Two interior design trends have battled against each other (very publically) in the age where the public sees and shares all – minimalism versus maximalism.
Minimalism seemed to be winning the interior design boxing match in the late 2010s and early 2020s as our feeds were fuelled with design inspiration tips that all encouraged sleek, simple and barely-there designs.
The art of nothingness took over the world of decor, leading many to bask in decor ideals that remained both open and concealed in mystery – a public view that famous minimalists like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe no doubt would’ve shed a tear at.
But after being trapped in our homes for those pandemic years, many people got bored of the empty, and started filling their spaces up (stylishly) with fun, creative and vibrant pieces, wallpapers and furniture of the quirkiest domain.
Last year, various famed designers like Ken Fulk noted that maximalism was the design style to get with, but the minimalists weren’t quite ready to trade their clean slates just yet.
So, if you’re sitting on the fence, unsure of which design style camp to join, here are a few pros and cons to know about each.
Minimalism
Pros
There are a few pros (and cons) to joining the minimalist movement. Some of the most widely agreed upon are:
- More space
- Owning higher quality pieces
- Cutting ties from the past
- Easier cleaning
- A calmer environment
- Functional furniture
- Finding the beauty in simpler designs
Cons
- Maintaining discipline in cleanliness
- Constant de-cluttering
- Dull appearance
- Extra effort to find pieces
- More costly pieces
- Not ideal if you have kids
- Not ideal if you’re sentimental
Maximalism
So you want to be a maximalist? Here are the pros and cons of the ‘more is more’ decor trend:
Pros
- The space to be bold
- Perfect for different collections
- Freedom of pattern mixing
- Creative flair
- Cheaper pieces thanks to thrifting
- Sentimental human approved
- More opportunities to switch things up
Cons
- The mess if you don’t get it right
- The addiction of adding “new favourites”
- The anxiety of the busy
- Expenses of the “moreness”
- Cramped nature
- Hoarding triggers
- Losing items
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Feature Image: Pinterest
