Last updated on November 24th, 2021
The pandemic has been one of the greatest tragedies we can remember in recent times. Everywhere you see, there is a mounting absence. The streets, playgrounds, and offices are all empty. Our faces are covered with masks, and social distancing is the norm to follow. This has made us more aware of how fleeting life is.
The pandemic has, strangely enough, also transformed our relationship with our spaces. We now want to celebrate life for what it is. And what better way to do that than by adding personality and emotion to our homes, right?
It isn’t a wonder then, how Maximalism, a style that says – more is more, and inspires people to make their homes full of life, is now gaining currency. And as it turns out, the austerity of its rival, minimalism, didn’t survive the coronavirus.
As expected, the internet, was quick to pick up on this shift towards maximalism. Instagram accounts of designers who promote maximalist interiors like Dabito and Keeley Mindell now have thousands of followers.
Designs that display an eclectic collection of heirlooms are gaining popularity on Pinterest and Tumblr. Even decor sites feature homes that have a messy and self-expressive look.
Curated chaos is being accoladed as a toast to life rather than something that needs to be sorted. In light of all this evidence, we can safely say minimalism is quickly losing its relevance. This outgoing aesthetic now seems impersonal with its underlying inhumanity. With its focus on order and self-denial, minimalism seems impossible to live with, in our present circumstances.
Minimalism started gaining popularity in the 2010s as a backlash against growing consumerism. Its core values were to focus on what was important and what wasn’t. This ascetic lifestyle promised self-improvement and mindfulness. Marie Kondo, the face of the ‘decluttering phenomenon,’ encouraged people to tidy up and do away with unnecessary possessions.
The idea was that your home should be a sanctuary away from the chaos of the world, which is spinning too fast. But with the ongoing social isolation and people being cooped up in their homes, maximalism is emerging as a winner. The idea here is to hang things out that bring you joy and remind you of your history and the places you’ve been. It is much more forgiving as you can keep your old, new and useless belongings and proudly display them.
Maximalism as a style has a personal touch to it. Rather than stripping you of what you had, it lets you work your stuff into a colorful and chaotic curation. This comes as much-needed relief to know that you can keep the things you find cool. You’re encouraged to be passionate and loud with your decor, so it can ooze your personality. The overlapping styles create more vibrancy and lushness to center yourself and take pleasure in everyday life.
These new spaces are visually immersive, engaging with color and texture. Maximalist interiors are a reflection of our inner minds, the places we’ve visited, our heritage, and things we’ve accumulated over the years. And in the multicultural world we live in and our connective humanity, the items we curate, will naturally be a hot mess too.
A maximalist space has stuff that’s meaningful to the owner; it tells a story. Colorful walls, photo frames, and even an odd number of pillows on the couch- all are welcomed in the home as they make it more inviting and warm. It is a way to express our individuality and abundance in contrast to how gloomy the world has become.
The pandemic has certainly caused us to reevaluate the things we took for granted. This includes what we’ve considered junk lying around the house. As the outdoors are controlled, ordered, and silent, people have taken to their homes to make them more full of life and imperfect. Being messy, after all, comes from the freedom of good health. Whether this trend will stay for a longer time is questionable. But, as for all things, if it starts to seem suffocating, the interiors will change just as a reflection of our minds. Here’s another related story that will help you kickstart your maximalist lifestyle asap.
Happy Decorating in this new world folks!
