Maximalist Interior Design: Everything You Need to Know About This Bold and Playful Style

Original Article Published by Architectural Digest

If you believe that more is in fact more, maximalist interior design might just be the decor style for you. “Maximalist design is a style and aesthetic that leans into the more is more mentality,” says Megan Hopp, an interior designer based in New York and founder of Megan Hopp Design. The antithesis of minimalism, maximalist interiors embrace bold use of color, pattern, and layering to create a space that honors and celebrates excess. However, maximalism isn’t just piling everything into a room and calling it a day—it’s as intentional and curated as any other interior design trend. To better understand maximalist interior design, AD spoke with Hopp and Charlotte-based interior designer Ashely DeLapp all about this fun, over-the-top look.

What is maximalist interior design?

“If you’ve heard of minimalist design, it’s the opposite,” Hopp says of maximalism. Maximalist interiors often emulate the richer parts of life. It’s a design style rooted in a more-is-more philosophy that will often blend an eclectic mix of patterns, colors, textures, and objects. “Maximalism leans into big and bold decision making when it comes to color, pattern, texture, shape, and form,” Hopp tells AD. It’s a fun way to put all of your favorite things together in one room and show them off in a striking and playful way.

A bold wallpaper makes a statement in this maximalist office designed by Ashley DeLapp.

In recent years, visionaries like AD100 Hall of Famer Kelly Wearstler and AD100 designer Martin Brudnizki have championed the style and brought it further into the spotlight of the interior design zeitgeist. However, “maximalist design has been around for a long time—think Dorothy Draper and the Greenbriar Resort,” DeLapp notes. “It is very much tied to the Hollywood Regency aesthetic with loads of pattern, color, and textures layered together.”

Still, though there is often a lot that goes into a maximalist home, the design style is not cluttered or dirty. “It is not to be confused with over-decorated, cluttered, or dizzyingly busy design,” Hopp notes. If not careful, maximalism can slip into messy, which isn’t the same thing. Don’t worry though, Hopp and DeLapp share design tips below on how to avoid this.

History of maximalist interior design

Designed by Ashely DeLapp, this bedroom features a rich material palette and proves maximalist design can still be calming in sleeping spaces.

As far as home decor goes, maximalism is just another word for a phenomenon that’s been around for centuries: the art of displaying the things we love. “Maximalism goes all the way back to the Victorian era, when people were really trying to make a statement in their home as opposed to a more pared down conservative interior design style,” Hopp explains. When you think of stately homes or Versailles interiors, you’re likely imagining an early form of maximalism, all decked out in ornate decor and embellishments just for the sake of embellishments.

A pink maximalist dining area designed by Megan Hopp.

Throughout the years, this idea popped up in other interior styles as well. Art Deco in the early 20th centuries is one of the most commonly cited examples, as was the Hollywood Regency aesthetic which blossomed around the same time. When thinking about maximalism as an aesthetic rooted in excess, the ideals of the style can be seen throughout the Gilded Age and even as early as the Baroque period. And, like many interior styles, the ideas of maximalism aren’t just found in homes and architecture, but across various art forms such as music and the visual arts.

However, though these original interpretations of maximalist style used to be linked to displays of wealth, Hopp says that isn’t the case as much anymore. “I’ve read about how maximalism in fashion in America really came out of the end of World War II as a shift into a period of celebration; women looked to wear exaggerated styles and colors as an expression of joy,” she explains. “That concept rings true to me in a modern sense of interior maximalism where it’s less about creating something impressive and enviable, [and more about] something plain fun and fearless that brings joy to be in.”

Though maximalism of the Victorian era was often accomplished through decor and objects that weren’t accessible to everyone—think jeweled chandeliers or hand-carved furniture—none of this is a necessity for modern interpretations of maximalism. Now largely defined by brighter colors and bolder patterns, the principle of maximalism is easier to incorporate regardless of status or class, making the look both more approachable and gratifying.

Defining elements and characteristics of maximalist interior design

As Hopp says, “Nothing is truly maximalist if the palette is neutral; bright show stopping color is an absolute must.” Perhaps the most important element—and arguably the most fun—is the bold colors and intense scale of the rooms. “Maximalist design should evoke the woah reaction, and that is often because something is just not what you would have ever imagined,” Hopp says, adding that scale is often the most common cause of a wow reaction.

It’s not exhaustive, but consider this list of design elements when planning a maximalist room:

Bold colors
Bright wallpaper
Mixed patterns with contrasting motifs, like animal print, geometric shapes, or florals
Ornate accents, like chandeliers
Layered fabrics
Statement pieces

Of course, it’s also important to remember what maximalism is not: simple, subdued, or understated. “A maximalist design would never incorporate a simple gray couch,” Hopp says. “But rather opt for something very bright, patterned, or interesting in shape.”

Examples of maximalist interior design

To better understand maximalist design—and get a few decorating ideas—consider these projects from Hopp and DeLapp.

Maximalist kitchen

Maximalist dining room

Maximalist living room

Maximalist bedroom

How to bring maximalist interior design into your home

Maximalist designers and decorators are certainly afforded more liberties when it comes to what can go into a home—especially compared to midcentury or minimalist styles—but curation is still extremely important. “If you’re thinking of trying the maximalist look, start slowly,” DeLapp advises. “The style can quickly become overwhelming if it’s not edited properly.” By pacing yourself, you avoid veering away from artfully bold into cluttered and messy. “Pick a few patterns that you like, and mix them together through accent pillows, rugs, and wallpaper,” DeLapp suggests. She also recommends picking out a few pieces of vintage furniture and customizing them with a bright colored lacquer. Finding ways to highlight things you love, like a collection of objects or artwork, is another way to incorporate the look into your home. “These are all easy ways to get started and finding unique pieces along the way only adds to the personalized feel,” she says.

How do you make a maximalist interior?

“Using wallpaper with bold and bright patterns, glossy finished furniture, and a variety of accessories are key to pulling off this look in your home,” DeLapp says. Still, as Hopp explains, if you’re thinking of going maximalist, you must be ready to commit. “Be brave,” she says. “You cannot dip your toes into maximalist design.” In fact, whenever she’s working with a client who expresses an interest in maximalism, if they show a bit of restraint or second-guess the decisions as too big or too much, she’ll often advise they pivot into a much more conservative direction. “Diet maximalism is no good,” she says. “So if you want green in your space, paint it green, not gray green, but green. And while you’re at it, make it high gloss and throw in the trims and ceilings too!”