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.

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!*

*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.*

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.*

*House plants add life and energy to any space.*

*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.*

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

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?