Maximalism isn't a threat to interior design, it IS interior design. It's been around since the Victorian era. It's not going anywhere, and it's not a threat.
Long time Maximalist here. I love my antiques, my books, my art and my blankets. And I'm tired of being told to get rid of the beautiful things that bring me joy. Used to be called 'ecclectic' sometimes, I've decorated horribly, other times, I've nailed it. I'm just a girl in the world after all...
I’m the same way. I have lots of collections but it’s not just “stuff”-they’re pieces that have meaning because they were gifted by loved ones or things I picked up on my travels. It really makes me happy just to be surrounded by those items. Which I think is the ultimate point of interior design-it should make you love being in your home and bring you joy.
You are still an eclectic, but your taste is developing unto a much better one overtime because you learn through your choices and your hits and misses.
If you get it, you get it, and it’s wonderful! I’d venture to say that most do not have the time or temperament to attempt the complexities of “Maximalist” design, but for those of us who do, it brings great joy and satisfaction. ❤
My mother has always been a maximalist. She’s never met a bare wall that didn’t need some type of picture or decoration on it. I used to hate it, but now I embrace it.
My 80 year old aunt in a nutshell and she’s a global traveler and antique collector and seller and has more energy that a teen on adrenal I love this style
I like how Lisa introduced styles very academically like how professors gives the lecturer. Very logical. As a musician, I can always echo the terms Lisa used to describe styles.
Great video, Lisa, thanks. I noticed in the art nouveau room, the wallpaper and fabric on the chair were the same. It took me back to my Laura Ashley days when I longed to match my fabrics to my wallpapers to my lamp shades, all on a highly patterned rug. My daughter’s nursery was decorated in a lovely Waverley paper and border with matching balloon valances, to which I later added a matching duvet and multiple, complimentary pillows and shams. I still use the bed coverings, but with painted walls and a white zebra window shade. I am itching to refashion the balloon valances into a Roman blind if there’s enough material. I guess I just can’t help myself!
You are legit, girlfriend. Best description of Maximalist and then you provided such great basic concepts to enable me to truly see the vision materialize. I know exactly what feel I want with my maximalist living room, and you have helped me in these 8:51 minutes more than any other designer or "influencer" I've watched lately. You have NO idea, how helpful this is right now as this all starts to jell! Especially with the color story, intentionality and formal layout. Yes. I get it. I ♥ you! Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day to boot!
I'm an eclectic in every way but I love neatness and balance and I hate clutter and crazy colors. I mix styles, periods, patterns but I stick to neutrals and it works. It allows the art and collections and decor to shine. Too much busy is not pretty to me.
Loved this 👍 great explanation..I would say I am not full on max more transitional, but I do love my things around me and I often get asked, wow where did you get that ? Cleanliness and organisation is a must. I so appreciate seeing the home owners personality coming through .
Have always loved this since I was a kid. Now I’m married with kids in the suburbs. How do I balance the max traditional transitional look so it doesn’t overwhelm my family but I still get to fulfill my heart with this design.
Easily done! My children grew up learning about their family history by hearing where that chair or this dish came from. Embracing and living your lifestyle will teach them that they don't have to be afraid to follow their heart or be enslaved to trends.
Nope. Sorry, no can do. I can appreciate the beauty of maximalist rooms done right, like that blue/white room Lisa discusses, but I cannot live in maximalist rooms. Even done right, they hurt my eyes and raise my stress level and blood pressure. Heck, I can't even BREATHE in them. I once went to a designer showhouse (Dallas, 2021) and the media room was this windowless (OK, it was in the basement) riot of red and orange. Presumably it had been "done right" but I couldn't stay in that room for more than 3 minutes before I needed OUT. And maximalist rooms done wrong are just visual diarrhea. I need calming, peaceful, soothing rooms at home. There is enough sensory stimulation outside-- I don't need, or want it, inside.
"Rhythm and repetitive " and "color story:; that's genius! Best explanation without being judgmental. Best tips for avoiding chaos and clutter. Wonderful. These tips would be fabulous when applied to making decisions about Christmas decorating. (Hint, hint for future video...)
Great vlog!!! I've gone more natural and neutral in color, with just enough black, but maximum with vintage art, mixing vintage and modern, books (I'm a book collector), brass, etc., lots of layering. Defiantly an English vibe but with less color. I guess I did good considering the compliments. I love maximum color in other's homes, but it makes me feel claustrophobic.
I've always been super drawn to maximalism without knowing what it is! But my mom growing up did not like it haha. Now as an adult, I want to have fun in my space. This is great!
Hi Lisa. This was fun! While I'm not a 'full-on' maximalist, I'm closer to that than minimalist. Because of your mentioned collections. Books and artwork. I work around those things as where I presently rent has no architecture to base the design upon.(Well, perhaps if cold war can be defined as a style.)😏 The challenge can be...bookcase/shelf? Art? They have to share.
Safe to say I’m definitely not a maximalist 😂. I’d just want to declutter … I grew up in a house with loads of things everywhere - so many pictures, photos, objects etc on every surface. Just so hard to keep it all clean and dusted.
Great video! These color themes are similar through the entire home? For example the blue and white room - does it carry thru the entire home? I’d love to see an entire maximalist home done right versus just one room! Thanks!!!
So interesting. Definitely seems tricky to pull of well but looks so fun to put together etc. Not for me, I like more calm and minimal, at least in comparison to this because not a minimalist either. Can really appreciate this when done well, though, I find it very fascinating and creative.
I started out thinking I had a traditional style because I love antiques. Then because I also love some more modern pieces, I thought I was transitional. I refined my design style to French contemporary, and now I think I lean towards maximalism because of its embrace of colour, pattern, and a variety of influences. Through your Dezign Club, I learned that Maximalism is related to French Contemporary. Whew! Maybe I'm just eclectic...LOL!
I'm seeing @8:51 in the orange and blue room a circular rug that's seems to be out of scale. Well from what we are told how to size rug with the furnishings. I have noticed this time and time again from other designers references and even in magazines. Why? I actually think it looks fine visually so I'm a firm believer if it looks right to your eye then it's okay. The rug sits right at a sweet spot with the curvature of the sofa.
I don't care for modern maximalism. It tends to use loud colors with nothing you really want to focus on within it. Traditional maximalism with lush fabrics, iconic wallpapers, beautiful art pieces that make you want to look, touch, and talk about how the owner came by them - yes, all day long!
If I were to have a maximalist space, I don't think it could be the entire house, or I'd go crazy. 😵💫I say this from experience because I once lived in a tiny studio that had super high ceilings, so I created a busy gallery wall. I absolutely loved it, but when the pandemic hit and I got stuck inside, I got claustrophobic from having too much stuff and nowhere else to look. But I appreciate how maximalists tend not to be afraid of colour; I see so much fear of colour around me these days and it's refreshing to see people have fun with it! Thanks for the video, Lisa, Dana, and crew! Your expertise is so helpful!
Hello Jonathon. I agree with your point with color. This style would be too much for me. Like having music blasting loud 24/7, I need some peace and quiet. This style doesn't have any "negative space", meaning the blank spaces are just as important as the spaces that are filled with stuff. There is nowhere for the "eye to rest", and that is intentional. It is very invigorating though, but human nature dictates that we have a break from traffic, and over visual overstimulation, like our phones of modern day life. This is NOT a refuse from the rat race. It is sooo dusty here in FL, I would have to hire somebody just to dust, this is just too hard to maintain, or so it seems. This is not forgiving of our daily clutter, neither is Scandi. You would have to be an extremely OCD person to keep up. I really liked a couple of examples she showed, like the one with the tiger taxidermy. But for me, too much maintenance and actually chaotic. Although it is a "controlled chaos" as Lisa points out. I think you have a typical reaction to this. It looks good in very limited doses, but not conducive to long exposure to it. BTW, did you notice the artwork of the take off of Velazquez's "Las Meninas"? It was basically a black and white blow up of "La Menina", section of the whole painting. Loved that.
@@PostImperfect Thank you Z, no I am not a member, just a fan. I think Jonathon has an art background or at least familiar with various art. I didn't think my comment was particularly interesting, but that one caught my eye. You can only see it for a split second. I really liked that, so I wondered if he had noticed it. "a stripped down piece of an 'old master'", doesn't seem to fit with the style.
@@rockshot100 I noticed that as well. I am more into minimalism, these super busy rooms are too much for me. I can get a bit hyperactive and this would drive me nuts 🤪
"...Add some Adderall." Omg, I laughed so hard. I dunno about Maximalism. It's borderline migraine aura/hoarder to me. And all that dusting, don't even talk about it! However, the Chinoiserie blue and white makes my heart explode. I love it so much! I'm moving to a bungalow in the decorating capital of the world, Kansas rofl. I think I can pull this off as it's my house dang it!
Question …how many watching have built in arches, architectural moldings/fireplaces /hi ceilings, etc. please show photos of the box rooms we really live in. But love your enthusiasm.!!
I feel like the only real problem with maximalism is that it really requires excellent taste, and very cultured taste. You can't just go and buy a suite of furniture and a few decorative accessories and call it a day. Everything needs to be curated. Everything should be meaningful. Everything should express different aspects of your personality in a harmonious way. If you just go to Anthropologie and buy a bunch of maximalist decor pieces it *will* look wrong, cheesy, and inauthentic. I feel like I would have mentioned that a high/low mix is almost a necessity. A mix of flea market/thrift store, artisanal, and designer pieces is pretty much essential. I would just avoid anything purely decorative that wasn't super special. No "accessories" from like, Target. Unless it's something super basic, like picture frames, I'd avoid anything that looks mass produced.
So looking forward to this, Lisa, thank you. I waffle between "am I a maximalist, or do I just need to curate more?" 😂 I have so many antiques and I love them all, and keep bringing more home. I need a bigger house 😆 Or perhaps I should just embrace my maximalist tendencies and call it a day 😉 I haven't been in the Dezign Club in ages - I need to get back in there and get myself sorted LOL
Yes!!! You incorporated Monty Python! You are so cool! 😄✨ That blue and white room you like is also broken up with a massive simplistic painting and a tall, french window.
I am certainly not a maximalist but love seeing these spaces! Then again, maybe I'm a closet maximalist but the guilt and fear of being that outrageous reigns me in.
I feel like a lot depends on how cohesive the parts are. For example, my eye reads the full bookcases ss a single unit. Same deal with the Moroccan tiles. But the William Morris wallpaper and chairs appear too jumbled to my eye, even though the chairs almost disappear into the wall. And jumbled images don't make the space feel enjoyable to me.
Yes OMG I love your educated, experienced, and tasteful deep dives. You are the best there is on TH-cam. I also 1000% believe these self-taught TH-camrs on interiors take notes watching your videos. I hear your phrasing in their videos! 🫢 imitation is flattery, right? But they should be giving you a shout out! But they’ll rewatch their ramblings one day and cringe… while everything about you and everything you do is timeless!
Omg I totally agree. The self taught ones definitely take notes from Lisa. She’s so knowledgeable. I mean she is a famous award winning designer and has accreditations out the wazoo. 😊
Not just the self taught ones-I’ve worked as an interior designer professionally for over 11 years and I still learn a lot from watching Lisa. Not to mention she’s so fun, I’m like, dang I wish I was friends with her!
@@vaderladyl and while there is nothing wrong with being self-taught, you need to actually TEACH YOURSELF. And LEARN. And reference and cite. Understand how styles developed. Understand the materials used. History, culture, environment. Not just look at images, copy popular looks and brands, and then say words like “chic”, “high-end”, or “elevate” over and over. 🤣🙄
So glad to see maximalism come back; history shows us that aiming for less has never been human nature. What did ancient peoples do once they were sheltered, safe, and well-fed enough to have spare time? Decorate their caves!! That being said, this look requires discipline and restraint. My grandmother always said "Get completely ready for a party and then take off ONE piece of jewelry.
Wow, Lisa really explained this style extremely well. I still don't like it and the opposite would be Scandi, I think. One has entirely too much to look at, and Scandi is just too stark for my taste. And practically, neither are forgiving of anything out of place. You would have to hire a full time person to dust at least where I live.
The only maximalist place I've ever seen that looked good was done by a very good professional designer. All the DIY spaces I have seen looked like a hot mess and I couldn't wait to get out of there before I developed a headache.
I never knew there was a name for what my space looks like until recently. William Morris, Eduard Bénèdictus, etc wallpaper with some solid greenish/jade (Beau Green by B Moore is my new everything) paint, tchotchkes from my travels, flea market and thrifted finds, plants plants plants, ornate frames with street art/friend’s photography and painting inside, old card catalogues, lush velvet fainting couches. I never thought of what era it was from. I just…. Do. People love it. No one walks into my space and makes a face or looks shocked, they want a tour and ask where this or that came from. It is my head turned inside out, minus the ugly. I guess my style is somewhat moroccan, somewhat edwardian, somewhat boho and some…. What would you call Mark Ryden prints? My new favorite places to shop for stuff is at the oddities expo and the punk rock flea market in philly. My asvice if you like this type of style, as I’m 42 now and have been decorating in this manner since my teens, is to not commit to anything like wall paper or paint or renting a van to pick up a huge wardrobe you just bought an hour ago at an estate sale while your friend guards it until you know that it is what you want and always remember that furniture not only has to fit it your room but also has to get there. Don’t learn that the hard way by scraping up your stairs only to realize it won’t take that turn at any angle. Which brings me to my most important tip: everything I’ve just told you pretty much can be rectified if you learn how to repurpose and restore old wood and furniture. And never underestimate what a trip to the salvage yard and some spray paint can do!
Ok Lisa I enjoy watching you and I try to learn from it but one has to admit if we don’t live in a place that’s appropriate for some of these styles or we personally have someone like yourself help other wise ones home could end up looking like a Walmart or dollar store not everything in store looks good in your home you’ll have a hot mess 😂of all the rooms you showed my favorite blue and white? If one could duplicate every day person should just use blue and white accessories and leave the rest neutral you are a terrific artist you have a great talent and eye for detail
This is going to be delicious and educative. I adore blue & white as a dominant color theme and this first room is gorgeous, but it would be oppressive without all that natural light and is way too busy for one's only living room in a house, not a mansion or castle. It is great for a large manor house with all that sunlight. Well, the small red & blue room you showed next is well-done, but a bit claustrophobic and perhaps suitable to a bachelor who wants still to be at the University of Pennsylvania, his best years remembered. It made me think of a small room where one listens to listens to Beethoven and sips Laphroaig neat. It is clear these rooms were carefully planned, but some of them are just hard to look at, gaze upon, be restful/comfy with. It may be possible in your home environment to have things "too studied." Other than not liking the striped draperies, the multi-colored room is wonderful, as were some of the others, but I would not want to live with it daily in a normal-sized family home. I think I might be most inclined to try this and have fun with it in a conservatory type of room where there is loads of sunlight and you are spending perhaps only lunchtime or tea time daily, so it does not have time to become overwhelming or too fussy. I'd love to see Catherine Deneuve's apartment in Paris, as I understand it is a cross between eclectic and global traveler because she wanted her home to reflect her life, loved ones, travels, work, etc., and so is a bit of this and a soupcon of that. I have to say I adore some of the layered rooms you showed us, but again I would want them in a mansion, not an average home as the family living room. Now I have to work on getting the house with a conservatory where I can play with this style.
My aunt about died when I put a bright gold tiger-stripe-pattern material on a very traditional antique cane-back bergere. And then paired it with a lucite arm chair in my living room. Eclectic is my middle name!
I’m a maximilist because the modern/traditional/country kitchen is so so so so boring. I want to live in a home. Not a hotel, not a spa, not a business office. I want to live in a home that is rich and full of life. I’m working on my maximalist house and it’s giving me LIFE. When home shopping I literally vetoed homes that had too many garbage modern refinished that were builder grade, greige, and bland.
Im for minimalism functioning and priotities not decor. Maximalism isnt for me cause since Im thinking like a minimalist and clutter now stresses me out. However Im not ok with bare styles. Im for bold and rich but accented design. Ie color pop wall in orange, organic texture such as rock texture, rich darker tones in the room or neautral to offset bright colors. 6:21 also just to add decor thought fun. In this room I like the bright pink chairs and the rug! But I would add yellow to my color story and go from there. Ie the chandelier change to a hanging down classic crystal one. Have it more crystal and reflective to offset the color. Id paint that dresser yellow. Curtains blue and yellow patterned small print to compliment the blue in the rug and tie in the yellow dresser. Wall stays but art changes to a mix of pink, hot pink and yellow swirl or abstract or patterned artwork, maybe a nice silk scarf framed in white to tie in the pink and yellow colors. Lamp shades have blue accents in them or red/ pink bases, white shades. Table has red accents and white crystal pieces to keep it clean but consistent.
While I'm glad you pointed out the repeating patterns and colors that make the designs work, I wish you had pointed out even more of the specifics that make some of the examples work.. I also wish you had put images of maximalism that works next to images of a room where it doesn't work and then point out the differences. I also find statements such as " as long it's it's intentional and makes sense with the rest of the room" to be too vague for a lot of people to understand. It would be helpful to spell out what specifically it means to be "intentional" and "working with the rest of the room."
Personally i like to mix match it with all things i love and let the chips fall where they may - I'm never done it's evolving! Although these pictures are pretty they seem almost staged or designed - my space changes with time and treasure discoveries and they all may not be blue and white🤷but they do come together as a representation of me! That's what makes it fun - there's only one you!! People seem to feel cozy and homey here!
I could appreciate maximalist decor in someone else's home for a short period of time. There's just too much going on. It makes me dizzy. Reminds me of Kaffe Fassett's home. I'm not a minimalist either. I'm a traditionalist who likes soft colors and not too much clutter.
I am a Zen Minimalist, my partner is a Victorian Era Collector now living in the 21st Century who is enchanted by MCM design, especially Finnish, TG, before it was 19th century Chinese vernacular furniture, it was like living in a Chinese Restaurant, I put my foot down and since we live in an MCM home, we need MCM furniture, we now have a finely blended collection that has been referred to as ''nicely curated'' I prefer to live in an Art Gallery/Museum than a restaurant. That's Right Maximalists, You Live In Museums. 🤪
Dear Ms Lisa, Is it normal that the decors shown for Maximalism make my head spin? I really like special accents here and there but...I think that I will be forgiven if...I prefer...simple?! ;) I am more knowledgeable about maximalism though, thank you!!! Have a great Saint-Valentine week! You deserve all the tenderness that it can bring! helene :))
I don’t think Maximalism is really a style on its own. I despise the modern rainbow-bright room examples, but I love the cozy rooms with beautiful antiques, books and art and colorful traditional Persian carpets. I like British country manor maximalist style - but I would never want Austin Powers’ apartment… Maximalism is not one thing.
“You really need to commit on this one”... or if I lived in those spaces, I’d really need to be committed! There is so much visual chaos and too many saturated colors, I would never be able to relax. It’s anxiety inducing just thinking about living amongst all that busyness on the day to day! More power to those who find joy amongst everything that’s going on. I’m far from minimalist but this type of maximalism is just not for me! Thank goodness to each their own!
Maxi rooms done well (like those shown) just make my heart sing. Most minimalism is quite ‘basic’ (when not professionally done). It just makes me feel grey and depressed (as in I feel nothing, NOT as in I feel sad). It’s definitely a personality trait. (Colour if definitely the key. E.g. I’ve sourced 10-15 vintage tea cup trios from different places but all with the same palette.)
I'm a controlled collector maximalist and dislike the garish colors and patterns in some of the interiors in this video. Beauty should always be foremost and crazy interiors are just not livable. That said, I love to surround myself with objects that are very meaningful to me. Home is all about making yourself happy, and my antique Chinese porcelain and numerous oil paintings, drawings and watercolors do just that. A controlled color palette and patterns make it all harmonious and very cozy.
Thankfully I'm not into this design. I could never pull it off in a million years! I think you must really know what you are doing to be able to successfully do this design.
Maximalism is as old as time. To call it a trend is like calling having a sense of humor a trend. It is a sensibility. Yes, it drives minimalist and rule followers crazy, but for the "more is more person" it's the only way to live.
Maximalism isn't a threat to interior design, it IS interior design. It's been around since the Victorian era. It's not going anywhere, and it's not a threat.
Lisa Holt is the woman who once used Beata Heuman's work as a "don't" (too busy I think) but I noticed she featured a Heuman space @6:52. Strange.
THIS!
Long time Maximalist here. I love my antiques, my books, my art and my blankets. And I'm tired of being told to get rid of the beautiful things that bring me joy. Used to be called 'ecclectic' sometimes, I've decorated horribly, other times, I've nailed it. I'm just a girl in the world after all...
I’m the same way. I have lots of collections but it’s not just “stuff”-they’re pieces that have meaning because they were gifted by loved ones or things I picked up on my travels. It really makes me happy just to be surrounded by those items. Which I think is the ultimate point of interior design-it should make you love being in your home and bring you joy.
Same here! ❤
I completely feel you. I’m eclectic, trendsetter with some glam, art deco touches. This style works with my love of colour.
You are still an eclectic, but your taste is developing unto a much better one overtime because you learn through your choices and your hits and misses.
If you love it and it brings you joy, that is all that matters.
If you get it, you get it, and it’s wonderful! I’d venture to say that most do not have the time or temperament to attempt the complexities of “Maximalist” design, but for those of us who do, it brings great joy and satisfaction. ❤
Well said!
My mother has always been a maximalist. She’s never met a bare wall that didn’t need some type of picture or decoration on it.
I used to hate it, but now I embrace it.
My 80 year old aunt in a nutshell and she’s a global traveler and antique collector and seller and has more energy that a teen on adrenal
I love this style
Definetly love seeing Maximalism when well excecuted, even if it’s not my style.
I like how Lisa introduced styles very academically like how professors gives the lecturer. Very logical. As a musician, I can always echo the terms Lisa used to describe styles.
Unfortunately her info is not always accurate
Great video, Lisa, thanks. I noticed in the art nouveau room, the wallpaper and fabric on the chair were the same. It took me back to my Laura Ashley days when I longed to match my fabrics to my wallpapers to my lamp shades, all on a highly patterned rug. My daughter’s nursery was decorated in a lovely Waverley paper and border with matching balloon valances, to which I later added a matching duvet and multiple, complimentary pillows and shams. I still use the bed coverings, but with painted walls and a white zebra window shade. I am itching to refashion the balloon valances into a Roman blind if there’s enough material. I guess I just can’t help myself!
Layers is key to me. This was fabulous. Great editor 😊
Hey Squally!
@@PostImperfect hey sweets ☺️
You are legit, girlfriend. Best description of Maximalist and then you provided such great basic concepts to enable me to truly see the vision materialize. I know exactly what feel I want with my maximalist living room, and you have helped me in these 8:51 minutes more than any other designer or "influencer" I've watched lately. You have NO idea, how helpful this is right now as this all starts to jell! Especially with the color story, intentionality and formal layout. Yes. I get it. I ♥ you! Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day to boot!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your comment!
@@LisaHoltDesign love YOU!! Seriously, you help me immeasurably! ❤️❤️❤️
I'm an eclectic in every way but I love neatness and balance and I hate clutter and crazy colors. I mix styles, periods, patterns but I stick to neutrals and it works. It allows the art and collections and decor to shine. Too much busy is not pretty to me.
A balanced eclectic style! Great style!
@@LisaHoltDesign thanks Lisa Love your channel! Happy Valentine's Day!
I love colour my favourites are Pink,Pugundy Red,Prussia Plue,Purple,Gothic green
This was my favorite learning video that you’ve done. I love your explanations and direction. Thank you Lisa!
You are so welcome!
It is not a trend, its a way of life. It is not a style. It is a way of life. It is not a taste, it is a way of life. You dont master it at all.
Yes it is a lifestyle. Not for the faint of heart.
It overwhelms me, Raises my blood pressure, I couldn’t be in those rooms for long
Odd title for this video?
Too many cluttered designs stress me out
So agree with this. There are as many maximalist styles as there are maximalists.
Loved this 👍 great explanation..I would say I am not full on max more transitional, but I do love my things around me and I often get asked, wow where did you get that ?
Cleanliness and organisation is a must.
I so appreciate seeing the home owners personality coming through .
Have always loved this since I was a kid. Now I’m married with kids in the suburbs. How do I balance the max traditional transitional look so it doesn’t overwhelm my family but I still get to fulfill my heart with this design.
Easily done! My children grew up learning about their family history by hearing where that chair or this dish came from. Embracing and living your lifestyle will teach them that they don't have to be afraid to follow their heart or be enslaved to trends.
Great question! Shoot Lisa a message at thedezignclub.com! Thank you! - G
@@holleyjohnson7197You can shun trends and also not be a hoarder... It's not exclusive to people who like clutter, you know.
Nope. Sorry, no can do. I can appreciate the beauty of maximalist rooms done right, like that blue/white room Lisa discusses, but I cannot live in maximalist rooms. Even done right, they hurt my eyes and raise my stress level and blood pressure. Heck, I can't even BREATHE in them. I once went to a designer showhouse (Dallas, 2021) and the media room was this windowless (OK, it was in the basement) riot of red and orange. Presumably it had been "done right" but I couldn't stay in that room for more than 3 minutes before I needed OUT. And maximalist rooms done wrong are just visual diarrhea. I need calming, peaceful, soothing rooms at home. There is enough sensory stimulation outside-- I don't need, or want it, inside.
"Rhythm and repetitive " and "color story:; that's genius! Best explanation without being judgmental. Best tips for avoiding chaos and clutter. Wonderful. These tips would be fabulous when applied to making decisions about Christmas decorating. (Hint, hint for future video...)
Glad it was helpful! and LUV the tip for Xmas!
Great vlog!!! I've gone more natural and neutral in color, with just enough black, but maximum with vintage art, mixing vintage and modern, books (I'm a book collector), brass, etc., lots of layering. Defiantly an English vibe but with less color. I guess I did good considering the compliments. I love maximum color in other's homes, but it makes me feel claustrophobic.
This is me to a tee Lisa!👌🏻💫😆 I just didn't know I had a label! 🫶🫶🫶
Developing the color story is the hardest part to me. Wouldn't say I am a full maximalist but LOVE the colors!!
What
I've always been super drawn to maximalism without knowing what it is! But my mom growing up did not like it haha. Now as an adult, I want to have fun in my space. This is great!
Hi Lisa. This was fun! While I'm not a 'full-on' maximalist, I'm closer to that than minimalist. Because of your mentioned collections. Books and artwork. I work around those things as where I presently rent has no architecture to base the design upon.(Well, perhaps if cold war can be defined as a style.)😏
The challenge can be...bookcase/shelf? Art? They have to share.
Safe to say I’m definitely not a maximalist 😂. I’d just want to declutter … I grew up in a house with loads of things everywhere - so many pictures, photos, objects etc on every surface. Just so hard to keep it all clean and dusted.
So true!
I find this style really interesting 😊
Yay, thank you!
Rewatching. Such a great video. 😊
You're the best!
Gives me a headache, I don't want to come home from work to what basically looks like a bath bomb has gone off in your living room
LOL!!
What is not to like:)? Lovely video Lisa &co!
YAY! thanks so much it means the world to us!
I would get tired of looking at it rather quickly. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to keep everything neutral, calm, easy to dust, etc., etc..
Lisa thanks so much for the great breakdown! Not my vibe, but it’s interesting and something I’ve tried to make sense of. 😂
Inspiring and informative! ❤️
Great video! These color themes are similar through the entire home? For example the blue and white room - does it carry thru the entire home? I’d love to see an entire maximalist home done right versus just one room! Thanks!!!
GREAT question! Shoot Lisa a message at thedezignclub.com! Thank you! - G
So interesting. Definitely seems tricky to pull of well but looks so fun to put together etc. Not for me, I like more calm and minimal, at least in comparison to this because not a minimalist either. Can really appreciate this when done well, though, I find it very fascinating and creative.
Glad you enjoyed it!
When you’re poor it’s called hoarding !
Hi Lisa!! I hope you are well. This was a lot of fun🧡💛💚❤💜
So glad!
I started out thinking I had a traditional style because I love antiques. Then because I also love some more modern pieces, I thought I was transitional. I refined my design style to French contemporary, and now I think I lean towards maximalism because of its embrace of colour, pattern, and a variety of influences. Through your Dezign Club, I learned that Maximalism is related to French Contemporary. Whew! Maybe I'm just eclectic...LOL!
When your style is hard to describe and you know you like many styles together, that is exactly what eclectic is. I know I am one.
Eclectic like me. Fun! 😊
Eclectic is really never the wrong choice, assuming it's somewhat cohesive. ALL trends age badly. Personal style is timeless.
Eclectic is SUPER FUN style!!
Thank you for teaching me more about this style of decorating, as this is the look I aspire to for my home
You are so welcome!
I'm seeing @8:51 in the orange and blue room a circular rug that's seems to be out of scale. Well from what we are told how to size rug with the furnishings. I have noticed this time and time again from other designers references and even in magazines. Why? I actually think it looks fine visually so I'm a firm believer if it looks right to your eye then it's okay. The rug sits right at a sweet spot with the curvature of the sofa.
Maximalism wears me out! I could not live in a space with so much going on. It would make me crazy.
Maximalism = confusion
I feel like I want to prevent putting things in storage as much as possible, but it makes sense that there are limitations.
Diana Vreeland comes to mind
Hey Lisa, I appreciate the description of how it works, but I find it overwhelming.
Me too!
I don't care for modern maximalism. It tends to use loud colors with nothing you really want to focus on within it. Traditional maximalism with lush fabrics, iconic wallpapers, beautiful art pieces that make you want to look, touch, and talk about how the owner came by them - yes, all day long!
If I were to have a maximalist space, I don't think it could be the entire house, or I'd go crazy. 😵💫I say this from experience because I once lived in a tiny studio that had super high ceilings, so I created a busy gallery wall. I absolutely loved it, but when the pandemic hit and I got stuck inside, I got claustrophobic from having too much stuff and nowhere else to look.
But I appreciate how maximalists tend not to be afraid of colour; I see so much fear of colour around me these days and it's refreshing to see people have fun with it!
Thanks for the video, Lisa, Dana, and crew! Your expertise is so helpful!
Hello Jonathon. I agree with your point with color. This style would be too much for me. Like having music blasting loud 24/7, I need some peace and quiet.
This style doesn't have any "negative space", meaning the blank spaces are just as important as the spaces that are filled with stuff. There is nowhere for the "eye to rest", and that is intentional. It is very invigorating though, but human nature dictates that we have a break from traffic, and over visual overstimulation, like our phones of modern day life. This is NOT a refuse from the rat race.
It is sooo dusty here in FL, I would have to hire somebody just to dust, this is just too hard to maintain, or so it seems. This is not forgiving of our daily clutter, neither is Scandi. You would have to be an extremely OCD person to keep up.
I really liked a couple of examples she showed, like the one with the tiger taxidermy. But for me, too much maintenance and actually chaotic. Although it is a "controlled chaos" as Lisa points out.
I think you have a typical reaction to this. It looks good in very limited doses, but not conducive to long exposure to it.
BTW, did you notice the artwork of the take off of Velazquez's "Las Meninas"? It was basically a black and white blow up of "La Menina", section of the whole painting. Loved that.
@@rockshot100 I didn’t notice that! Thanks for sharing!
@@rockshot100 are you part off the Dezign Club? There was an interesting discussion about that image :)
@@PostImperfect Thank you Z, no I am not a member, just a fan. I think Jonathon has an art background or at least familiar with various art. I didn't think my comment was particularly interesting, but that one caught my eye. You can only see it for a split second. I really liked that, so I wondered if he had noticed it. "a stripped down piece of an 'old master'", doesn't seem to fit with the style.
@@rockshot100 I noticed that as well. I am more into minimalism, these super busy rooms are too much for me. I can get a bit hyperactive and this would drive me nuts 🤪
"...Add some Adderall." Omg, I laughed so hard. I dunno about Maximalism. It's borderline migraine aura/hoarder to me. And all that dusting, don't even talk about it! However, the Chinoiserie blue and white makes my heart explode. I love it so much! I'm moving to a bungalow in the decorating capital of the world, Kansas rofl. I think I can pull this off as it's my house dang it!
Question …how many watching have built in arches, architectural moldings/fireplaces /hi ceilings, etc.
please show photos of the box rooms we really live in.
But love your enthusiasm.!!
Good question! Shoot Lisa a message at thedezignclub.com! Thank you! - G
I feel like the only real problem with maximalism is that it really requires excellent taste, and very cultured taste. You can't just go and buy a suite of furniture and a few decorative accessories and call it a day. Everything needs to be curated. Everything should be meaningful. Everything should express different aspects of your personality in a harmonious way. If you just go to Anthropologie and buy a bunch of maximalist decor pieces it *will* look wrong, cheesy, and inauthentic.
I feel like I would have mentioned that a high/low mix is almost a necessity. A mix of flea market/thrift store, artisanal, and designer pieces is pretty much essential. I would just avoid anything purely decorative that wasn't super special. No "accessories" from like, Target. Unless it's something super basic, like picture frames, I'd avoid anything that looks mass produced.
So looking forward to this, Lisa, thank you. I waffle between "am I a maximalist, or do I just need to curate more?" 😂 I have so many antiques and I love them all, and keep bringing more home. I need a bigger house 😆 Or perhaps I should just embrace my maximalist tendencies and call it a day 😉 I haven't been in the Dezign Club in ages - I need to get back in there and get myself sorted LOL
For sure, ramblings! Hop on over to the club, you can actually ask me direct questions in the Q&A, ones coming up this week! Love ya!
Yes!!! You incorporated Monty Python! You are so cool! 😄✨
That blue and white room you like is also broken up with a massive simplistic painting and a tall, french window.
This was so well done. ❤
Gloria Vanderbilt’s living room. So artful, there are actual art prints of her just sitting in her incredible maximalist eclectic living room.
I'm drawn to your black-and-white behind you, would love a tour. When can we see it?
Oh, gosh! Maybe SOON!!
I am certainly not a maximalist but love seeing these spaces! Then again, maybe I'm a closet maximalist but the guilt and fear of being that outrageous reigns me in.
I feel like a lot depends on how cohesive the parts are. For example, my eye reads the full bookcases ss a single unit. Same deal with the Moroccan tiles. But the William Morris wallpaper and chairs appear too jumbled to my eye, even though the chairs almost disappear into the wall. And jumbled images don't make the space feel enjoyable to me.
I’ve been a maximalist since a teen in the 80s. Learned from my mom.
Is there such a thing as maximalist-leaning or is it all-or-nothing?
Nope. There is also what is informally called "Mediumalism", a happy medium between both extremes.
With due respect to all "trends", your house is yours only.
Please make it your home and enjoy it.
Yes OMG I love your educated, experienced, and tasteful deep dives. You are the best there is on TH-cam. I also 1000% believe these self-taught TH-camrs on interiors take notes watching your videos. I hear your phrasing in their videos! 🫢 imitation is flattery, right? But they should be giving you a shout out! But they’ll rewatch their ramblings one day and cringe… while everything about you and everything you do is timeless!
Omg I totally agree. The self taught ones definitely take notes from Lisa. She’s so knowledgeable. I mean she is a famous award winning designer and has accreditations out the wazoo. 😊
Wow, thank you! That is the nicest compliment ever ❤
Not just the self taught ones-I’ve worked as an interior designer professionally for over 11 years and I still learn a lot from watching Lisa. Not to mention she’s so fun, I’m like, dang I wish I was friends with her!
The difference between self taught and school taught is palpable.
@@vaderladyl and while there is nothing wrong with being self-taught, you need to actually TEACH YOURSELF. And LEARN. And reference and cite. Understand how styles developed. Understand the materials used. History, culture, environment. Not just look at images, copy popular looks and brands, and then say words like “chic”, “high-end”, or “elevate” over and over. 🤣🙄
So glad to see maximalism come back; history shows us that aiming for less has never been human nature. What did ancient peoples do once they were sheltered, safe, and well-fed enough to have spare time? Decorate their caves!! That being said, this look requires discipline and restraint. My grandmother always said "Get completely ready for a party and then take off ONE piece of jewelry.
Love a good Coco Chanel quote any day!
They did... but not by covering every single inch of their cave walls. If anything, their lives were the height of minimalism.
I was eating my salad while watching your video and nearly choked when the Monty Python skit came on screen. PLEASE!! You guys are killing me! HAHAHA
My editor has a brilliant sense of humor!
Absolutely hate new trend, looks like someone mixed just a bunch of crap together and called it design.
Wow, Lisa really explained this style extremely well. I still don't like it and the opposite would be Scandi, I think. One has entirely too much to look at, and Scandi is just too stark for my taste. And practically, neither are forgiving of anything out of place. You would have to hire a full time person to dust at least where I live.
The only maximalist place I've ever seen that looked good was done by a very good professional designer. All the DIY spaces I have seen looked like a hot mess and I couldn't wait to get out of there before I developed a headache.
These spaces want me to explore them for hours. So tired of boring minimalist homes
Lisa, where can I find a vase like the one you have in your office, behind you. TIA
Ooh, let me see if I can add it to the Dezignclub store!
I never knew there was a name for what my space looks like until recently. William Morris, Eduard Bénèdictus, etc wallpaper with some solid greenish/jade (Beau Green by B Moore is my new everything) paint, tchotchkes from my travels, flea market and thrifted finds, plants plants plants, ornate frames with street art/friend’s photography and painting inside, old card catalogues, lush velvet fainting couches. I never thought of what era it was from. I just…. Do. People love it. No one walks into my space and makes a face or looks shocked, they want a tour and ask where this or that came from. It is my head turned inside out, minus the ugly. I guess my style is somewhat moroccan, somewhat edwardian, somewhat boho and some…. What would you call Mark Ryden prints? My new favorite places to shop for stuff is at the oddities expo and the punk rock flea market in philly. My asvice if you like this type of style, as I’m 42 now and have been decorating in this manner since my teens, is to not commit to anything like wall paper or paint or renting a van to pick up a huge wardrobe you just bought an hour ago at an estate sale while your friend guards it until you know that it is what you want and always remember that furniture not only has to fit it your room but also has to get there. Don’t learn that the hard way by scraping up your stairs only to realize it won’t take that turn at any angle. Which brings me to my most important tip: everything I’ve just told you pretty much can be rectified if you learn how to repurpose and restore old wood and furniture. And never underestimate what a trip to the salvage yard and some spray paint can do!
Ok Lisa I enjoy watching you and I try to learn from it but one has to admit if we don’t live in a place that’s appropriate for some of these styles or we personally have someone like yourself help other wise ones home could end up looking like a Walmart or dollar store not everything in store looks good in your home you’ll have a hot mess 😂of all the rooms you showed my favorite blue and white? If one could duplicate every day person should just use blue and white accessories and leave the rest neutral you are a terrific artist you have a great talent and eye for detail
Have you done one on dark academia?
coming soon, but be sure to check out my short on it in my #shorts!
This is going to be delicious and educative. I adore blue & white as a dominant color theme and this first room is gorgeous, but it would be oppressive without all that natural light and is way too busy for one's only living room in a house, not a mansion or castle. It is great for a large manor house with all that sunlight. Well, the small red & blue room you showed next is well-done, but a bit claustrophobic and perhaps suitable to a bachelor who wants still to be at the University of Pennsylvania, his best years remembered. It made me think of a small room where one listens to listens to Beethoven and sips Laphroaig neat.
It is clear these rooms were carefully planned, but some of them are just hard to look at, gaze upon, be restful/comfy with. It may be possible in your home environment to have things "too studied." Other than not liking the striped draperies, the multi-colored room is wonderful, as were some of the others, but I would not want to live with it daily in a normal-sized family home. I think I might be most inclined to try this and have fun with it in a conservatory type of room where there is loads of sunlight and you are spending perhaps only lunchtime or tea time daily, so it does not have time to become overwhelming or too fussy. I'd love to see Catherine Deneuve's apartment in Paris, as I understand it is a cross between eclectic and global traveler because she wanted her home to reflect her life, loved ones, travels, work, etc., and so is a bit of this and a soupcon of that. I have to say I adore some of the layered rooms you showed us, but again I would want them in a mansion, not an average home as the family living room. Now I have to work on getting the house with a conservatory where I can play with this style.
I just can't...stuff everywhere.... ahhhh
This is where my true heart lies. Unfortunately I have a tiny badly designed space and little cash. One day..
"So, whomp it up, honey!"
I'm Maximalist or Exuberant Hoarder💚💛💗🧡💜💙
My aunt about died when I put a bright gold tiger-stripe-pattern material on a very traditional antique cane-back bergere. And then paired it with a lucite arm chair in my living room. Eclectic is my middle name!
sounds FAB
I’m a maximilist because the modern/traditional/country kitchen is so so so so boring. I want to live in a home. Not a hotel, not a spa, not a business office. I want to live in a home that is rich and full of life. I’m working on my maximalist house and it’s giving me LIFE. When home shopping I literally vetoed homes that had too many garbage modern refinished that were builder grade, greige, and bland.
Im for minimalism functioning and priotities not decor. Maximalism isnt for me cause since Im thinking like a minimalist and clutter now stresses me out. However Im not ok with bare styles.
Im for bold and rich but accented design. Ie color pop wall in orange, organic texture such as rock texture, rich darker tones in the room or neautral to offset bright colors.
6:21 also just to add decor thought fun. In this room I like the bright pink chairs and the rug! But I would add yellow to my color story and go from there. Ie the chandelier change to a hanging down classic crystal one. Have it more crystal and reflective to offset the color. Id paint that dresser yellow. Curtains blue and yellow patterned small print to compliment the blue in the rug and tie in the yellow dresser. Wall stays but art changes to a mix of pink, hot pink and yellow swirl or abstract or patterned artwork, maybe a nice silk scarf framed in white to tie in the pink and yellow colors. Lamp shades have blue accents in them or red/ pink bases, white shades. Table has red accents and white crystal pieces to keep it clean but consistent.
While I'm glad you pointed out the repeating patterns and colors that make the designs work, I wish you had pointed out even more of the specifics that make some of the examples work.. I also wish you had put images of maximalism that works next to images of a room where it doesn't work and then point out the differences. I also find statements such as " as long it's it's intentional and makes sense with the rest of the room" to be too vague for a lot of people to understand. It would be helpful to spell out what specifically it means to be "intentional" and "working with the rest of the room."
Hey Thomas!, I do a lot of room, dissection and comparisons in the dezignclub master classes… Have you checked it out? www.thedezignclub.com
@@LisaHoltDesign Thanks you for the response!!! Your stuff is great!
Personally i like to mix match it with all things i love and let the chips fall where they may - I'm never done it's evolving! Although these pictures are pretty they seem almost staged or designed - my space changes with time and treasure discoveries and they all may not be blue and white🤷but they do come together as a representation of me! That's what makes it fun - there's only one you!! People seem to feel cozy and homey here!
More is more, but that doesn’t mean everything belongs there. Edit. Make sure items work together and each can shine.
Thank you, I guess I am not a maximalist. Just eclectic. Now need to make it all work together.
It's all about editing!
Who's gonna do the dusting? Just askin'
I could appreciate maximalist decor in someone else's home for a short period of time. There's just too much going on. It makes me dizzy. Reminds me of Kaffe Fassett's home. I'm not a minimalist either. I'm a traditionalist who likes soft colors and not too much clutter.
Maximalist isn't for everyone! - G
I use to think I was maximalist until I watched this. I despise neon colors lol. Maybe I'm just eclectic.
Maximalism doesn't have to be neons. Can be done with just the colors you like. And it is also made out of eclectic.
No rules to design. If it works it works and it takes talent to pull it off
Intentional or not, it is still a hot mess!!!! I start hyper-ventilating just looking at the photos!! Sorry!!!
LOL! That's understandable!
I am a Zen Minimalist, my partner is a Victorian Era Collector now living in the 21st Century who is enchanted by MCM design, especially Finnish, TG, before it was 19th century Chinese vernacular furniture, it was like living in a Chinese Restaurant, I put my foot down and since we live in an MCM home, we need MCM furniture, we now have a finely blended collection that has been referred to as ''nicely curated'' I prefer to live in an Art Gallery/Museum than a restaurant. That's Right Maximalists, You Live In Museums. 🤪
That's a funny way to describe maximalism! LOL!
Dear Ms Lisa,
Is it normal that the decors shown for Maximalism make my head spin?
I really like special accents here and there but...I think that I will be forgiven if...I prefer...simple?! ;)
I am more knowledgeable about maximalism though, thank you!!!
Have a great Saint-Valentine week!
You deserve all the tenderness that it can bring!
helene :))
Yes! You're not alone!!!
I don’t think Maximalism is really a style on its own. I despise the modern rainbow-bright room examples, but I love the cozy rooms with beautiful antiques, books and art and colorful traditional Persian carpets. I like British country manor maximalist style - but I would never want Austin Powers’ apartment… Maximalism is not one thing.
This design style screams, "I can't part with anything, so I must make everything work!!!" Borderline hoarder-vibes...
“You really need to commit on this one”... or if I lived in those spaces, I’d really need to be committed! There is so much visual chaos and too many saturated colors, I would never be able to relax. It’s anxiety inducing just thinking about living amongst all that busyness on the day to day! More power to those who find joy amongst everything that’s going on. I’m far from minimalist but this type of maximalism is just not for me! Thank goodness to each their own!
Yes, yes! To each their own and there's nothing wrong with that! - G
My house is modern , chic , pretty , bright and most of all uncluttered. I like it that way .
Antiques ok but just to much!! Less is more and important items stand out!
I've described myself as Grandmillenial but a bit less so... I'm Grandmillenial on Xanax?
You got it, Aimee… You're on a roll!
This style is the best thing to happen to small local artists ever! Thank goodness boring , stark, modern is almost over.
Yes! Love supporting small local artists.
Maxi rooms done well (like those shown) just make my heart sing. Most minimalism is quite ‘basic’ (when not professionally done). It just makes me feel grey and depressed (as in I feel nothing, NOT as in I feel sad). It’s definitely a personality trait.
(Colour if definitely the key. E.g. I’ve sourced 10-15 vintage tea cup trios from different places but all with the same palette.)
How fun!
I'm a controlled collector maximalist and dislike the garish colors and patterns in some of the interiors in this video. Beauty should always be foremost and crazy interiors are just not livable. That said, I love to surround myself with objects that are very meaningful to me. Home is all about making yourself happy, and my antique Chinese porcelain and numerous oil paintings, drawings and watercolors do just that. A controlled color palette and patterns make it all harmonious and very cozy.
You're absolutely right!
Not for the faint of heart…..I love to look at it but I wouldn’t want to dust it.
Thankfully I'm not into this design. I could never pull it off in a million years! I think you must really know what you are doing to be able to successfully do this design.
Complete opposite of what I appreciate. I have seen it done well however i wouldn’t want to live in that space. Imagine the cleaning??!!!
Maximalism is as old as time. To call it a trend is like calling having a sense of humor a trend. It is a sensibility. Yes, it drives minimalist and rule followers crazy, but for the "more is more person" it's the only way to live.
So true.
Watched 3 times already