Maximalism or minimalism?
Everyone used to want neutral schemes and clean lines – but the new looks are bold, colourful and full of pattern
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or many years, the world of interiors was seduced by the cult of minimalism. It’s easy to understand why: there’s something undeniably appealing about swathes of uncluttered white space punctuated only by single, carefully chosen items of unembellished, architecty funiture. Abandoning doorknobs, light switches and skirting boards to create uninterrupted lines everywhere is the pursuit of the dedicated minimalist, and hiding all traces of life behind meticulously crafted storage solutions is the holy grail of minimalism. Granted, this looks good in photographs, and an orderly home suggests an uncluttered mind, which we might all aspire to. But isn’t it a bit boring? And why claim to such an ascetic life anyway? Increasingly, interiors trends are now moving away from Scandi monotones and towards a maximalist explosion of print, pattern and colour. This might alarm people who have become used to a simple palette and clean Nordic lines – but others will welcome some
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WM · 2023
new visual interest. But what does it all actually mean in practice? To start, walls are shunning neutral shades, neurotic whites and the ubiquitous, datedlooking greys in favour of inky dark blues, or plaster-inspired pinks, or warm greens, all trimmed with bright contrasting woodwork. Try yellow doors with pink walls, say – or dark brown walls with red window frames. Colour is not something to be afraid of – walls can be repainted and numerous new paint shades are launched every season. Also, chintz is back, though not in its 1980s pastel incarnation – instead there are bold, dark colours and big, blousy florals and paisleys. With wallpaper, a new rule is: the bolder, the better. Look at House of Hackney’s room schemes and consider whether you’re brave enough to choose wallpapers, curtains, carpets and upholstery fabrics in contrasting prints – a floral wall and a stripe sofa, for example – or even to repeat the same strong pattern across walls and curtains. Change is certainly afoot, and period properties with contemporary interiors are
always desirable. “In Bath there are large numbers of Georgian Townhouses which have been converted into apartments. The interior trend is certainly moving away from the traditional interior approach and creating a more a modern feel to a period property,” says Matthew Leonard of Winkworth in Bath. For floors, we’re seeing a resurgence of fitted carpets. All those years of rustic stripped floorboards dotted with a few rugs are giving way to a whole new luxe look and feel, with thick, velvety carpets in dark rust colours or deep blues, or even deep pile patterns. Suddenly, exposed floorboards are beginning to feel spartan, uncomfortable and draughty in comparison. And then there are the objects. While a minimalist aesthetic requires all unnecessary objects to be binned – or at least hidden in cupboards – the new, relaxed look is a fine environment for decorative accessories. The brilliantly named ‘cluttercore’ is a license to indulge all your favourite antique shop finds, holiday souvenirs and eclectic collectibles.
