Introduction
Art movements have been influenced by the course of history and they have, in turn, influenced history too. Western Art took great importance during the Renaissance, and from there, artists and designers have been on a path to the development of modern art through the introduction of new movements, such as Impressionism, Expressionism, Neoclassicism, and Romanticism, among others. Through the 18th and 19th centuries, these art movements replaced one another and created a gradual development in the use of artistic mediums of expression – such as painting, writing, architecture, and sculpturing. These art movements were the definition of ‘design’ in each of their time periods.
One such approach to design is minimalism – the product of the phrase ‘less is more.’ Born as a reaction to modernism and abstract expressionism, minimalism chooses the path of doing the minimum to make a place, or a piece of art, be usable or look complete. It is a form of saying a lot with the minimum steps that need to be taken. Minimalism’s characteristics include soft pastel & nude color palettes, subtle materials plain shapes, and an absence of textures and patterns.
Maximalism, on the other hand, takes a completely opposite of this movement of minimalism. Called the ‘aesthetic of the excess’, this movement was built on the phrase ‘more is more’. Characterized by bold colors, sharp patterns, catchy textures, and loud shapes – being attention-catching in every way possible – maximalism, too, is born as a result of the postmodernist movement.
Minimalism versus Maximalism
The ideas of Minimalism and Maximalism both apply to a host of platforms – visual arts (paintings, sculptures, films), motion arts (dance and song), fashion & clothing, literature, architecture, as well as interior design. The basic definition of both movements remains the same. Minimalism involves the use of a minimum number of elements and colors to convey a message, while Maximalism uses as many elements, colors, and patterns as possible.
Although both these styles sit on opposite ends of the design fence, both are as popular as the other. As popular as they are, both minimalism and maximalism do have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to visible appeal, comfort, and likability. The choice of movement by a designer depends heavily on the end user’s sense of taste, likes, understanding of art, and overall ideology. Several times, instead of drifting to the extreme ends of the spectrum, a designer may adjust their designers somewhere in the middle, subtly leaning towards either minimalism or maximalism according to their user or client. Particularly in architecture and interior design, this trend plays out for smaller, more personal projects.
Stand-out Differences
Although there are almost opposites of each element of design when utilized either for maximalism or minimalism, interior design and architecture can be highlighted with a list of components – and how each style transforms them. Let’s take a look at this below.
- Walls – Minimalist walls would include white, pastels, or nude colors, never taking away from the language of the room. All walls would be of the same or similar color. Maximalist walls would include loud, bold colors like reds, greens, and blues, being the focal points in the room. Use of wallpapers, patterns, and textures can be used to make some of the walls more important than others.
- Furniture – Minimalist furniture is medium-sized, subtly colored, and appropriate to the room. Maximalist furniture can be extreme – both in terms of size and color.
- Furnishings – Small, dainty additions, such as house plants, coat racks, and statement lighting fixtures become a part of the minimalist’s interiors. Space is left for movement and breathing space for the eyes. The maximalist uses elements like chandeliers, centerpieces, and other decorative elements for almost all corners of the room. The space feels cozy and small here.
- Flooring – The flooring of a minimalist interior matches the walls and the furniture and is true to the simple and subtle color palette. A maximalist interior may opt for matching tiles, or an absolute contrast to the rest of the room, for the flooring. A combination of many tiles, cut in patterns, provides an interesting element to the space.
- Design Style – An example of Minimalism can be considered the Scandinavian home décor theme, and an example of Maximalism can be Boho design.
- Lighting – The lack of excessive elements and availability of space means that minimalism does well with white- or daylight-colored lights, while maximalism does better as décor with warm lighting, which brings the entire range of elements together.
Conclusion
The selection of any one of these styles – minimalist or maximalist – or something somewhere in the middle of this large scale, depends largely on the user’s style, taste and personality too. In terms of architecture and interior design, the choice between these two directly reflects a person’s sense of taste and particularly, their personality – whether they are more outgoing and extroverted, or sophisticated and happy in limited company.
References
- Maximalism vs Minimalism, Pinkvilla (https://www.pinkvilla.com/lifestyle/home-decor/maximalism-vs-minimalism-what-are-differences-between-these-two-home-d-cor-concepts-747102)
- Maximalism, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximalism)
- Art Movement, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_movement)
- Minimalism vs Maximalism, Envato Blog (https://www.envato.com/blog/minimalism-vs-maximalism-design-style/)
