From the simplicity of the Minimalist style and bold gestures of Maximalism to the bright colours and fun patterns of Eclectic decor, each interior design style has characteristics of its own. These include varying decor elements, styles of furnishings, colour palettes, textures, and more.
To incorporate your favourite design style into your space, it helps to be well-acquainted with its features. And if one of Minimalist, Maximalist or Eclectic is what you’re searching for, this blog post is for you! So, let’s get started.
We're proud to see our interior designers gaining international recognition as design experts! Jamie's tips on maximising small spaces were recently featured in the Redfin blog. Need help with your home project? Book a chat with Jamie.
Minimalist
The Minimalist interior design style is characterised by simplicity, sleek geometries, and clean lines. It truly loves empty space, so using only the bare essentials for decor is the prerequisite. There are no patterns in this design style whilst incorporating texture is an absolute necessity. This is because texture helps make the otherwise cold space warm and inviting.
As such, the materials used in this style are diverse. From timber and glass to cloth and canvas, anything that helps incorporate an additional layer of texture is welcomed.
The colour palette is majorly neutral, with all-white and all-black being famous favourites. Pastel shades, such as pale tones of pink, green, and blue, are ideal to use as accent colours. Additionally, the Minimalist style loves plants, so bold punches of colour are welcomed through greenery.
Lighting in Minimalism ranges from recessed lighting to keep things low key to lots of natural light from outdoors. A fancy chandelier may be a Minimalist’s worst dream, but a statement can still be made with other elegant light sources, such as sleek LED pendant lights.
Credit: Ali Express
Furniture for this design style focuses on flat and smooth surfaces along with clean lines. Furniture pieces aim to be big on functionality and practicality.
To incorporate the Minimalist design style in your space, unwind the blinds to allow in lots of natural light, keep the colour palette neutral, and use lots of texture.
Maximalist
The Maximalist interior design is, quite unsurprisingly, the antithesis of Minimalism. As such, it believes less is truly less, encouraging one to play around with lots of patterns, saturated colours, and bold accessories. But Maximalism isn’t for everyone — it takes a good designing eye to make sense of a vast array of bespoke interests! And it’s often a great idea to consult a vetted professional for guidance beforehand.
Credit: The Pinnacle List
The materials for the Maximalist design style are basically anything and everything, as Maximalism focuses on putting together the things you love — and taking them to the next level. From faux plants and textured artwork to wooden floors and velvet-covered armchairs, Maximalism loves just anything.
The colours for this design style are bold cheerful, and the key lies in loading up in several different hues. Dark and light blues complemented with bright reds and greens can be the starting point for one Maximalist space, with more and more colours being added as one continues to decorate.
Credit: Hotel Les Deux Gares Paris
The lighting in the Maximalist design style should be spectacular; it should catch the eye and create a statement. Fancy chandeliers are particularly famous in Maximalism, though using multiple pendant lights — all aligned up — can also achieve the purpose.
Finally, the furniture in Maximalism is no different. Each item of furniture offers a great way to incorporate patterns. Fully-patterned sofas are often used in Maximalism, though the look can be kept grounded with printed cushions over plain sofa sets. Each furniture piece should also be unique, so picking up entire sets from furniture stores is not encouraged in this design style.
To incorporate this design style into your space, be (very) generous with colour and toss in vintage accents — old books are a must!
Credit: Dazey Den
Eclectic
The Eclectic interior design style mixes elements from different styles. It is a beautiful blend of old and new, bringing together many different cultural heritages. The eclectic style revolves around spell-binding finds, high energy, and combining different colours and patterns. As such, it can easily be called a stepped-down version of the Maximalist design style.
The materials found in the Eclectic design style have their roots in other design styles. Wooden elements from Industrial design style, textured textiles from Minimalism, and natural elements from Scandinavian decor — they’re all merged together for the Eclectic style.
Similarly, the colour palette has room for diversity. Bold colours take the prize, but an equally elegant and eclectic space can be created using white mixed with lighter hues, such as pastel pinks and yellows. The trick is to think of contrast and balance — for example, building with dark colours over a neutral base.
The lighting for Eclectic decor can be anything from a vintage chandelier to sleek table lamps. Layering recessed ceiling lights from Minimalism, fancy pendant lights from the Maximalist style, and rattan chandeliers from Boho decor is one way to bring elements from different design styles into the interior.
Additionally, you can find an informal mix of furnishings in the Eclectic design style. One example is a blend of Modern and Traditional, such as using vintage wall art in an otherwise Contemporary-looking interior. Finding comfortable floor seats (rooted in the Boho style) is also common.
To incorporate the Eclectic design style into your space, mix and match all the patterns, prints, and textures you love and take inspiration from other design styles!
Our Final Thoughts
The Minimalist, Maximalist, and Eclectic interior design styles are stunning in their own ways. And with each of their design elements explained in this blog post, we hope you have a better sense of these styles through just a short read!
Need help choosing the right design for you? Book one of our Interior Design Gurus for a 30-minute video call. Transforming your home into a space you love shouldn't be a daunting task. With HiiGuru you can save time, avoid costly mistakes and bring your goals to life with experts by your side.
We were mentioned as a designing expert on the topic of Maximalism in the Redfin blog! Check out the article we were featured in: Maximalist Interior Design in Small Spaces | Redfin.