I like this style - it looks like people actually live in the space, rather than merely occupying it. It has personality, and when it avoids clutter; I think it's both warm and lovely.
@@Nick_Lewis Many thanks for this! We all need some color, creativity, imagination and warmth in our homes, some whimsical charm and cross current vibes that are always inspiring, energy and good mood boosting. Mood is everything when it comes to interiors for me, light and color being huge part of it. Highly recommend top traditional Indian couture designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's homes' interiors as an amazing examples of eclectic maximalism with artsy, saturated color vibes and antiques, ethnic based and executed in superb fabrics and materials. XO
Imagine living in a space with often clashing patterns and colours everywhere. . It's stressful. Imagine having to go through an illness or a difficult period of your life and not being able to relax in your space because it's so shouty, so energetic, so busy. It's very unpleasant.
I think maximalism is really hard to get right. People don't understand that it's not just about having a lot of stuff in your rooms. It's a carefully crafted aesthetic achieved through layering of multiple colors, patterns, and textures that still manages to have visual balance and come off as chic and intentional.
Agree. And it’s supposed to be things that tell our story and our hobbies? That feels exhausting to figure out. And they are supposed to be these crazy colors?
I never thought about maximalism as a style to think about. I told myself when I bought my current house I was going to fill it with my favorite things: color, books, art and 2 cats. So I did. I have a library section of bookcases in my home office, I have 49 plants (ok, too many) I have a music space for my violin (concert violinist here), I have original art on the walls as well as family photos on a lot of tables then I have the two cats, Max and Lola. It was a hard thing to figure out. It was what I thought.
One thing I appreciate about maximalism is that you can make it work in most spaces. Minimalist approaches don’t always look great in spaces with low end finishing or imperfections.
Yeah, unfortunately. I wanted to do something kind of mininalist with my apartment, but the tan paint job with water streaks in places pretty much let me know that's not happening, lol.
Very good point! I feel like for a beautiful minimalist space you need a good canvas to work with. An average rental apartment with cheap laminate, old electronics and chipping paint will just look... sad.
@@BewareTheLilyOfTheValleyI totally see that problem. I rent an old appartment with lots of inperfections, I can't fix. Do not try minimalism or maximalism. Just enough, that you can stand the inperfections, maybe cover some with furniture, plants, rugs, pictures...keep that as simple as possible and than work around it. Edd your stuff, you really need or love. It just becomes YOUR home, your minimalism, if you like. It's all about you, feeling as good as possible in your space. If you ,for example,have lots of coloured stuff already, its fine. If you add something new, choose a more nutural tone, so it better fits the stuff you already have and you can always put it somewere else and it will still fit. You can do minor things to adjust when it comes to colours of your sheets, towels...or where to put which item. Aspecially in small spaces it can make a huge difference, even if you just put a different pillow on your sofa. (but for examle: I keep my pillows there, that do not fit, because they remind me of my lovely boyfriend who died, because it's important for me.) That is still minimalism. We have to work with the space as it is given. We can not start from scretch and make it "perfect". There is a life to live as a human being with inperfections as well. 😉
I feel like most people I know and admire for their taste have always just lived this eclectic/boho/world traveler/found object/thrifted/inherited aesthetic for years or decades now. A space can be warm, inviting, fun, colorful, eclectic, and exciting without being cluttered, overwhelming, or nonsensical. In fact, if you look at the people who play life simulation games (mostly the Sims) you'll see the vast majority are all about "the clutter" and plants... but its moreso about making a space feel lived in and homey and comfortable rather than a staged zillow listing. I'm genuinely looking forward to the time, probably in a a year or two, when we've settled into this comfortable and cozy aesthetic that mixes Scandinavian hygge with thrifted/vintage eclectic. I do honestly believe they can inhabit the same space quite well.
I feel like each piece should have a story. Not "I bought this at Target", but more like "I had a dream about this piece and I spent ages looking for it. I'd just about given up, when I went to Target to pick up ingredients for paella. I turned around, and there it was, exactly like my dream. It was the only one and had been marked down, and I knew it was just waiting for me to find it." Or whatever. But it needs a story :)
Well said ! Along that line - I went to a used furniture store hoping to find a pair of kitchen chairs . Instead found a beautiful Henredon sofa table at an unbelievably low ( cheap ! ) price ; obviously the store owner didn't have a clue to its value . Years ago I had worked in sales & design & remembered this group so it felt like I was reuniting w/ a dear old friend . ( Eventually found kitchen chairs but that's another story ... lol )
I do sort of agree. But Target does put out collections. And some times those things are just “it”. It’s not always having all original pieces but how you use them. The same with HomeGoods etc. Sometimes you have to mix the practical to make the random treasures pop.
This has always been my style. I’m a professional artist who loves others art and loves to travel and create… my home cannot be minimal. It’s covered in what I love.
I wouldn’t call myself a maximalist, but I definitely concur with the thought that the Covid lockdown made me realise my decor (living room in particular) did not represent my personality. I’m an artist/designer, but it actually featured very little of my own work, and it was all bloody beige. I’ve now gone for deep woodsmoke blue walls, orange sofa/chairs with a bit of deep turquoise throughout. I’ve got all these colours echoing in my own artwork (large oil paint canvases), plus some ceramic pieces designed by me or other local companies who I count as friends. I’ve also designed some cushion covers and had them printed up in really loud patterns that again jigsaw with the existing palette. I’m not really into repeating loud pattern but I’m definitely feeling more confident now I have all my “things” around me and they work in a cohesive way. Thanks for the video Nick!
I'm so into maximalism, I love having unique and luxurious pieces that have history, keeping the color palette cohesive is absolutely the key to make it work. I love chinoserie style and it really works with that
FINALLY, I'm back in style lol! I have always been a maximalist. I'm 50 years old and I've seen trends come and go through the years, but I just stuck with my maximalist sense of style lol. I've tried to stray and be more minimalist in the past, but it always makes me feel wrong and kinda depressed. I do like my home to tell a story about me as a person and us as a family. When I'm surrounded by things I love and lots of color, I feel so much happier! I do try balance it with not having TOO much stuff because I don't like clutter, but my husband always jokes that I have to have every inch of wall space covered. 😬 This is a great video with really useful tips for how to make this style work! I really enjoyed so many of the rooms you showed.
I love this style. In fact, I've kinda known this style was "me" even before I knew it had a name. What I struggle with is how to apply this style to my home (that was built in the 90's). Decor-wise, the maximalist style looks incredible in homes built in the late 1800's and early 1900's, but can look kind of odd in a 90's house with a combined LR/DR with a vaulted ceiling and virtually no architectural interest.
I just wanna say how comforting your videos are to watch. Am I a designer or decorator? Not even close. Am I procrastinating 100% of the time I watch you? Hard yes. I have a mountain of work to do and the Sunday scaries are here with a vengeance. But I always make time for you, Nick; love your perspective 😊
For sure I am the Maximalism decor lifestyle person. Mostly my house has been collected over my whole lifetime of being on my own over 55 years. I nailed the color pallet being cohesive. Turquoise and purple from very light to some bits of dark. Lots of white and of course the greens of my jungle of house plants many I have had 30 to 40 years, yes the same plants.I so love to finally be able to put a name to "My Style". Great video Nick Thanks! HA I can not even imagine shopping for things to create this look though. I believe it comes from within yourself and evolves overtime.
I think the folks who managed to create the look well (most of the images shown here) also bought things over time. There's no way that can be done in a day, week, or even month and it still looks good. You can't curate like that over a short period of time.
Yes yes! I got rid of that Marie Kondo book as soon as I got to the chapter on books. I’ve been curating my books for an entire lifetime. Ive only gotten better at displaying and keeping things.
I think it's important when buying bigger ticket items to absolutely love it. I got a washed oak 5 piece wall unit with bookcases. I bought it from Macy's in 1990. It has worked well all these years- used white wax to lighten it up and changed the hardware/knobs three times. Just recently I put leather pulls on the drawers and doors. It was pricey for me at the time, but in the long run it's saved me money with it's quality and beauty.
There are many community festivals that have local artists that showcase their art. A nice piece can always be added. It' s sometimes easier because the size and color can be seen at eye level and you can tell instantly if it will work with your space.
I have always been a maximalist, even when others were not. I knew most of these guidelines but it is good to have them reviewed and neatly tied together. I look at a maximalist space and l think, white walls and a bit of furniture, TIME TO START DECORATING.
Nick : as I am growing older, I have realized how much I like empty, warm-natural spaces- very very reminiscent of Restoration hardware CEO’s house. I cannot deal with maximalism. It definitely has to do with my psyche. My mind is so cluttered and chaotic, that I look for relief outside my inner clutters.
Absolutely. I went from young and very traditional to older and minimalist/transitional leaning because my brain absolutely needs a calming environment when I am at home. My mental health could not handle all of this sensory overload.
Agreed! I feel like the maximalism can be creative but is generally too much stimulation for me. I like the Scandi/minimalist style with little pops of color or art here and there. To me, physical clutter=mental clutter and my anxious mind needs all the calmness it can get at home.
A friend of mine has the best decorating style of anyone I ever met aside from professionals. She collects art, her hobbies are cooking, plants, and making stained glass objects (the real thing). Any home she lives in has flat white walls, high end modern neutral or wood furniture with a few family antiques, pale tile or wood floors with traditional (usually red) patterned hand-tufted wool rugs, plants, original modern leaded stained glass lamps she designed and made, and lots of original or limited edition art - oil paintings, watercolors, pottery . . . She designed a coffee table to be made out of slabs of black slate and had it custom fabricated. She explained that wasn't done to be extravagant or showy - it is because slate is the best material on Earth for handling drips and spills with grace and will be beautiful for a lifetime, no coasters required. And the hand made wool rugs are indestructible with occasional vacuuming. Italian leather sofas because they are the best at doing what sofas are meant to do and lasting a long time. Everything is intentional like that, and seems in place. Lots of color from the artwork and stained glass, and she can tell you all about every artist. It's not that she is throwing money around - she taking the long view and buying a good long-wearing rug to last twenty years instead of ten rugs that get thrown away. I have no idea what to call her style, but it is awesome.
That's what we call intentional long lasting design 👏. People who have been taught by parents how to take care of their stuff makes a difference. That's partially why the wealthy have great interior spaces. They are taught to have "taste "
I love that you did a Maximalism one. That is fun. One of the things I hear people say about minimalism is that they think that have to play by a set of rules. That's just silly. As someone with a bright yellow kitchen and back deck, I say, do whatever make a person happy. Less, more, somewhere in the middle. It's all fun.
Your comment about simpler and more complex patterns also works for furniture. I love some very intricate, detailed furniture styles, like Victorian, Queen Anne, or gothic. But in a room, I find those pieces work best when paired with simpler pieces. It's often modern (because it's easily available), but can be any style with clean lines and simple design. It keeps the space from feeling stuffy while making the more intricate pieces pop.
I'm totally a Maximalist and you hit the nail on the head when you were talking about patterns and you said: allow space for the eyes to rest. The key to having a successful Maximalist look and just having a pile of junk is to have places for the eyes to rest. I always make sure to leave some blank spots, incorporate white objects or trim, blocks of quieter color. Lots of beautiful patterns and objects are fun and stimulating, but you need blank spaces. You are absolutely right that Maximalism is very very intentional and curated. In fact I would say it's far more curated than Minimalism because you really have to work at it to make a large number to objects and patterns work together. One thing you didn't mention when you were discussing grouping things together: Triangles and varying heights. The human eye likes triangles so when you group items try to do it in a way that has different heights so that you could draw a triangle around the objects. I'm constantly on the look out in thrift stores for pretty wooden boxes and pillar candle holders that I can use as props under plants and decor objects to lift them up and vary the heights in my vignettes to create those eye-pleasing angles.
I used to be a minimalist and had only the necessary items in my home. I thought it was the best thing to do for my anxiety. At the time, I was working so much that it didn't matter what my house looked like because I was never there. Cut to later: I get hired at a different, better (so much better) company and go on a two week backpacking trip to celebrate. As soon as I got back and walked through my door, I almost cried. My house looked like I could have been walking into anyone's home, because none of my personality was reflected in the space. It felt sad, it didn't feel like my little corner of the world. After just spending two weeks living out of a bag, I realized that I could have minimalism anywhere, but that my home should be exactly what I want it to be. Funny enough, adding more decor to my home helped with my anxiety. I know people say that's a benefit to minimalism, but I think having more color, art, decor in my home gives me something tanglible to focus on. When my space was empty all I would think about was stuff that was happening outside of my home. I will say that one valueable thing I learned from minimalism is to be intentional with the things in your home, lucky for me my intention isn't limited to five items.
You bring some amazing points for design in general with this video. I think design falls flat when it becomes too manufactured (like farmhouse and later minimalism). Another point is how good design tells a story that’s unique to the person that lives in that space, instead of “I saw this pin/insta post and I copied it”
after seeing so many on this channel and loving every single one of them, I realized I need one in my home and it's truly the best decision I ever made. My gallery wall is so lovely.
Maximalism is me! My color pallette is very tight with a base of cream/tan and pastels layered in. Everything has a story. Many are family “heirlooms” that were passed down to me. My working rule is, “If you can’t walk through or find a place to sit, it’s not maximallism. It’s just a mess.” I truly love my house. Thanks, Nick! This was a fun video.🌸
I love this style aka Grandmillenial or Granny Chic. It's very much old school Southern Living magazine, which is my favorite. Love your videos, Nick. I usually agree with you, but even when I don't, I still laugh😂
My grandma had a very beautiful appartment furnished for really cheap with inherited items and things she got on many travels and working abroad in Egypt and Lybia with grandpa. Bedroom was in sort of Marie Antoinette style and livingroom with sort of egypt thematic with a tropical plants in it. I always loved her appartment much more then everybody else's! At least now i know how its called and starting to dream about my own take :P !
I've been WAITING for this video! I would definitely categorize myself as a maximalist who likes hints of Mid-century Modern & Post Modern design styles (including some Danish Pastel). I like a lot of bright &/or pastel colors, along with some modern patterns & animal print patterns. Seem to see this style mostly on Instagram, although I know there's now a Reddit for people who have or like this style as well. Pinterest has some great inspiration and photos as well. And there's a FEW videos here on TH-cam displaying Maximalism in homes. I understand it's not for everyone (the same way minimalism isn't), but those who enjoy it clearly seem to get some mental health benefit from it as well. Some folk need that color & pattern for stimulation. Think of it as art therapy, if you will.
This was one amazing video, thank you for making maximalism sound less scary. As an indian, my heart is originally maximalist and an ideal space for me that sparks "true" joy would be full of colour, nostalgia and bold statement pieces that mirror me. But as an urban metropolitan indian, I gravitate towards minimalism, especially scandinavian with a touch of bohemian which I consider classy and overdone at the same time. I find macrame and dreamcatchers beautiful but also hate how it somehow feels mass produced because every home has it and I see the same designs everywhere. I love the indian handicrafts too but I am a little scared that it might look a little too "picked-up-around-the-corner"and may feel a little dated. It is a real dilemma, I hope you won't judge me for that. It would be amazing if you could do a video on the 'global desi' design style or any asian culture specific design styles so that people like me can apply the same principles and make our homes not copies of our grandma's but still remind us of that charm in a subtle way.
You spoke to my soul! I don't have your background, but I love the colors and designs you speak of. The conflict of wanting all that but also keeping it simple (and in my case, an appreciation and not appropriation). I also think it's weird to buy those products mass produced. "Global desi" sounds cool. There are no TH-cam designers who speak to this design style.
I think you've articulated what I've been feeling! I have a different background (Eastern European) but have some heirlooms that I'd love to display because they remind me of my family. But they also look odd in my more minimalist-ish space. I'd love advice on how to integrate them! Maybe I should just do it and stop over thinking it 😆
I absolutely believe there is a way for everyone to blend the simplicity of design and ease of function that Scandinavian design brings to the table with whatever other influence that sparks joy in their hearts. For you, that's all the beautiful and rich colors and textures of Indian design. I say ditch the boho accents if they don't feel authentic to you and instead maybe introduce some pieces with hand embroidered silk... Banjara or Sheesha (I think those are the two terms I'm trying to recall. One is traditional motifs and the other is embroidery with mirrors I believe). And I know I'm just some random white person on the internet but I don't think authentic items (not those made for mass market retail in foreign markets) never look dated or in poor taste regardless of the culture they come from. You mentioned dream catchers and macramé... and while what you can buy at hobby lobby 10000% looks cheap... the beautiful pieces my mother and grandmother made in the 1970s and the pieces my SiL makes now, nothing cheap or tacky about them. Same goes for the beautiful dream catcher that was gifted to me as a child by its maker, this amazing lady who had the craft passed down to her from her own mother and grandmother who had it passed to them, generations of authenticity. I had bad nightmares as a child and she hoped it might help me with them, and it did. I think when you stick to what sparks joy and feels authentic to you and your life experiences, you can't go wrong. And if anyone else wants to judge your story, well, they can stuff it... because no one gets to tell your story but you and no one else should define you in your own eyes. That's for you to do.
Greek person here. Same same but different country. I kinda went the opposite of my culture and went minimal (so did my mother). Helps with my ADHD IMMENSELY. I'd love to see Nick figure THESE design styles out :P
As a guest, I LOVE the stories! You make a mild comment, "Is this table Japanese?", which turns into an epic tale about their granddad and the war, his lost love, etc. Then that table is epic!
Having lived in a maximalism household as a kid,I have to say,do what you want. BUT. For me, sometimes it felt that the focus fell too much on things instead of functionality/living space. A happy medium between expressing yourself but keep it functional is ideal. PS: especially in a household with kids,minimal things/inventory combined with fun,cohesive decor is perfect.
Love this Nick! Thanks for describing my maximalist story telling house! Most of my things are passed down, from my travels and thrifting in my home. My neighbor said it was eclectic and I wasn’t sure if I was offended by that comment! Lol! Love that my style fits on the spectrum! 🤭 Thanks for doing this video!
It depends on how they say the word eclectic. If it's said with a credulous or fake tone of voice they are being rude and hateful. But said with admiration or wow voice it's not a bad thing. It's like the phrase bless your " heart"
Oh boy. I’m glad I watched this. Now I know maximalism is not for me. Just looking at the pictures causes me anxiety, so living in these spaces? Nope. Not happening. Kudos to the people who can actually handle it.
Grew up with hoarders who were children of hoarders, and suffer from a tendency towards hoarding myself, so some of these examples give me anxiety. Like, I grew up with every area around me being full from top to bottom with lots of different colors and shapes, with the onus being on me to 1) not knock anything over, and 2) do all the cleaning with my sister. Clean, open spaces draw me in, with lots of places for my eyes to "rest". I hate that my home looks like we're either in the process of moving in or out - not homey at all - but struggle.
Thank you for showing that the maximalist style is not the same as hoarder. A maximalist room can be well coordinated and clean without piles of clutter everywhere.
I don't really know anyone who lives like this, but it's really cool! A maximalist space seems like it would be fun to visit / entertain in but too hectic to live in (for me). It makes me think of an artist's house :)
I'm a maximalist however I like warm pastel colors. I like items that have sentimental value. Either family heirlooms or vintage finds that remind me of a time in my life.
I just realized, I live in a Maximalist Space. MCM mixed with 19th Century Chinese vernacular pieces, showcase full of First Nations Art, Zuni fetishes standing guard over the books in the overflowing library, art on every available wall, even the exposed brick walls, I've been told that my home looked like well curated museum, a compliment I'll take.
Love how you directly go into the video with all the carefully curated information! Love all the bold tapestries in these rooms, though I am unsure if they would be overstimulating for me, haha. Really enjoyed the video, thank you Nick. Greetings from Germany
I try to put the same things into the same room, so blue objects go into my dining room, while green goes into my lounge etc. I don't have just blue or green, but it's a starting point to add other colours to it. Then I have this multi-coloured material that I upholstered my dining chairs in, plus a couple ottomans and about to do some cushion covers, so the rooms get linked in a small way.
Awesome advice! The older I have gotten the more I have settled into loving vibrant colors around me. So the trick is finding the balance of color and cohesion!
For me, I think there's a happy medium. I do love a minimalist, scaled back look. For my OCD, it allows my mind to just think clearly. I can only function in a maximalist space for so long before I become a sloth and just sit on the sofa. LOL However, a lot of minimalist looks are just too stark and not warm at all.
I wish your videos were longer! I really enjoy your channel, I learn a lot and get a better understanding of how I'm going to redecorate my own space. I appreciate you so much! Thanks Nick 💜
I love some of the concepts of maximalism. We want to take some elements and concepts from maximalism, with patterns being paired with "flat" colors. It just - like this modern take on victorian if that makes sense.
Side note: I love how you break down your videos. I love that I can go back to watch something and find it so easily. I also love all your examples. You make it so easy to follow you ❤
Thank you for helping us understand how to curate a space that tells our story without filling it with clutter. I also appreciate what you taught about using colors and patterns.
I love how different everyone is! I enjoyed watching this video and would love to visit any of these spaces. Since going minimalist, I’ve gotten used to space and calm in my own spaces.
I think it’s also a response to people being home and doing a lot of online shopping, then supply chain delays… so killing time as we all waiting with carefully thrifting unique secondhand pieces.. before we all knew it, we had “more” but it was all really carefully curated for the space so it all manages to go together.
When I was anxious and angsty, minimalist worked for me, but when I retired and bought my own home, I went from minimalist to maximalist practically overnight. I don't know what came over me, but I'm still looking for stuff to collect, and this winter I'll probably attack the ceiling. Might just be boredom. I went from anxious to bored, so I went from minimalism to maximalism. LOL!
I'm a shameless maximalist. You'll pull my accent walls from my cold, withered hands, taste-shmaste, but this style speaks to me in a way no other style does. I want to be friends with the people who live in the rooms you featured. I love rooms you could spend a week in, exploring all the mysteries and surprises.
Thanks so much for making this video. All you described (including the vintage fashion doll collection!!) spoke to me. I’ve always felt weird about how my home looks compared to other people’s especially since I have moved to Japan where people have close to nothing in their tiny living space. It’s lovely to finally feel good about displaying things I like and tell people about who I am. Brilliant video!
This style makes me think of the Choco Chanel quote “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” or at least that is how I would have to approach it
Wow, final a style I can relate to! Didn't know the word for it until watching Nick's videos, I have always been more drawn to the "more is more" type of aesthetics, glad the world has finally deemed it stylish - as I sit in my brightly colored apartment.
Thanks for this. I am definitely a Maximalist. I REALLY enjoy shopping for deals, shoppin for interesting pieces and creating a comfy/homey space that feels inspiring. A lot of your advice is stuff I do naturally and enjoy doing--and I just love all your videos, Nick! You're the best! :) ❤
Thank you for this! I had never heard of it but I definitely picked it up over the pandemic. I have these special edition vinyls with colorful jackets designed by different artists just hidden in a record cabinet so I decided to create a MCM style media center and display them on the wall. It's a great place to read or listen to music and is a perfect use for an odd unused space just off of the living room.
So another box checked for things o really don't like. These videos are really helping me identify where my decor comfort lies. Thank you Nick! Much love 😘
Minimalism will never go away, and we'll probably shift back to it later on down the road as trends come and go. People just took minimalism too far as usually happens with trends and it started to resemble a parody of itself. I still think it's possible to do tasteful minimalism that doesn't look sparse, and I'll probably decorate my next apartment in a similar fashion.
Love the super colourful room at 6:44, but minimal prints, just on the cushions, really help too. Love your work with examples. First room absolutely terrific except totally thrown off by hideous green print curtains.
Thanks for dedicating time to this (even though it's not your cup of tea). I love it!!! I think they make the most interesting house tours and reveal interesting personality.
One of the most exuberant, celebratory, examples of maximalism I have ever seen are the homes of Johnson Hartig, the founder of Libertine. Your home should make you happy and I think people are finally waking up to the fact that white and grey don't make them happy. I am SO ready for retailers to get back to offering COLORS, and by colors I don't mean grey, white, and washed-out blues. Give me some midnight blues and chocolate browns and carnelian reds and rich ambers, etc. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on maximalism, Nick!
This is my jam. I've curated my living room into maximalist boho eclectic kinda kitsch with animal prints, random furniture (sofa and loveseat are a set in grey) with a color palette of warm browns, bright greens, deep purples and some grey, black, white and a very little blue. Wall tapestry of a lion in brown, funky/kitschy throw pillows, floor pillows, soft white string lights, electric candles, red light floor lamp, Himalayan salt lamps, a hidden tv, shelves in black industrial and gnarled dark wood with books and DVDs displayed to showcase covers, artificial flowers, skulls, matchbox cars on my coffee table, jade stones.... I should submit for your review/roasting...it is wild and at night, it's magic.
Very interesting video. However, after five minutes in most of these maximalist homes, I would go running out screaming. Too busy, too much going on, too cluttered. I think I would feel like I was suffocating. I’ll stick with a neutral, uncluttered home. But to each his own. Nice to see the different styles. You do an excellent job explaining them.
Honestly, you can make any design style sound reasonable and interesting. But oh my, some of those rooms just make me twitchy. I am more of a minimalist in the lifestyle but less so in my decorating. I really love warm rich colors, furniture passed down through the family, and art that I’ve got back from travels. All the crazy patterns and bright colors of Maximalism just do not feel peaceful to me I don’t want to feel on edge in my own home. An aside: I so love how gentle your snark is. In spite of saying that collecting dolls is a fine thing to do, clearly you find that thought appalling. As do I. Dolls are just miniature clowns.
I am a maximalist by default because I love art and I collect and hold on to things that have meaning for me. I still have my firat bookcases that are simple solid pine that I bought here in NYC back in the early 1990s. I kept them because they are well made in a very simple style but over the years I have elevated them. I now have my collection of clear tall vases on them that almost touch the ceiling and It gives them a cohesive look, not chochkies all over the place. I also have a huge gallery wall with only the pieces that I love but in black frame. The minimalist style, while appealing to some, always made me feel like I was in a will kept lobby of a fancy hotel. My color scheme is simple because I want my art to stand out. All my walls are white and color comes in from the slipcovers and pillows. I have no window coverings because I have a view of the entire Manhattan skyline and it just glitters in the night and I enjoy the nightly changes of the empire state building lights. My greatgrandfather worked building it. I do edit what I have on display and just rotate my items.
Good video Nick! Lots of information and it is explained in simple ways. I am not the maximalist or minimalist. But the principals of creating beautiful and livable homes are very clear and helpful.Thank you!
Thank you so much for doing this video. I'm mostly Japandi but I have sentimental things like my late father's photo. It's nice to have personal items that not only allow me to express myself but they can also be talking points when people visit.
After years of feeling pressured (which stressed me out) to fall in line with the minimalists because for some reason they always want to tell others what to do and that they should also be minimalists 🙄 I’ve found that I’m in fact a maximalist, I’m an artist and my creativity is all over my house showing my personality, what I find beautiful, and telling a story. I’ll always be a maximalist. 🥰🖤
I have always picked 4 to 6 colors from my area rugs and viola my color pallette for my house. This made it easier and gave me more choices but kept it cohesive.
I like this style - it looks like people actually live in the space, rather than merely occupying it. It has personality, and when it avoids clutter; I think it's both warm and lovely.
It has so much personality!
Depends on how it's done. To much and it looks "junked "up and clutter
Yes! It adds soul to the home!
@@Nick_Lewis Many thanks for this! We all need some color, creativity, imagination and warmth in our homes, some whimsical charm and cross current vibes that are always inspiring, energy and good mood boosting. Mood is everything when it comes to interiors for me, light and color being huge part of it. Highly recommend top traditional Indian couture designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's homes' interiors as an amazing examples of eclectic maximalism with artsy, saturated color vibes and antiques, ethnic based and executed in superb fabrics and materials. XO
Imagine living in a space with often clashing patterns and colours everywhere. . It's stressful. Imagine having to go through an illness or a difficult period of your life and not being able to relax in your space because it's so shouty, so energetic, so busy. It's very unpleasant.
I think maximalism is really hard to get right. People don't understand that it's not just about having a lot of stuff in your rooms. It's a carefully crafted aesthetic achieved through layering of multiple colors, patterns, and textures that still manages to have visual balance and come off as chic and intentional.
Agree. And it’s supposed to be things that tell our story and our hobbies? That feels exhausting to figure out. And they are supposed to be these crazy colors?
I never thought about maximalism as a style to think about. I told myself when I bought my current house I was going to fill it with my favorite things: color, books, art and 2 cats. So I did. I have a library section of bookcases in my home office, I have 49 plants (ok, too many) I have a music space for my violin (concert violinist here), I have original art on the walls as well as family photos on a lot of tables then I have the two cats, Max and Lola. It was a hard thing to figure out. It was what I thought.
One thing I appreciate about maximalism is that you can make it work in most spaces. Minimalist approaches don’t always look great in spaces with low end finishing or imperfections.
Yeah, unfortunately. I wanted to do something kind of mininalist with my apartment, but the tan paint job with water streaks in places pretty much let me know that's not happening, lol.
Very good point! I feel like for a beautiful minimalist space you need a good canvas to work with. An average rental apartment with cheap laminate, old electronics and chipping paint will just look... sad.
Such a great point
@@BewareTheLilyOfTheValleyI totally see that problem. I rent an old appartment with lots of inperfections, I can't fix. Do not try minimalism or maximalism. Just enough, that you can stand the inperfections, maybe cover some with furniture, plants, rugs, pictures...keep that as simple as possible and than work around it. Edd your stuff, you really need or love. It just becomes YOUR home, your minimalism, if you like. It's all about you, feeling as good as possible in your space. If you ,for example,have lots of coloured stuff already, its fine. If you add something new, choose a more nutural tone, so it better fits the stuff you already have and you can always put it somewere else and it will still fit. You can do minor things to adjust when it comes to colours of your sheets, towels...or where to put which item. Aspecially in small spaces it can make a huge difference, even if you just put a different pillow on your sofa. (but for examle: I keep my pillows there, that do not fit, because they remind me of my lovely boyfriend who died, because it's important for me.) That is still minimalism. We have to work with the space as it is given. We can not start from scretch and make it "perfect". There is a life to live as a human being with inperfections as well. 😉
I feel like most people I know and admire for their taste have always just lived this eclectic/boho/world traveler/found object/thrifted/inherited aesthetic for years or decades now. A space can be warm, inviting, fun, colorful, eclectic, and exciting without being cluttered, overwhelming, or nonsensical. In fact, if you look at the people who play life simulation games (mostly the Sims) you'll see the vast majority are all about "the clutter" and plants... but its moreso about making a space feel lived in and homey and comfortable rather than a staged zillow listing. I'm genuinely looking forward to the time, probably in a a year or two, when we've settled into this comfortable and cozy aesthetic that mixes Scandinavian hygge with thrifted/vintage eclectic. I do honestly believe they can inhabit the same space quite well.
I feel like each piece should have a story. Not "I bought this at Target", but more like "I had a dream about this piece and I spent ages looking for it. I'd just about given up, when I went to Target to pick up ingredients for paella. I turned around, and there it was, exactly like my dream. It was the only one and had been marked down, and I knew it was just waiting for me to find it." Or whatever. But it needs a story :)
“I got it at Boutique Targette!” 💋
😂
Well said ! Along that line - I went to a used furniture store hoping to find a pair of kitchen chairs . Instead found a beautiful Henredon sofa table at an unbelievably low ( cheap ! ) price ; obviously the store owner didn't have a clue to its value . Years ago I had worked in sales & design & remembered this group so it felt like I was reuniting w/ a dear old friend . ( Eventually found kitchen chairs but that's another story ... lol )
Yes, stuff you have collected over years and through travels.
So I guess my maximalism is also bohemian.
I do sort of agree. But Target does put out collections. And some times those things are just “it”. It’s not always having all original pieces but how you use them. The same with HomeGoods etc. Sometimes you have to mix the practical to make the random treasures pop.
This has always been my style. I’m a professional artist who loves others art and loves to travel and create… my home cannot be minimal. It’s covered in what I love.
I wouldn’t call myself a maximalist, but I definitely concur with the thought that the Covid lockdown made me realise my decor (living room in particular) did not represent my personality. I’m an artist/designer, but it actually featured very little of my own work, and it was all bloody beige. I’ve now gone for deep woodsmoke blue walls, orange sofa/chairs with a bit of deep turquoise throughout. I’ve got all these colours echoing in my own artwork (large oil paint canvases), plus some ceramic pieces designed by me or other local companies who I count as friends. I’ve also designed some cushion covers and had them printed up in really loud patterns that again jigsaw with the existing palette. I’m not really into repeating loud pattern but I’m definitely feeling more confident now I have all my “things” around me and they work in a cohesive way. Thanks for the video Nick!
I'm so into maximalism, I love having unique and luxurious pieces that have history, keeping the color palette cohesive is absolutely the key to make it work. I love chinoserie style and it really works with that
FINALLY, I'm back in style lol! I have always been a maximalist. I'm 50 years old and I've seen trends come and go through the years, but I just stuck with my maximalist sense of style lol. I've tried to stray and be more minimalist in the past, but it always makes me feel wrong and kinda depressed. I do like my home to tell a story about me as a person and us as a family.
When I'm surrounded by things I love and lots of color, I feel so much happier! I do try balance it with not having TOO much stuff because I don't like clutter, but my husband always jokes that I have to have every inch of wall space covered. 😬
This is a great video with really useful tips for how to make this style work! I really enjoyed so many of the rooms you showed.
I love this style. In fact, I've kinda known this style was "me" even before I knew it had a name. What I struggle with is how to apply this style to my home (that was built in the 90's). Decor-wise, the maximalist style looks incredible in homes built in the late 1800's and early 1900's, but can look kind of odd in a 90's house with a combined LR/DR with a vaulted ceiling and virtually no architectural interest.
I just wanna say how comforting your videos are to watch. Am I a designer or decorator? Not even close. Am I procrastinating 100% of the time I watch you? Hard yes. I have a mountain of work to do and the Sunday scaries are here with a vengeance. But I always make time for you, Nick; love your perspective 😊
Thanks for breaking down how the colours/patterns/groupings make these spaces work. So when will medium-alism be a thing? 🥺
That's my style! LOL
Yes!
Medium-alism... 😂😂😂 Awesome!
I actually wanted to ask THIS EXACT question!
I really don't like maximalism, but minimalism can be too restrictive.
I so feel this question!
For sure I am the Maximalism decor lifestyle person. Mostly my house has been collected over my whole lifetime of being on my own over 55 years. I nailed the color pallet being cohesive. Turquoise and purple from very light to some bits of dark. Lots of white and of course the greens of my jungle of house plants many I have had 30 to 40 years, yes the same plants.I so love to finally be able to put a name to "My Style". Great video Nick Thanks!
HA I can not even imagine shopping for things to create this look though. I believe it comes from within yourself and evolves overtime.
I think the folks who managed to create the look well (most of the images shown here) also bought things over time. There's no way that can be done in a day, week, or even month and it still looks good. You can't curate like that over a short period of time.
@@Diva380 Those are some lovely homes for sure.
Yes yes! I got rid of that Marie Kondo book as soon as I got to the chapter on books. I’ve been curating my books for an entire lifetime. Ive only gotten better at displaying and keeping things.
I think it's important when buying bigger ticket items to absolutely love it.
I got a washed oak 5 piece wall unit with bookcases.
I bought it from Macy's in 1990. It has worked well all these years- used white wax to lighten it up and changed the hardware/knobs three times. Just recently I put leather pulls on the drawers and doors.
It was pricey for me at the time, but in the long run it's saved me money with it's quality and beauty.
There are many community festivals that have local artists that showcase their art. A nice piece can always be added. It' s sometimes easier because the size and color can be seen at eye level and you can tell instantly if it will work with your space.
I have always been a maximalist, even when others were not. I knew most of these guidelines but it is good to have them reviewed and neatly tied together. I look at a maximalist space and l think, white walls and a bit of furniture, TIME TO START DECORATING.
Nick : as I am growing older, I have realized how much I like empty, warm-natural spaces- very very reminiscent of Restoration hardware CEO’s house. I cannot deal with maximalism. It definitely has to do with my psyche. My mind is so cluttered and chaotic, that I look for relief outside my inner clutters.
I right there with you 💯
Absolutely. I went from young and very traditional to older and minimalist/transitional leaning because my brain absolutely needs a calming environment when I am at home. My mental health could not handle all of this sensory overload.
Maximalism looks dirty to me
Agreed! I feel like the maximalism can be creative but is generally too much stimulation for me. I like the Scandi/minimalist style with little pops of color or art here and there. To me, physical clutter=mental clutter and my anxious mind needs all the calmness it can get at home.
A friend of mine has the best decorating style of anyone I ever met aside from professionals. She collects art, her hobbies are cooking, plants, and making stained glass objects (the real thing). Any home she lives in has flat white walls, high end modern neutral or wood furniture with a few family antiques, pale tile or wood floors with traditional (usually red) patterned hand-tufted wool rugs, plants, original modern leaded stained glass lamps she designed and made, and lots of original or limited edition art - oil paintings, watercolors, pottery . . . She designed a coffee table to be made out of slabs of black slate and had it custom fabricated. She explained that wasn't done to be extravagant or showy - it is because slate is the best material on Earth for handling drips and spills with grace and will be beautiful for a lifetime, no coasters required. And the hand made wool rugs are indestructible with occasional vacuuming. Italian leather sofas because they are the best at doing what sofas are meant to do and lasting a long time. Everything is intentional like that, and seems in place. Lots of color from the artwork and stained glass, and she can tell you all about every artist. It's not that she is throwing money around - she taking the long view and buying a good long-wearing rug to last twenty years instead of ten rugs that get thrown away. I have no idea what to call her style, but it is awesome.
That's what we call intentional long lasting design 👏. People who have been taught by parents how to take care of their stuff makes a difference. That's partially why the wealthy have great interior spaces. They are taught to have "taste "
I love that you did a Maximalism one. That is fun. One of the things I hear people say about minimalism is that they think that have to play by a set of rules. That's just silly. As someone with a bright yellow kitchen and back deck, I say, do whatever make a person happy. Less, more, somewhere in the middle. It's all fun.
Your comment about simpler and more complex patterns also works for furniture. I love some very intricate, detailed furniture styles, like Victorian, Queen Anne, or gothic. But in a room, I find those pieces work best when paired with simpler pieces. It's often modern (because it's easily available), but can be any style with clean lines and simple design. It keeps the space from feeling stuffy while making the more intricate pieces pop.
I'm totally a Maximalist and you hit the nail on the head when you were talking about patterns and you said: allow space for the eyes to rest. The key to having a successful Maximalist look and just having a pile of junk is to have places for the eyes to rest. I always make sure to leave some blank spots, incorporate white objects or trim, blocks of quieter color. Lots of beautiful patterns and objects are fun and stimulating, but you need blank spaces.
You are absolutely right that Maximalism is very very intentional and curated. In fact I would say it's far more curated than Minimalism because you really have to work at it to make a large number to objects and patterns work together.
One thing you didn't mention when you were discussing grouping things together: Triangles and varying heights. The human eye likes triangles so when you group items try to do it in a way that has different heights so that you could draw a triangle around the objects. I'm constantly on the look out in thrift stores for pretty wooden boxes and pillar candle holders that I can use as props under plants and decor objects to lift them up and vary the heights in my vignettes to create those eye-pleasing angles.
I used to be a minimalist and had only the necessary items in my home. I thought it was the best thing to do for my anxiety. At the time, I was working so much that it didn't matter what my house looked like because I was never there. Cut to later: I get hired at a different, better (so much better) company and go on a two week backpacking trip to celebrate. As soon as I got back and walked through my door, I almost cried. My house looked like I could have been walking into anyone's home, because none of my personality was reflected in the space. It felt sad, it didn't feel like my little corner of the world. After just spending two weeks living out of a bag, I realized that I could have minimalism anywhere, but that my home should be exactly what I want it to be. Funny enough, adding more decor to my home helped with my anxiety. I know people say that's a benefit to minimalism, but I think having more color, art, decor in my home gives me something tanglible to focus on. When my space was empty all I would think about was stuff that was happening outside of my home. I will say that one valueable thing I learned from minimalism is to be intentional with the things in your home, lucky for me my intention isn't limited to five items.
You bring some amazing points for design in general with this video. I think design falls flat when it becomes too manufactured (like farmhouse and later minimalism). Another point is how good design tells a story that’s unique to the person that lives in that space, instead of “I saw this pin/insta post and I copied it”
Hope isn't a strategy? That's a good one. Minimalism seems a lot easier to pull off than its polar opposite, so I'm sticking with it.
I will forever adore a good gallery wall and I really enjoyed seeing all the collections of art in your examples.
after seeing so many on this channel and loving every single one of them, I realized I need one in my home and it's truly the best decision I ever made. My gallery wall is so lovely.
Maximalism. Right up my alley.
Maximalism is me! My color pallette is very tight with a base of cream/tan and pastels layered in. Everything has a story. Many are family “heirlooms” that were passed down to me. My working rule is, “If you can’t walk through or find a place to sit, it’s not maximallism. It’s just a mess.” I truly love my house. Thanks, Nick! This was a fun video.🌸
THIS! Sad to see so many folk equate Maximalism to clutter when it is literally the opposite. It's VERY organized when done well.
Minimalism will never be dead for me!
I love this style aka Grandmillenial or Granny Chic. It's very much old school Southern Living magazine, which is my favorite. Love your videos, Nick. I usually agree with you, but even when I don't, I still laugh😂
No matter how I look at different types of home decor and styles I'm always drawn to minimilisim
Me too. It'r so peaceful and calming - unlike these rooms agghhhhh!
My grandma had a very beautiful appartment furnished for really cheap with inherited items and things she got on many travels and working abroad in Egypt and Lybia with grandpa. Bedroom was in sort of Marie Antoinette style and livingroom with sort of egypt thematic with a tropical plants in it. I always loved her appartment much more then everybody else's! At least now i know how its called and starting to dream about my own take :P !
Yes ! There should be a design style called " Interesting & Meaningful " !
I've been WAITING for this video! I would definitely categorize myself as a maximalist who likes hints of Mid-century Modern & Post Modern design styles (including some Danish Pastel). I like a lot of bright &/or pastel colors, along with some modern patterns & animal print patterns. Seem to see this style mostly on Instagram, although I know there's now a Reddit for people who have or like this style as well. Pinterest has some great inspiration and photos as well. And there's a FEW videos here on TH-cam displaying Maximalism in homes. I understand it's not for everyone (the same way minimalism isn't), but those who enjoy it clearly seem to get some mental health benefit from it as well. Some folk need that color & pattern for stimulation. Think of it as art therapy, if you will.
This was one amazing video, thank you for making maximalism sound less scary. As an indian, my heart is originally maximalist and an ideal space for me that sparks "true" joy would be full of colour, nostalgia and bold statement pieces that mirror me. But as an urban metropolitan indian, I gravitate towards minimalism, especially scandinavian with a touch of bohemian which I consider classy and overdone at the same time. I find macrame and dreamcatchers beautiful but also hate how it somehow feels mass produced because every home has it and I see the same designs everywhere. I love the indian handicrafts too but I am a little scared that it might look a little too "picked-up-around-the-corner"and may feel a little dated. It is a real dilemma, I hope you won't judge me for that. It would be amazing if you could do a video on the 'global desi' design style or any asian culture specific design styles so that people like me can apply the same principles and make our homes not copies of our grandma's but still remind us of that charm in a subtle way.
You spoke to my soul! I don't have your background, but I love the colors and designs you speak of. The conflict of wanting all that but also keeping it simple (and in my case, an appreciation and not appropriation). I also think it's weird to buy those products mass produced. "Global desi" sounds cool. There are no TH-cam designers who speak to this design style.
I think you've articulated what I've been feeling! I have a different background (Eastern European) but have some heirlooms that I'd love to display because they remind me of my family. But they also look odd in my more minimalist-ish space. I'd love advice on how to integrate them! Maybe I should just do it and stop over thinking it 😆
I absolutely believe there is a way for everyone to blend the simplicity of design and ease of function that Scandinavian design brings to the table with whatever other influence that sparks joy in their hearts. For you, that's all the beautiful and rich colors and textures of Indian design. I say ditch the boho accents if they don't feel authentic to you and instead maybe introduce some pieces with hand embroidered silk... Banjara or Sheesha (I think those are the two terms I'm trying to recall. One is traditional motifs and the other is embroidery with mirrors I believe). And I know I'm just some random white person on the internet but I don't think authentic items (not those made for mass market retail in foreign markets) never look dated or in poor taste regardless of the culture they come from. You mentioned dream catchers and macramé... and while what you can buy at hobby lobby 10000% looks cheap... the beautiful pieces my mother and grandmother made in the 1970s and the pieces my SiL makes now, nothing cheap or tacky about them. Same goes for the beautiful dream catcher that was gifted to me as a child by its maker, this amazing lady who had the craft passed down to her from her own mother and grandmother who had it passed to them, generations of authenticity. I had bad nightmares as a child and she hoped it might help me with them, and it did.
I think when you stick to what sparks joy and feels authentic to you and your life experiences, you can't go wrong. And if anyone else wants to judge your story, well, they can stuff it... because no one gets to tell your story but you and no one else should define you in your own eyes. That's for you to do.
Greek person here. Same same but different country. I kinda went the opposite of my culture and went minimal (so did my mother). Helps with my ADHD IMMENSELY. I'd love to see Nick figure THESE design styles out :P
@@Chaotic_Pixie
As a guest, I LOVE the stories! You make a mild comment, "Is this table Japanese?", which turns into an epic tale about their granddad and the war, his lost love, etc. Then that table is epic!
Having lived in a maximalism household as a kid,I have to say,do what you want. BUT. For me, sometimes it felt that the focus fell too much on things instead of functionality/living space. A happy medium between expressing yourself but keep it functional is ideal.
PS: especially in a household with kids,minimal things/inventory combined with fun,cohesive decor is perfect.
I wonder if you’d like the mid century interior aesthetic? Lots of bright colors and interesting pieces without to much actual stuff.
@@peggedyourdad9560 It is actually close to my personal style/preference! ☺
@@stellamantikou4978 Ay, glad to know I was right on the money lol.
Love this Nick! Thanks for describing my maximalist story telling house! Most of my things are passed down, from my travels and thrifting in my home. My neighbor said it was eclectic and I wasn’t sure if I was offended by that comment! Lol! Love that my style fits on the spectrum! 🤭 Thanks for doing this video!
It depends on how they say the word eclectic. If it's said with a credulous or fake tone of voice they are being rude and hateful. But said with admiration or wow voice it's not a bad thing. It's like the phrase bless your " heart"
Oh boy. I’m glad I watched this. Now I know maximalism is not for me. Just looking at the pictures causes me anxiety, so living in these spaces? Nope. Not happening. Kudos to the people who can actually handle it.
*cries and clutches to my grey walls*
I love this series so much! It makes design feel so approachable!
I've shopped around and I think Nick does the best videos on interior design tbh.
Grew up with hoarders who were children of hoarders, and suffer from a tendency towards hoarding myself, so some of these examples give me anxiety. Like, I grew up with every area around me being full from top to bottom with lots of different colors and shapes, with the onus being on me to 1) not knock anything over, and 2) do all the cleaning with my sister. Clean, open spaces draw me in, with lots of places for my eyes to "rest". I hate that my home looks like we're either in the process of moving in or out - not homey at all - but struggle.
"Hope is not a strategy", 😂
I'm going to use that one a lot!
This was a wonderfully prepared video. Clear and concise. Thanks so much!
Wow, No intro, directly to the point, speaking fast. Loooove this!!!!
Thank you for showing that the maximalist style is not the same as hoarder. A maximalist room can be well coordinated and clean without piles of clutter everywhere.
I don't really know anyone who lives like this, but it's really cool! A maximalist space seems like it would be fun to visit / entertain in but too hectic to live in (for me). It makes me think of an artist's house :)
I'm a maximalist however I like warm pastel colors. I like items that have sentimental value. Either family heirlooms or vintage finds that remind me of a time in my life.
I just realized, I live in a Maximalist Space. MCM mixed with 19th Century Chinese vernacular pieces, showcase full of First Nations Art, Zuni fetishes standing guard over the books in the overflowing library, art on every available wall, even the exposed brick walls, I've been told that my home looked like well curated museum, a compliment I'll take.
Love how you directly go into the video with all the carefully curated information! Love all the bold tapestries in these rooms, though I am unsure if they would be overstimulating for me, haha. Really enjoyed the video, thank you Nick. Greetings from Germany
I try to put the same things into the same room, so blue objects go into my dining room, while green goes into my lounge etc. I don't have just blue or green, but it's a starting point to add other colours to it. Then I have this multi-coloured material that I upholstered my dining chairs in, plus a couple ottomans and about to do some cushion covers, so the rooms get linked in a small way.
Awesome advice! The older I have gotten the more I have settled into loving vibrant colors around me. So the trick is finding the balance of color and cohesion!
For me, I think there's a happy medium. I do love a minimalist, scaled back look. For my OCD, it allows my mind to just think clearly. I can only function in a maximalist space for so long before I become a sloth and just sit on the sofa. LOL However, a lot of minimalist looks are just too stark and not warm at all.
I wish your videos were longer! I really enjoy your channel, I learn a lot and get a better understanding of how I'm going to redecorate my own space. I appreciate you so much! Thanks Nick 💜
I love the large abstract painting at 6:37.
Hope is not a strategy- brilliant advice!
I love some of the concepts of maximalism. We want to take some elements and concepts from maximalism, with patterns being paired with "flat" colors. It just - like this modern take on victorian if that makes sense.
Side note: I love how you break down your videos. I love that I can go back to watch something and find it so easily. I also love all your examples. You make it so easy to follow you ❤
I love maximalism, it just Makes everything so colorful and happy. You also get a lot of sense of the person's vibe and interests
Am I dreaming? Is your clock moving? Re style. I love it! I have done this innately. Boo to minimalism.
I love all the rich jewel tones and the fact that it has personality!
Thank you for helping us understand how to curate a space that tells our story without filling it with clutter. I also appreciate what you taught about using colors and patterns.
I love how different everyone is! I enjoyed watching this video and would love to visit any of these spaces. Since going minimalist, I’ve gotten used to space and calm in my own spaces.
I think it’s also a response to people being home and doing a lot of online shopping, then supply chain delays… so killing time as we all waiting with carefully thrifting unique secondhand pieces.. before we all knew it, we had “more” but it was all really carefully curated for the space so it all manages to go together.
When I was anxious and angsty, minimalist worked for me, but when I retired and bought my own home, I went from minimalist to maximalist practically overnight. I don't know what came over me, but I'm still looking for stuff to collect, and this winter I'll probably attack the ceiling. Might just be boredom. I went from anxious to bored, so I went from minimalism to maximalism. LOL!
I'm a shameless maximalist. You'll pull my accent walls from my cold, withered hands, taste-shmaste, but this style speaks to me in a way no other style does. I want to be friends with the people who live in the rooms you featured. I love rooms you could spend a week in, exploring all the mysteries and surprises.
I guess I've been a maximalist all along. Favorite colors + my own art, family pics and plants. 🌿
Thanks so much for making this video. All you described (including the vintage fashion doll collection!!) spoke to me. I’ve always felt weird about how my home looks compared to other people’s especially since I have moved to Japan where people have close to nothing in their tiny living space.
It’s lovely to finally feel good about displaying things I like and tell people about who I am. Brilliant video!
This style makes me think of the Choco Chanel quote “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” or at least that is how I would have to approach it
Wow, final a style I can relate to! Didn't know the word for it until watching Nick's videos, I have always been more drawn to the "more is more" type of aesthetics, glad the world has finally deemed it stylish - as I sit in my brightly colored apartment.
Thanks for this. I am definitely a Maximalist. I REALLY enjoy shopping for deals, shoppin for interesting pieces and creating a comfy/homey space that feels inspiring. A lot of your advice is stuff I do naturally and enjoy doing--and I just love all your videos, Nick! You're the best! :) ❤
Thank you for this! I had never heard of it but I definitely picked it up over the pandemic. I have these special edition vinyls with colorful jackets designed by different artists just hidden in a record cabinet so I decided to create a MCM style media center and display them on the wall. It's a great place to read or listen to music and is a perfect use for an odd unused space just off of the living room.
So another box checked for things o really don't like. These videos are really helping me identify where my decor comfort lies. Thank you Nick! Much love 😘
Minimalism will never go away, and we'll probably shift back to it later on down the road as trends come and go. People just took minimalism too far as usually happens with trends and it started to resemble a parody of itself. I still think it's possible to do tasteful minimalism that doesn't look sparse, and I'll probably decorate my next apartment in a similar fashion.
Maximalism and kitsch-a very fine line to the point of confusion.
Interesting video! Thank you!
Love the super colourful room at 6:44, but minimal prints, just on the cushions, really help too.
Love your work with examples. First room absolutely terrific except totally thrown off by hideous green print curtains.
Thanks for dedicating time to this (even though it's not your cup of tea). I love it!!! I think they make the most interesting house tours and reveal interesting personality.
Here’s one that won’t bring me shame with my totally off trend issues. I’ve got this one!😂
THIS WAS SO GREAT!! THX.
One of the most exuberant, celebratory, examples of maximalism I have ever seen are the homes of Johnson Hartig, the founder of Libertine. Your home should make you happy and I think people are finally waking up to the fact that white and grey don't make them happy. I am SO ready for retailers to get back to offering COLORS, and by colors I don't mean grey, white, and washed-out blues. Give me some midnight blues and chocolate browns and carnelian reds and rich ambers, etc. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on maximalism, Nick!
This is my jam. I've curated my living room into maximalist boho eclectic kinda kitsch with animal prints, random furniture (sofa and loveseat are a set in grey) with a color palette of warm browns, bright greens, deep purples and some grey, black, white and a very little blue.
Wall tapestry of a lion in brown, funky/kitschy throw pillows, floor pillows, soft white string lights, electric candles, red light floor lamp, Himalayan salt lamps, a hidden tv, shelves in black industrial and gnarled dark wood with books and DVDs displayed to showcase covers, artificial flowers, skulls, matchbox cars on my coffee table, jade stones.... I should submit for your review/roasting...it is wild and at night, it's magic.
I never knew what my personal design style was until I watched your video where you talked about maximalism, so thank you!
Great video, love this story telling style.
Thank you for sharing your talent!! I learned so much watching this video!
Well I am happy to say I just discovered the kind of decorating I have always loved- I didn't realize there was a term for it! Great breakdown!
Wow, love how you take the time to analyse the rooms snd Agreed, these rooms are amazing!
Excellent information. Thanks!
Very interesting video. However, after five minutes in most of these maximalist homes, I would go running out screaming. Too busy, too much going on, too cluttered. I think I would feel like I was suffocating. I’ll stick with a neutral, uncluttered home. But to each his own. Nice to see the different styles. You do an excellent job explaining them.
Honestly, you can make any design style sound reasonable and interesting. But oh my, some of those rooms just make me twitchy. I am more of a minimalist in the lifestyle but less so in my decorating. I really love warm rich colors, furniture passed down through the family, and art that I’ve got back from travels. All the crazy patterns and bright colors of Maximalism just do not feel peaceful to me I don’t want to feel on edge in my own home. An aside: I so love how gentle your snark is. In spite of saying that collecting dolls is a fine thing to do, clearly you find that thought appalling. As do I. Dolls are just miniature clowns.
I am a maximalist by default because I love art and I collect and hold on to things that have meaning for me. I still have my firat bookcases that are simple solid pine that I bought here in NYC back in the early 1990s. I kept them because they are well made in a very simple style but over the years I have elevated them. I now have my collection of clear tall vases on them that almost touch the ceiling and It gives them a cohesive look, not chochkies all over the place. I also have a huge gallery wall with only the pieces that I love but in black frame. The minimalist style, while appealing to some, always made me feel like I was in a will kept lobby of a fancy hotel. My color scheme is simple because I want my art to stand out. All my walls are white and color comes in from the slipcovers and pillows. I have no window coverings because I have a view of the entire Manhattan skyline and it just glitters in the night and I enjoy the nightly changes of the empire state building lights. My greatgrandfather worked building it. I do edit what I have on display and just rotate my items.
Fun! Very unique style 🖼️🎭💐
your videos are great! thank you!
Good video Nick! Lots of information and it is explained in simple ways. I am not the maximalist or minimalist. But the principals of creating beautiful and livable homes are very clear and helpful.Thank you!
Thanks for the great vid as always!
Awesome! I think this is the best video I have seen on this design style. Thank you.
Lovely, thank you.
Thank you so much for doing this video. I'm mostly Japandi but I have sentimental things like my late father's photo. It's nice to have personal items that not only allow me to express myself but they can also be talking points when people visit.
After years of feeling pressured (which stressed me out) to fall in line with the minimalists because for some reason they always want to tell others what to do and that they should also be minimalists 🙄 I’ve found that I’m in fact a maximalist, I’m an artist and my creativity is all over my house showing my personality, what I find beautiful, and telling a story. I’ll always be a maximalist. 🥰🖤
This is great advice and presentation! Much appreciated. Well done.
Great video. Thank you 😊
I have always picked 4 to 6 colors from my area rugs and viola my color pallette for my house. This made it easier and gave me more choices but kept it cohesive.
I’ve listened to you mico for a while and have never hear you say hope isn’t a strategy I nearly choked on my coke. ☠️😂☠️😂☠️