Is the simplicity of minimalism leaving you bored with your home? Wishing you could fill your space with more of what you love while still taking design into consideration. Enter maximalism. While you may think of maximalism as a bunch of stuff crowded into a space, Abigail Ahern is setting out to prove it’s so much more. Since 2003, this British designer, entrepreneur, and author has been challenging conventional design norms, urging us to abandon minimalism and embrace the vibrant world of maximalism. She’s a globally recognized authority, shaping design trends through her five internationally published books (including Everything: A Maximalist Style Guide), her role as a judge on BBC1’s Interior Design Masters, and her frequent contributions to radio and magazines. Now, she speaks with TABLE Magazine to showcase her love for this design style as well as what you can do to make maximalism work for you.
Tips on Maximalist Design from Expert Abigail Ahern
What is Maximalism?
Abigail Ahern: Maximalism is the most explorative of styles, nothing is off limits. This aesthetic pulls in and weaves together different periods and styles through colour, form, vintage, and modern pieces. It’s a curated narrative that holds comfort at its very centre. It’s all about being a mixologist and a collector of things.
How Did You Become Interested in Maximalism?
AA: I tried living minimally and to me it feels a little cold. Home is all about a feeling. There is a wonderful emotional quality to maximalist interiors as they require you to draw upon things you love. It encourages you to surround yourself with pieces that evoke memories, which in turn makes your home individual and harmonising. It becomes a place you never want to leave.
How Can a Room Become a Maximalist Design?
AA: You can make any room into one that awakens all the senses, and tells truly show-stopping stories. How? By layering and styling your accessories, textiles, colour, and furnishings to create personal and meaningful interiors.
Some People Think Maximalism Means the More the Better, Is This Relevant to Designing a Maximalist Space?
AA: Maximalist interiors have had a bit of a bad rap in the past, conjuring images of fussy and cluttered spaces that would make anyone run for the hills. Maximalist style isn’t necessarily the quantity of the things you have but the quality and meaning. Our homes are our safe place, sheltering us from the outside world. Maximalism gives you permission to take a chance and experiment, rather than staying within the so-called decorating lines. You get to push boundaries, which is so much fun.
What Tips Do You Have for Someone Experimenting With Maximalism?
AA: Ultimately, I want you to enjoy making your home so that you create a space that envelopes you with squishy contentment every time you walk through your front door. So here are my three top takeaway tips to help you create your maximalist home.
- Reign in your palette: Paint out your walls, ceilings, and woodwork in the same hue. This in turn will let you beautifully curate a collection of furniture and accessories that sing but at the same time will make your space feel intriguing and harmonious.
- Make it personal: Surround yourself with colours, accessories, furniture, and pieces that you love. Things that aren’t necessarily on trend but instead resonate with the heart.
- The right lighting: Good lighting can completely transform a space and should never be an afterthought. You need different light sources at different levels to create ambience and interest that evoke that all important feeling of harmony.
Story by Kylie Thomas
Photography Courtesy of Abigail Ahern
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