How to Create Maximalist Looks in Any Space

Colors: A blend of rich blues, reds and greens in a Kennebunkport, Maine, space designed by Katie Rosenfeld creates major cozy vibes.

Textures: An unexpected touch of it can make a whole room memorable. Here, the ottoman was upholstered with a vintage rug.

Patterns: Repeating stripes and florals thoughout, then combining the two in the window treatments, keeps things cohesive.

Colors: “I started with one multi-hued fabric, the lemon tree print, then pulled colors from it,” says designer Amanda Louise Campbell of her living room in Greenville, South Carolina. The sofa repeats the hues on a small scale, so it doesn’t compete.

Textures: “Natural ones, like the woven mirror and rattan bookcase, give a base for layering high-energy pieces.”

Patterns: The free-flowing style of the sofa’s lines and the ottoman’s squiggles holds them together — way more interesting than matchy!

Colors: “The black-and-white combo is always classic, and everything goes with it,” says designer Jen Talbot. The white in the wallpaper’s background in this Lake Forest, Illinois, room connects it to the white stripes in the poufs.

Textures: A linen sofa and rattan chair boost the island-chill mood, while chunky tassels on the throw pillows up the fab factor. Also cool: a ponytail palm next to the wallpaper.

Patterns: “I stuck with small-scale patterns on the pillows, a medium one for the black-and white poufs and a large one in the wallpaper,” says Jen. “That’s my don’t-overdo-it pattern-play trick!”

Colors: A completely pinked-out den in Richmond, Virginia, is wild in a sane way. What helps: Its bubble gum pink walls are grounded by a lighter shade in the sofa.

Textures: Although a fluffy rug and a faux-fur bench soften the look, it’s not just about textiles. “A handblown glass lamp is a moment of calm,” says designer Janie Molster.

Patterns: When colors are this bold, choose equally strong patterns — suzani, zigzag, irregular stripes. Abstract art is great too.