5 easy ways to be more maximalist in your living room

Maximalism is hardly a new concept in the world of interiors: the maximalism v minimalism debate has been going on for years. However, while minimalism always seemed to come out on top in that battle, a lot more of us are waving goodbye to our grey sofas and white walls in favour of something more eclectic.

With the rise of recent trends – like ‘cottagecore’ and ‘cluttercore’ – that are more about creating spaces that really reflect our personalities, filled with well-loved pieces and eccentric knick-knacks, we are definitely more on board with embracing the maximalism aesthetic.

So it helps when our favourite brands make it even easier to get the look by designing new collections to help us bring the maximalist trend into our living rooms. The new Botanicals collection from Furniture Village is maximalism to a tee. We’re talking bold prints, bright colours and gorgeously tactile finishes. Plus, you can go as bold or as subtle as you like. Pick out an exotic patterned sofa and pair it with a clashing pattern, or just dip your toe in the maximalist trend with a pop of pattern. 

Want more tips on how to embrace maximalism in your living room? We’ve picked our top 5 easy tips to get the look...

1. Choose a colour scheme and stick to it

The key to making the maximalism trend work without it totally overwhelming your space is to pick a cohesive colour scheme that you stick to no matter how many patterns or textures you bring into the space. We’d recommend four colours max. Remember you can add more shades and tones of those colours so it’s not as limiting as it might sound.

Pick between warm or cool tones (there's a choice of rich colours in the new Botanicals collection), from luscious greens to toasty oranges) and then just run with that scheme, adding as much pattern as you like.

2. Layer up patterns, paying attention to scale

Speaking of patterns, these play an integral role in a maximalist aesthetic. While it might look like you can just pile them up and it will work, there are a few rules when it comes to mixing patterns, mainly concerning scale.

Don’t sit too many patterns of a similar scale together as they are just going to be fighting for focus. Instead, layer patterns with a larger print or even just a block colour underneath busy patterns so they aren’t all competing. 

The patterns within the Botanicals range feature large, leafy foliage and subtle animal motifs. Being large scale patterns, these make the perfect backdrop for layering with a smaller print. Pick a solid colour for the piece of furniture itself, with accent cushions or a pop of pattern on the sides of the seat cushions. This will stop it looking too busy when you start layering up different prints.

3. Add interest with plenty of texture

Texture can have just as much of an impact as pattern. Layering up different textures is a nice way to embrace the maximalist trend in a more minimalist way. Pick out pieces in lots of tactile materials – velvet, boucle, rattan, macrame, silk – to add depth to the space.

Furniture Village’s Botanicals collection has 12 different fabrics to choose from, including velvets and plain weaves, so you can mix and match pieces and get that mix of materials across your key pieces of furniture.

4. Pick one bold piece to be the focal point

If you're unsure where to start when it comes to embracing maximalism in your living room, let a single piece of furniture be your jumping-off point. Look out for larger pieces like sofas, armchairs and footstools that will set the maximalist vibe and you can build from there, going as eclectic as you like.

The Botanicals range has plenty of sofas and chairs to choose from in varying shapes to suit all styles, that will make an instant maximalist statement.

5. Be bold with your style but keep the layout simple

Maximalism might be all about the ‘more is more’ mantra but you never want your living room to feel overly cluttered or claustrophobic. To prevent this, keep your layout simple and don’t crowd in too much furniture. Symmetry will work well to balance out the busyness of the prints and colours in the room, so arrange your furniture so that each side of the room mirrors the other.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be perfectly symmetrical, just ensure the room has some structure before you get really creative with the decor.

The new Botanicals collection is exclusive to Furniture Village and will be available to buy online and in the majority of stores.

Prices start from £295.