Tips For Designing A Maximalist Living Room

If you're having trouble designing your living room in the maximalist style, a major tip is to begin by finding a specific idea or story you want your space to express. As interior designer Andrea May shared with My Domaine, "Maximalism is a highly curatorial approach to interior storytelling. It allows you to build on one subject, or idea and go deep."

A key element of this design is that it should bring you joy and surround you with items that you love (per The Spruce). This can look many different ways, so narrowing down your entry to the maximalist trend by determining a specific story you want to express or specific items you want to include is a great starting point.

For example, Beth Diana Smith, a New Jersey-based interior designer, uses art pieces featuring and created by Black people and African-inspired decor on top of bold colors and patterns to design her maximalist spaces, according to the Seattle Times. Melissa Rufty, a New Orleans interior designer, imbues her rooms with a Southern, antique vibe by mixing patterns like chintz and chinoiserie with more modern pieces and textures.

Using these examples, you can brainstorm the story that you want to build your living room around, deciding what colors, patterns, and items would best help you achieve the look you're going for. However, don't get too caught up on one specific style, as the point of maximalism is mixing and matching unexpectedly.