Now’s the time to stamp your mark on your living room. From bold colours to statement pieces, discover your extrovert side with our expert advice…
When it comes to personalising our living rooms, many of us have a new-found confidence. We are filling our homes – literally – with colour and pattern. But it can take a little know-how to get a maximalist look just right. We asked Partner & Home Design Stylist Wil Law, a self-confessed colour lover, to share his top tips on pulling together an eclectic look.
‘Maximalist interiors will often have a starting piece that dictates the whole scheme,’ says Wil. Once you’ve found that one item that you love – whether it’s a piece of artwork, a bold wallpaper or even a cushion – then flow the colours from this into other elements of the room. ‘Pull from that piece’s strengths rather than its subtleties,’ advises Wil. ‘Once you’ve decided on the colours, you can then work to create impact with texture and different scales of pattern that bring the room to life.’
Even with a maximalist scheme, you still need to be considered. ‘While our Heritage Revival trend is certainly a celebration of colour, it’s not about visual overload,’ explains Wil. ‘Try choosing three colours that you can make work tonally to add impact. For instance, yellow might be one of your three colours, but this could range from amber to gold to a much brighter primary shade, with all three used across paintwork, soft furnishings and hard finishes. This is why the trend seems so alive and vibrant, but still coordinated.’
“Order lots of samples of fabric, paint and wallpaper and have a look at which combinations layer the best, giving you that ‘wow’ factor feeling”
Each piece needs to hold its own in a maximalist scheme, otherwise it can risk being lost in the visual boldness. Wil says to look for ‘decorative detail’, believing that ‘each piece should stand alone as a statement rather than blend away.’ He loves the new antique pedestal side table in brass. ‘It's an architectural piece that demands attention,’ he explains. ‘Interestingly, turned legs are also making a comeback, rooted in that heritage theme, but made more contemporary and eclectic with painted finishes.’
When it comes to soft furnishing and upholstery, velvet is still a key texture. ‘It does carry that intensity of colour better than other fabrics, and of course has the benefit of being soft-to-touch,’ says Wil. ‘Look for decorative velvets – they are key to this trend – by combining print, embroidered and cut velvets for cushions on your sofa. You’ll create areas that are plush and tactile with real visual depth.’
“Many of us have found that we need more stimulation from home – it’s time to go to town with colour and pattern”
Don’t hold back with a maximalist look – even smaller touches need to say something, adding to your room’s style story. ‘I’d always go bold with beautiful lighting in a living room,’ says Wil. ‘Choose lamps with decorative ceramic bases that look vase-like, and add sculptural shapes with task lighting. Cluster those closely with accessories – remember “more is more”.’
Coloured glass is big this season, with a whole range of shades and shapes on offer, ‘so scatter a few glass pieces around your living space,’ adds Wil. ‘Even the simplest shape will have such character when tinted with one of the colours from your room.’
“It’s not all about pattern – plain expanses of rich colour in sumptuous fabrics will make the gorgeous heritage designs really pop”
