Less is More and More is More: Minimalist and Maximalist Interiors

Minimalism vs Maximalism

Let's talk about minimalism and maximalism today. Both are very "in" right now in the design world. If anything, it feels like minimalism is on its way out while maximalism is on its way in. However, will either truly be out of style? We think not. We feel torn when it comes to these two very different styles. It's like choosing between birthday cake and birthday pie. You love both, but for completely different reasons.

Pros of the Minimalist Home

There's something so refreshingly beautiful in simple spaces. Spaces that emphasize and celebrate negative space. It's like a break for your senses. Your eyes can rest awhile on different elements of a room, fully take in the loveliness, and then move on. With minimalist rooms, you really notice individual objects and take in the shapes, lines, textures, and colors like you'd take in a piece of art or the words in a poem.

bohemian minimalist vingnette
bohemian modern minimalism + vintage

The minimalist mindset can lead you to only have things in your home that you love. The clearing away of other objects highlights the beauty of those that remain. A single potted plant atop a stack of books positioned on one end of a wooden shelf with nothing else at the other end. A single graphic throw pillow on an expanse of soft gray upholstery. This simplicity evokes calm, serene, and thoughtful feelings. Though a lot of minimalist spaces tend to favor neutral color schemes, we think color can most definitely still be involved. For us, minimalism does not equal cold.

We've brought in only the necessities. A grass lamp, a couple plants, and places to sit and to prop your feet–that's it!

We've brought in only the necessities. A grass lamp, a couple plants, and places to sit and to prop your feet–that's it!

Pillow by local maker Bifftastica; we carry her things in our shop!

Pillow by local maker Bifftastica; we carry her things in our shop!

leather vintage foot stool rustic modern
The Gus* Modern Carmichael sofa and chair are both available to order through our shop in multiple fabrics.

The Gus* Modern Carmichael sofa and chair are both available to order through our shop in multiple fabrics.

Pros of the Maximalist Home

A room thoughtfully packed with loved objects can feel like a warm hug from your best friend. With a maximalist home, your eye travels around, getting happily lost, investigating each carefully considered vignette. We appreciate how objects play off one another, creating little stories in each corner and on each tabletop. 

The colorful, playful bohemian elements (wicker, rattan, wall weavings) contrast nicely with the modern Gus* Jane sofa. 

The colorful, playful bohemian elements (wicker, rattan, wall weavings) contrast nicely with the modern Gus* Jane sofa

maximalist vignette air plant + vintage
House plants add life and energy to any space.

House plants add life and energy to any space.

The Gus* Jane sofa is available to order through our shop in multiple fabrics.

The Gus* Jane sofa is available to order through our shop in multiple fabrics.

The unfinished wooden bench, worn leather stool, and horse art (Who doesn't love horse art?) are beautiful juxtapositions to the clean-lined, modern Gus* Carmichael sofa and chair.

The unfinished wooden bench, worn leather stool, and horse art (Who doesn't love horse art?) are beautiful juxtapositions to the clean-lined, modern Gus* Carmichael sofa and chair.

We stock OK Collective hand-poured soy candles in our shop.

We stock OK Collective hand-poured soy candles in our shop.

rustic modern maximalism
rustic modern maximalist
jungalow shelfie wood + brass
rocks + cowhide rug

With maximalism, you don't have to choose just one thing you love. You can have your white shag rug AND your vintage cowhide rug. Let them play off one another and create something new and beautiful together. Have several pieces of art that tug at your heart strings? Great! Create a gallery wall so you can see them all. You don't have to choose! With this more is more mindset, you can tell a more complete story using multiple beloved objects. This fullness evokes warm, happy, and lighthearted feelings. We'd like to note that even in maximalist spaces, we don't suggest adding more just to have more. Add more because you love the piece and the way it plays with what's already in your space. More is more doesn't mean to lower your standards for what you bring in your home. If you only have one pillow you feel that strongly about, only display one.

Below, enjoy a visual and textual recap of some minimalist and maximalist scenes we put together at the shop as examples. Which way do you sway?

Minimalist: The rattan bar-cart stands strong on its own, its shape and warm hue emphasized with only a book and vase of eucalyptus on top.

Minimalist: The rattan bar-cart stands strong on its own, its shape and warm hue emphasized with only a book and vase of eucalyptus on top.

Maximalist: The rattan bar-cart shows off its storage skills, artfully loaded with multiple books, plants, and even driftwood.

Maximalist: The rattan bar-cart shows off its storage skills, artfully loaded with multiple books, plants, and even driftwood.

Minimalist: A simple gallery wall with framed abstract art along with vintage flash cards. Would a true minimalist have only one piece?

Minimalist: A simple gallery wall with framed abstract art along with vintage flash cards. Would a true minimalist have only one piece?

Maximalist: Surprise, surprise–there's more! An oil painting and House Sparrow Fine Nesting fiber art hanging have joined the party.

Maximalist: Surprise, surprise–there's more! An oil painting and House Sparrow Fine Nesting fiber art hanging have joined the party.

Minimalist: The plaid rug and abstract pillow boast complementing color palettes; combining the patterns lends interest to the scene without being loud.

Minimalist: The plaid rug and abstract pillow boast complementing color palettes; combining the patterns lends interest to the scene without being loud.

Maximalist: We have even more patterns and colors mixing together here. It makes for a busy, yet satisfying scene.

Maximalist: We have even more patterns and colors mixing together here. It makes for a busy, yet satisfying scene.

Minimalist: The clean, sleek lines of the Carmichael sofa are uninterrupted and beautifully showcased; likewise, the simplicity of the brass and glass stand is accentuated with a single lamp.

Minimalist: The clean, sleek lines of the Carmichael sofa are uninterrupted and beautifully showcased; likewise, the simplicity of the brass and glass stand is accentuated with a single lamp.

Maximalist: The warm and cozy vibe has been turned up here with a vintage wool blanket and knick-knacks with personality.

Maximalist: The warm and cozy vibe has been turned up here with a vintage wool blanket and knick-knacks with personality.

Minimalist: One coffee table book, one striped pillow–all that's needed to keep a warm, yet simple space.

Minimalist: One coffee table book, one striped pillow–all that's needed to keep a warm, yet simple space.

Maximalist: Multiple books and pillows give a more lived in, collected look to this rustic modern scene.

Maximalist: Multiple books and pillows give a more lived in, collected look to this rustic modern scene.

Minimalist: The rustic slat-wood shelf is simply styled with plants with long expanses of the shelves left empty; this draws attention to the structure and lines of this vintage piece.

Minimalist: The rustic slat-wood shelf is simply styled with plants with long expanses of the shelves left empty; this draws attention to the structure and lines of this vintage piece.

Maximalist: Nearly every surface of the beautiful shelf is filled with plants and trinkets like that brass eagle. Your eyes linger longer on shelf items, bouncing from the cypress knees to the sweet pink planter.

Maximalist: Nearly every surface of the beautiful shelf is filled with plants and trinkets like that brass eagle. Your eyes linger longer on shelf items, bouncing from the cypress knees to the sweet pink planter.

minimalism vs maximalism.png
retro den ashleys
 

Two nice Ashleys enter your home and leave it better than they found it. True story.