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Thursday, March 21st, 2019
Fashion, art or interior design, the world today is all about showcasing your personal style. We’re now in an age where identities are shared on social media and digital photography seems to be everyone’s hobby. Individual identities are now being embraced and accepted so you have a leeway on how you would want your home to look.
Creating your home’s style is not all about living alone, being with your significant other or living with your whole family. All these factors can contribute to the style and layout of the house but, of course, at the end of the day, the homeowner tends to show his or her artistic side.
Don’t go for the looks that you see in magazines. Those are lovely to look at but there are other things that you need to consider such as practicality and functionality.
Yes, it’s not all about aesthetics.
So when you’re finding a balance between all the elements that you use in your habitat, which style do you think would suit you best? Minimalism or maximalism? Or do you favor any style in between?
Defining Minimalism
Minimalism is thisUniversal Furniture Living Room Drink Table.
Minimalism centers on empty spaces, lots of straight lines, patterns, neutral colors, some pop of bold hues, decluttered spaces, and simplicity. It means getting rid of visual noise with only the practical and useful things left.
Minimalists know how to effectively use storage units. It is not equal to having zero stuff. Minimalism only means getting organized and putting away things that are not in use and having them close by if they need to be accessed now and then.
Minimalist rooms often feature light colors or neutrals as a color palette. It’s common to see white walls with just a few wall décor. The furniture in the rooms is also basic which means there is no bulky stuff.
Plain and linear is the name of the game where adornment is kept at a bare minimum.
The bedrooms are also dressed simply with just one bedside table or a pair that’s linear. There could be a simple area rug with few books, clothes, shoes, bedding options, etc.
Living a minimalist lifestyle could also mean being able to live with less. It means owning only the stuff that the person values (so this is different for each person). What could be minimalist for a family may not necessarily be so for a single person.
Minimalism also means not being obsessed with material things or consumerism.
The Meaning of Maximalism
The Flexsteel Living Room Leather Three-cushion Sofa is perfect in a maximalist home.
Maximalism, on the other hand, is the very opposite of minimalism. This does not mean that you embrace clutter or chaos, though.
Maximalists go for bold hues, patterns, and textures. There is so much room for creativity since you have the freedom to set up a house that’s brimming with life.
Maximalist homes are dynamic and intricate. You will find an abundance of choices. The surfaces are covered with useful as well as decorative objects. Your guests will not run out of options for seating and lying.
Depending on what activities the homeowner wants to hold, no maximalist homes are the same. If one is a voracious reader, then you could find a home that’s filled with line upon lines of shelving units. If an artist owns the home, then the space could look like a studio.
Every inch of the home is utilized and there might or might not be a theme.
Could You Be Both?
You could be somewhere in between these styles. For a lot of homeowners, it might be close to impossible to maintain a totally minimalist environment especially when they have kids and pets.
For most, they just allow their living environment to grow and be as opposed to planning everything to look like a hotel room or an exotic habitat.
Tags: maximalism, maximalist design, maximalist elements, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, minimalism, minimalist design, minimalist elements
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Maximalism or Minimalism?
Monday, July 16th, 2018
Who says bar carts are just for beverages? Featured here is the Maitland-Smith Accessories Tortoise Finished Rattan Bar Cart, Brown Leather Inlay Shelves, Antique Brass Accents 3041-032 which you can use to display your prized collections.
If you are the no-rules type of person, then you will love this style for your home. Maximalism is the very opposite of the saying, less is more. You might agree that minimalism could be boring especially when it is not executed properly. So, more is more, then.
A Little Maximalist History
The accepted father of the maximalist movement was the late Tony Duquette. It was in the midst of 20th century when Duquette made use of many of his sculptures, paintings, and jewelry to don his home. He also wrote the first book on this interior design so he is the one to attribute when you would like to use patterned, richly layered, gilded, and frescoed spaces which now inspire many maximalist designers.
Why Maximalism Is Interesting
Once you sign up to become a maximalist, you should be ready to become unique and interesting. Be ready also to create a dimension that’s solely yours, is not supported by any historical event or movement, and is very much opposed to minimalism (which is the in thing these days).
The quality of maximalism is that you draw near to the things that you love. So how, exactly, would you set up a maximalist home?
Let’s say you are a writer, then you should focus on this theme. If you are a musician, then your home should be filled with artworks and other stuff that point out to the kinds of instruments that you play.
While minimalism is having its moment, do not fret. The more-is-more mindset may not be as widespread but it is no less amazing. Just imagine what you can do with this style. You can fuse three different styles into one home. Just picture a shabby chic and Mid-century modern home for everyone to see.
The Century Furniture Living Room Aspen Lamp Table isn’t all about chunkiness, it is also a piece of furniture worthy of attention.
The Maximalist Base
When you’re about to kick off on your maximalist design, then always begin with the floor or the walls. This is going to be your base or the anchor for the rest of the design. Be sure to pick a bold hue for your wall paint or even a loud-colored wallpaper. Even a unique wood stain on the flooring would do the trick.
Maximalism is about taking the bits one step at a time. Don’t think that you can create the entire room all at once. Just keep adding where you began and you should be fine.
Link
Maximalism isn’t the same as being chaotic or messy, though. This is a style that still has links or connections. These links can either be fabrics, colors or even patterns. An example is when you pair a block chair in green with any jewel-toned area rug. Surround these with Moroccan prints to complete the look.
Learn to Juxtapose
Don’t match the furnishings either. Use materials with styles and materials that you can easily juxtapose. If, for instance, you have a wood coffee table in your living room, then you can get away with a marble-surfaced dining table.
Organized Chaos
As it was mentioned that maximalism is not the same as chaos, then you should learn to organize clutter. Maximalism is knowing how to properly store items so that you know where to find them when you need them. You can fill up a bookshelf with chinaware or a bar cart with museum-worthy collections. Don’t always go for the usual uses of drawers and cabinets.
Innovate.
Start a Collection
Being a maximalist is also starting your life as a collector. You would want to have your stuff on display. Whether you are a collector of chinaware, antique books or even pieces from your Grandma’s attic, you need to create a shelf or closet full of these curiosities.
Tags: elements of maximalism, maximalism, maximalism elements, maximalist interior design, maximalist interiors, maximalist style, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, what is maximalism
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Why Maximalism Is Giving Minimalism a Good Challenge
Friday, February 23rd, 2018
American Leather Living Room Malibu-Sectional
For the longest time, people have been raving about minimalism and how it is the way to live one’s life. We’ve seen a lot of white spaces with their floor lamps and streamlined seats. But what if you love boldness and abundance? Then maximalism could be the best trend for you.
Maximalism has been around for a bit in terms of visual art and multimedia. The world of interior design is trying to make sense of this new style. It is a movement that is seen to be unafraid of embellishments, bright colors, and a lot of sensual luxurious and sensual elements.
You might ask, is maximalism the very opposite of minimalism? The answer, quite simply, is yes.
But maximalism is not new. It has been featured in many post-modern novels as well as in the music industry. The periods covering 1890 to 1914 – especially in regions that speak German – was a time when people were encouraged to be more bold and dynamic with their personal style and home design.
There are many ways that you can set up a maximalist home. Whether you want to have a Victorian, Bohemian, or vintage maximalist home, it is possible. Here are some tips that can help you in creating your new home design –
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It’s All About Excessiveness
The key to having a lovely maximalist space is to embrace excess. The interiors have been inspired by Bohemian parlours and Victorian collections. If you can search for the most outrageous spaces online, you would soon realize that most of them are maximalist homes.
You would typically find huge art paintings, busts, bold paint, and huge furniture.
Maximalism is not an easy design to get right. You must have an eye for the luxurious as well as the overstated elements. if you’re thinking of a cluttered space right now then you’ve got it all wrong. Backtrack then find out which pieces were mismatched since these could easily clutter your maximalist space.
You can also use antique-looking pieces and mix them with different eras. Your focus should be to communicate your personality through your interior design.
The Bold Color Palette
Treat your new home as a canvas so you now have the freedom to be brave and bold when it comes to picking your home’s color. Set the tone for the rest of your maximalist space as you use shades of gold, fearlessly paint with indigo, or create a moody gray setting.
If you’re not that daring yet, you can always go for monochrome such as silver, chrome, white or black furniture. These tones can be used as the base colors while the brightest tones can be used on your accent pieces, area rugs, and accessories.
Find monochromatic wallpapers but with contrasting, bold prints. This should help you achieve the overstatement that you are trying to set up right now.
When you want to pick a lighter color palette, then look forward to paintings hanging on your walls or huge accessories to fill up the space that was opened up by the light colors. Pastels can still be used in a maximalist habitat, just try to mix the bright colors as you would mix red roses with the greens and the pink paper wrapping on a bouquet.
Go Scandinavian
Scandinavian style can also go maximalist. This is a new take on the usual less is more look that Nordic design usually is. If you’re doing the maximalist thing, then feature a lot of white ornaments, silver details, and the bolder, bigger finishing touches.
Finish with a Bang
It is also your duty to set up some show-stopping finishing touches. Use the decorative and baroque frames for your pictures. Use golden mirrors on your walls. Hang that lovely, bulky chandelier. Let the rugs, sofas, and pillows be adorned with floral, animal or tropical prints.
Be bold, be you, be maximalist.
Tags: maximalism, maximalism interior design, maximalist design, maximalist home, maximalist style, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Maximalism Is Abundance, Richness and Beauty in Excess
Friday, May 27th, 2016
1120CR Kit Club Chair by Cynthia Rowley
If you want some time away from the minimalist perspective being offered by modern living, then you will find refuge in maximalism. This is the grand antidote to clean lines and the simplicity of neutral color palettes and streamlined furnishings. Maximalist dwelling places are daring and dramatic yet still welcoming. Your eyes will never be bored as there is a visual feast in every room.
One Rule: There Is No Rule
Maximalism is all about conveying your personality through your home. It can be fun, romantic, rustic, even dramatic. Say goodbye to design rules as they are not that important in this kind of style. In fact, the only rule that you need to remember is to say throw any rules outside of the window.
Maximalism means playing with design elements in your own terms. Play with colors, patterns, scale and textures. Do not be contented with little embellishments, go to the hilt and decorate to the brim.
You can always evolve as there will always be room for improvement inside a maximalist home.
Leave Very Little Space
The maximalist is always a busy person. Her home comes in visual layers that build up in phases or stages. You could begin with some anchor pieces in neutral hues. Begin with chairs, sofa, a table, dresser, and blinds. These are the anchors upon which all the other interior design pieces will hold on to.
Keep in mind that a maximalist must be sociable, too. This means that you should have lots and lots of seats. Surround these seats with elements of blue, green, red and gold. These will look great when used all together on wallpaper.
FFDM’s Antebellum Collection features bulky furniture pieces that will fit right into a maximalist home.
Experiment with Colors
The maximalist is never bound by anything so go ahead and experiment on the different hues that you can use inside your home. You’re not bound by the pastels required of a preppy home or the black and red fusion of Gothic design.
Don’t be afraid to use dark or bold shades. Walls painted with dark colors and furniture pieces in equally hot hues will spell drama at every level. Again, there is no need to be bound by tone, harmony or contrast.
Find out what sort of mood board you can work with. Blend different colors and discover what results excite you the most.
A Lot of Mixing
Bohemian and eclectic are two of the closest words that you can use to describe maximalism. You don’t have to stick to one era or style. Mix to the max! There, that’s your rule.
Do the patterns clash? Who cares? Patterns everywhere will make a maximalist home crazier.
What about textures? The secret is to build the layers. Bring in wool, sheepskin, velvet and silk. Of course, you mustn’t forget the walls. Wall texture can be added if you hang a rug or embossed wallpaper.
Maxed Lighting
Maximalism can also be reflected in the type of lighting that you use. Go for clusters of light instead of the usual, single pendant lighting.
Lighting can add a different level of visual interest in a home so play and tweak the lights that you will use. Bring in the floor lamps, colorful chandeliers, and table lamps. Look for pop pieces that are the exact opposite of classic beauty and elegance.
Up to the Ceiling
A maximalist won’t stop designing her home the moment the rooms are filled with furnishings and colors. Look up and you would find out that there is still so much to do.
Get wallpaper to cover your ceiling or find the paint that suits your taste. Patterned wallpaper, for instance, will look great with light walls but they are also sure to stand out with dark paint.
Make your choice now, maximalist.
Tags: bohemian, bohemian interiors, Boho, Boho charm, eclectic, eclectic design, eclectic interior design, eclectic interiors, eclecticism, maximalism, maximalist, maximalist home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
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