How to Survive in a Beige World: A Short Guide to Maximalist Living
The beigeness or magnolia-ness is definitely a thing. If you're in a home that you actually want to live in, not immediately sell as a ' blank canvas', then it makes sense to decorate it to suit yourself.
Maximalist living is about filling your space with things you actually love. Colour, pattern, texture, art, objects that mean something. The stuff that makes you feel a bit of 'pazzazz' when you walk in the room.
Start with one thing you love
Pick one piece, perhaps a painting, a rug, a lamp - that genuinely excites you. For instance, I have seen an amazing multicoloured chandelier lamp that I dearly covet. If you start from something small like that, everything else in the room can take its cues from that one thing.
More colour, less caution
I have recently realised that I enjoy wearing colours that traditionally 'clash', they're often beautiful! It's the same on the walls, really. Deep greens, rich terracottas, bold blues. Paint is one of the cheapest ways to transform a room and one of the most dramatic. If you keep one key colour running through as a sort of 'tie-in' it will look absolutely gorgeous in no time at all.
Layer it up
Cushions on cushions. A rug on a rug. The layers add texture and depth to your decor. This looks really cool, so just go for it.
Mix your patterns
Florals with stripes. Geometric with animal print. The trick is keeping that one common colour running through them so it looks 'accidentally' amazing.
Collect things that mean something
Display the stuff you actually care about, travel finds, vintage pieces, family things. It doesn't need to be cluttered; just have the things that you really do love.
These are only ideas - rules are for the faint-hearted!
Let's not worry about 'rules' on this occasion. If it makes you happy, it works.
This scene was built around my Highland Cow painting, and I think it looks so cosy and fabulous. Check out some of my available colourful canvases and see where it takes you.
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