23 Maximalism Decor Ideas That Embody a "More Is More" Sensibility

You should have a few standout pieces in your maximalist space to create visual balance, and Heather French decided to go with a dramatic red paint color to do just that in her library. She painted the bookshelves a beautiful brick red and used the hue for details around the space, balancing out the warmth with a cool blue patterned wallpaper on the ceiling.

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Small spaces almost work better with a maximalist aesthetic than minimalist ones because you can create truly transformative vignettes. In this windowless powder room by Serena Dugan, the designer chose to create a jewel box space, complete with custom lighting, a playful floral wallpaper, and a stunning pink and green stone countertop.

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Create a large-scale pattern on the wall with a bunch of individual tiles. Galeana Younger of Galeana Group says that they used four different tile patterns to create this chevron print in her mother’s playful and vibrant maximalist kitchen.

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Use differently colored and patterned curtains to create a vibrant, maximalist cocoon in the bedroom. Younger says, “I like that the curtain and canopy not only provide a pop of color and drama but also create a smooth, streamlined place for the bed.” Plus, it makes her mother’s bedroom feel regal.

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Pattern drenching is the year's hottest design trend when it comes to maximalist decorating. Look to designer Wendy Labrum for inspiration on how you can pattern drench without the resulting space feeling too busy. It’s still maximalist, but a little more held back than some other options on this list.

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Related Story: Pattern Drenching Is a Must-Try Trend With Enduring Appeal

A gallery wall is to maximalism as shiplap is to farmhouse. In the iconic words of Miranda Priestley, "Groundbreaking," we know. However, Truss Interiors did not come to play with this gallery wall composed of a healthy number of dark prints and chunky picture frames. A variety in the size of your artwork is important, and using frames that look like art themselves gives your gallery wall a rich and exciting look.

"This 1970s original living room was the perfect backdrop for our client's forever-growing collection of books and collectibles," designer Fran Keenan of Fran Keenan Design explains. "Her love of fabric, color, and 'anything goes' approach is evident here and makes a potentially intimidating room feel fun and cozy." This bookshelf wealth–style living room, with art and accessories sprinkled in throughout the books, is a stunning example of maximalist decorating.

"The red lacquered bookshelves were the gutsiest part of the reno and gave the biggest payoff!," adds Keenan. "The hot red made the room feel fresh and created a strong but warm backdrop for the room's impressive scale and a much-needed contrast to the rustic stone fireplace."

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Keenan designed this primary bedroom for a client who's a "trained artist and avid collector of textiles and artwork." The Josef Frank fabric on the bed was the jumping-off point. "The more we worked with it, I knew we needed a 'newspaper print' that it could relate to in order to keep the pattern from feeling stark against a solid wall," she says. "There were no rules except comfort in this house. The layers were endless and inspiring."

Your ceiling should feel the maximalist love as much as any other part of your home. Designer Molly Singer of Molly Singer Design decorated this entire kitchen in a stunning Schumacher botanical wallcovering, keeping the space bright without sacrificing color.

The repeated jewel tone colors of the wallpaper in this powder room by Blessed Little Bungalow pair so well with the gold finishes on the vanity, mirror, and shelf above the toilet. Not only does the hardware complete the look of the space, but it looks wholly intentional in its design.

This ultra-chic and bold home bar area designed by MMB Studio is definitely the eye-catcher in this space, and for good reason. The rich red walls that tie into the artwork above the alcove and the stark black bar that perfectly contrasts the colors surrounding it make this little nook such an enviable addition.

Keenan designed this "keeping space" off a kitchen specifically to house some of her client's favorite objects. "The renovation allowed us to rip out the eight-inch ceilings and add a full-height wall for all of our client's books and collectibles to land and be enjoyed on the daily!" If you have the budget for a designated keepsake room, you might as well make it as lavish and fun as possible.

Take a cue from this open-concept space by Rincon Road Design Studio, and cover tabletops with plants, vases, catchall dishes, and whatever other decorations are calling your name. Just make sure the table is still functional to hold your coffee cup if you so desire.

Install a large-scale wallpaper or panels or hire a painter to create a stunning scene on your wall, then let it inspire the rest of your decorating choices. In this Blessed Little Bungalow project, bedding in lush colors drawn from the artwork make the room look that much more intentional and curated.

If you love the color of a piece of furniture, hang an art piece in the same color palette on the wall. It's a great way to create a cohesive look in a space that has a lot going on. This living room by Truss Interiors is a great example. The gorgeous green velvet couch and sculptural art above it match beautifully and make the space look pulled together.

Let colors you love guide you as you collect art and objects—it doesn't matter so much if they go perfectly together. "This gallery wall was a great way for us to combine all of the art, regardless of whether it matched with anything—the variety is what makes the room feel inspiring," says designer Keenan. "The pair of yellow linen sofas made all the maxed-out color in the art sing!"

In this MMB Studio design, the tile "rug" under the dining table is basically an art piece you can walk on. Not only is it an extremely unique addition that sets off the area, but it's also practical in that it won't stain or wear like a typical rug. You could get a similar effect sans grout by painting the floor.

"This was an enclosed screen porch that needed to feel like a comfy, cozy family den. The antique rug layered over the soft grass rug and the 'pattern on pattern' vintage textiles brought the whimsy and charm needed to make this room take off," says Keenan.