Minimalism has been a growing trend in interior design for a number of years. From some of my research, it seems to have surfaced from the great recession around 2007/2008 where the economy went from booming and display of disposable income, to many loosing jobs and even their homes when the recession came. It then became appealing to simplify your life and redefine what you really need. The accessibility of travel probably contributed to that trend as well and it became more about experiences than your home for many.
But during the pandemic, habits suddenly changed and people were spending more time at home than ever. Travel was also significantly reduced and spending priorities have changed as a result. While many have been impacted economically, unlike the great recession, many are still doing well and are spending a lot to improve their homes. While people previously valued dinning out and attending events, leisure time is is now largely spent at home. Many also have a lot more free time for new hobbies at home. Therefore, the trend of maximalism at home is starting to become appealing to many.
In this second part of the post, I am going to touch on how I am embracing elements of maximalism at home.
- Multiple lounge areas in my home – some would say that anything more than a bed, lounge chair and coffee table to eat on in a studio apartment, would make it hard to embrace minimalism. I’ve already maximized the space by having multiple lounge chairs in the living room, a dining table (and one that is very long). Then I added a lounge chair (and then a desk) in the walk-in closet. Additionally, I added a lounge chair by the window directly next to the living room. Perhaps I have significantly less open space, however with all the time that I need to spend at home, it’s more important that I have variety and multiple seating options. I often need a break from the living room, need to look out the window sometimes or need a place to brainstorm business ideas in the home office away from my main home!
- Having a lot of books – books are something that can add interest to any home. In fact if you actually look at Scandinavian interiors, the bookshelves are always packed and are sometimes from floor to ceiling. I usually acquire many books from a free shelf and as long. My favourites are those 1970’s coffee table books of my city and the unique photography styles back then.
- A permanently placed window chair and an additional side table in an already tight space – I will talk more about this more in detail in another post, however this is an example of adding more to an already tight area. I initially envisioned a lounge chair that could collapse and only be used on the weekends. Or taking a lounge chair and turning it around when I wanted to look out the window. Or using a wicker chair as a dining chair and turning it around when wanting to look outside. I discovered however that a side table and large plant on it actually created a barrier from the living room. It also makes the room look a lot bigger too. With it being permanent, it is much more inviting and easy to utilize and is great when I need a break from my home.
- Having three hanging paper lanterns/spheres in a small studio apartment – you could argue that this makes a small space feel even more cramped. However when you look at most Scandinavian interiors, this is one of the simplest hacks to give it the look of being Scandinavian. It also makes the space appear bigger and draws your eyes to see the vertical heights that are still in a small studio space.
You can also read my latest post on where I will still embrace minimalistic elements in my home for a while
