner but curating a collection of items that spark joy and inspiration. Maximalist design may look abundant, but it’s always intentional.

Maximalist interiors are full of life. Every corner offers something new to explore, creating a dynamic environment that feels energizing and inspiring.

Maximalism can be described as a brave or daring design choice, but over the last five years, this style continues to be a popular choice. Beyond its aesthetic charm, maximalism has practical benefits that might surprise you:

A maximalist home feels deeply personal. They’re a canvas for ongoing creativity, allowing you to rearrange, add, or swap pieces as your tastes evolve, allowing the opportunity to infuse your passions, hobbies, and character into every corner of your space

Maximalism often embraces vintage, second-hand, and repurposed items, making it an inherently sustainable design choice. By breathing new life into old pieces, you reduce waste and avoid fast furniture.

A maximalist home is full of life and energy. The vibrant colors, tactile textures, and sentimental items create a joyful and uplifting atmosphere.

One of the biggest concerns people have when creating a maximalist space is achieving the statement look without it feeling chaotic. The key is to balance abundance with intention.

Jacob suggests, “If you love the statement-making look of this interior style but don’t want to go all-out maximalist, you can take a more measured approach. Try a more limited color palette while still playing with contrasting and complementary tones to create a space that feels vibrant without becoming overwhelming. Pairing our Swoop Wallpaper with a rich terracotta paint trim would add a punchy contrast to the chalky blue wallpaper and bring the space alive.”

Here are some top tips to help you embrace maximalism while keeping your space beautifully curated:

Choose a focal element to build around, such as a statement wallpaper, bold rug, or vibrant piece of furniture. Use this as your anchor and layer complementary patterns, colors, and textures around it to ensure the room feels cohesive.

Rather than trying to decorate every inch of a room, focus on specific areas or vignettes. A gallery wall, a styled bookcase, or a boldly accessorised coffee table can make a statement without overwhelming the entire space.

While maximalism celebrates contrast, a unifying color palette can keep your space feeling harmonious. Choose one or two dominant colors and repeat them across different elements—this can help ground the boldness and keep the space cohesive.

To avoid cluttering your space, or for smaller rooms, achieve the maximalist look by choosing bold colors, textures, and patterns on the larger pieces in your room, such as sofas and rugs, sideboards, or coffee tables. Try painting side tables in surprising colors or using leftover wallpaper to decorate a dresser to help achieve the maximalism wow factor without the room feeling overwhelmed.