A Budget Guide to Maximilist Interiors

Charlotte Harris

Upon first hearing the term ‘maximalism’, people often mistake it as the practice of aesthetic hoarding - the latest cover story for lazy people trying to pass off their cluttered houses as a trendy lifestyle choice. Others imagine it to be a garish display of wealth - tacky extravagant furniture clashing against gaudy wallpaper. Good maximalist design, however, isn’t about mere clutter or tat - it’s about detail and expression. You know that old minimalist motto about only owning things that bring you joy? Well, why not live in a space that’s simply brimming with the things that make you happy? Who on earth decided that the joyous things in our homes should be pruned to a tasteful shelf’s worth? Yes, maximalist interiors can sometimes teter towards a haphazard jumble of discarded artefacts and long-forgotten dust collectors - but it’s surprisingly easy to compose your space into a relaxing visual feast of textures, colours, and memories. Your very own soul splayed out across the walls, floors, and furniture - who wouldn’t find joy in that?

If you’re looking to create a maximalist room, then your first step is to collect up some litter. Think postcards, train tickets, envelopes - all of these things can be carefully gathered and assembled on the walls, cabinet doors, and drawers. Look for ephemera with happy memories and meaning attached - letters from loved ones, concert tickets, et cetera. If you're lacking in messages from loved ones, try sending out some post to your friends and family and see

what they send back. If you’re also lacking in loved ones, you can look in charity shops for second hand bookmarks and stamps - I find Oxfam shops the best for cheap vintage postcards. Next, you’ll need to mix these in relics with some photographs. Think of this as a tapestry - you should aim to weave all of the different areas and eras of your life together. Perhaps its a picture of your mother from before you were born next to a picture of your own younger self. Maybe it’s a photo of a summer’s day from long ago next to a photo from last week. You could also mix in keepsakes of your interests - a scratched up 45” of a favourite song or the poster from a beloved film. You can complete the display with interesting picture frames from charity shops, or go old-school with sticky tape and Blu Tack. When you’ve decided on your selection, arrange it in a way that makes sense to you.

Now that you’ve plastered your personal history onto the walls, let’s move on to your hobbies. Whether they’re housed in books, CDs or signed footballs, find the right spots to showcase these interests and surround yourself with your passions. Not only will this invite conversation from guests, but it will also inspire you to pick up these hobbies more frequently.

Larger furnishings will be the key to coordinating this assortment into something pleasing rather than head-ache inducing. This shouldn’t mean a brand new suite from the furniture shop, instead, build your collection slowly with pieces you truly adore at the price you want to pay. In the meantime, use rugs, blankets and curtains to invite yourself into the room and allow the smaller details to act as backing vocals. Of course, it helps to keep a colour palette in mind - but rather than thinking of specific colours (a tactic that tends to result in something blocky and childish) - think of the tone and warmth of these fabrics, and aim for a feeling rather than a colour wheel. That’s what maximalist design is all about, following how you feel and trusting that the result will be cohesive.

Alright, you’re almost there. The walls are decorated, the furnishings are comfy and cohesive, the houseplants are on their way… we just need one finishing touch: good lighting. As anyone with any taste knows, that big ceiling light is only acceptable in times of serious and unglamorous concentration. For times of relaxation, you’ll want to install your own. Personally, I adore fairy lights, but if you’re looking for something a little more grown up, then search for a variety of interesting table and floor lamps. The trick is to place these light sources on different and unexpected levels, allowing the light to splay out in interesting ways. If you’ve failed in making a cohesive colour scheme, then warm and tinted lighting can be a great opportunity to fix that.

So there you have it: your own little paradise for very little money, and hopefully a pleasant trip of self-exploration along the way. Enjoy!