I am a pastel girl through and through; the pastel aesthetic (particularly the kind present in bright and airy Danish interiors) is possibly the only obsession I’ve had, unchanged, since I first started pinning my dream home together. That said, my mood changes with the seasons, and I can admit that there’s a time and a place for darker hues, especially when it comes to cozy maximalist design. But deep as their tones may be, for me, these interiors must have color: be it bold blues, deep teals, or moody mauves. So, while I largely ignored the moody maximalism trend in our feeds for months, a few here and there would have me questioning my stance. There are a few moody spaces I could totally see caring out a reading nook or meditation corner or even *part* of the living room for. Because while I do gravitate toward light spaces, I love a little drama, too.
I’m about as obsessed with Australian brand Fenton & Fenton as any US gal who has never shopped there can be. Here, Alizon Gray‘s work ‘Journey Out of Dreaming’ boldly hangs above a layered pink lounge space which pops against a moody blue. I love this approach to maximalist design: using color and texture to create the ‘more is more’ look, rather than literally adding more. Cozy maximalism at its finest! Photo by @davekulesza
Artist and interior designer Bari J is the queen of bold color and maximalist interiors. She has shared a few vignettes such as this dark pink corner, that give us the perfect amount of moody without going too dark.
Another artist featured on F&F, Llewellyn Skye’s moody abstract paintings filled with mauves and mustards and other dreamy jewel tones lend themselves perfectly for the dark, sultry maximalist design. Add a few bunches of dried flowers leftover from summer, and you have a romantic space to spend the winter! Photos by @the.holistic.photographer
When we happened across these velvet lampshades by Caitlin de Visser of Knappe Kappen, we couldn’t help but think of the moody maximalist. And they just so happen to be all my favorite lipstick colors combined. Beautiful!
Wies of @dailydoseofgoldie strikes the perfect balance between cozy maximalism and moody. I love this room because it features different layers, colors, and collected objects, but it all looks carefully chosen.
But if you really want to go all in with moody maximalism, it is Yvette‘s romantic Dutch apartment as featured on Apartment Therapy. She always finds the perfect pairing of paint and wallpaper to add mystery to her space.
One of my favorite accounts to follow for interior inspiration is @ahometomakeyousmile by London based content creator Sarah. She shares photos and video of the same little corners through all seasons, and you can definitely feel how the mood changes throughout the year. Some of my favorites are seeing how things begin to look in the fall, as the trees outside sway. This is a particularly moody corner, a reading nook adorned in books and plants. But really, do take a peek at her videos to delight in her abode through the seasons!
Another beautiful London space, utilizing what is clearly one of our favorite palettes for the moody maximalist—delicious deep pinks and greens—as decorated by Alice of @strikeme_pink. I absolutely love this wall mural and the overall layered vintage vibes throughout the DIY’ed 1901 home!
Does the moodier side of maximalist design intrigue you, or are you team white walls… Or perhaps your own mix? Find more maximalist interior ideas here!
