This post is in collaboration with Desenio.
If I were writing in a diary – and well, let’s face it – a blog is kind of like a diary. I would write the following: I am a messy person. In no way am I a minimalist. And I live for it.
I thrive on environments of creative clutter, chaos and a little bit of mayhem. My flat can be found on most days looking a bit topsy turvy. Something is always not where it should be. And most certainly, I can confirm that items find themselves inhabitants of entirely new rooms on a daily basis.
But I like it. The mess is me. It makes sense to me and to Joe’s dismay, me alone.
So it would only be natural to assume that I like my maximalist ways to spread from the floor straight up to the ceiling – which is why I’ve become such a lover of gallery walls.
When I was growing up, I used to make massive collages out of magazine cuttings. Including the latest teen heartthrob of the day (there was probably A LOT of Justin Timberlake), fashions I liked (oh those late 90s/early 00s were beautiful looks) and a mixture of words that I found affirming. Lots of “glamour” “cosmopolitan” and probably a mixture of “WOW” “gorgeous” and “BEAUTIFUL” made it up there.
Nowadays, the perfect recipe for an adult millennial version of those collages is the gallery wall. Photos, pictures and art that can take over and dominate an entire wall. I don’t just like it, I love it. I’ve been an admirer of Desenio for quite some time now, a brand connecting art and photos with people like me (maximalists) and normal people who can buy and appreciate items without needing EVERYTHING.
So while the world may be telling me to clear out my wardrobe and declutter my Christmas cards from five years ago, my gallery wall is telling me that it’s OK to be a maximalist. It’s OK to love feeling enveloped in a cosy home.
Why be a minimalist when you can achieve ultimate happiness with maximalism?
Here’s why it’s OK to embrace your maximalist tendencies (with some help from my pals at Desenio:
1. Undoubtedly you have good taste.
A maximalist always knows that a very unique ornament, photo or frame can find the perfect place in and amongst your home. I loved picking out my new additions to the wall behind our sofa. Birds flying at dusk in this Field Sunset poster, a dreamy Baja Desert cactus situation (would also like to increase the number of succulents in our flat), through to the pastel wall beachy pink building that reminded me of Ibiza.
2. You’re a creative!
Which means that sometimes it’s hard to slow down and refocus – I picked up this “breathe” print to remind myself to slow down. I love how my mind works, but sometimes, even those running at high speeds all the time need to slow it down every now and then.
3. You see the potential in EVERYTHING
A fun saying that I love is this quote from Apartment Therapy “You see a white wall as a missed opportunity.” And I TOTALLY agree. Seeing the potential in everything is the key to a maximalist home (and life)! New opportunities are around every corner, whether that’s home, work or in your personal life. I love that kind of happy symbolism.
And…
Remember, I’m mostly kidding. I wish I could learn the ways of minimalism – but I think it’s good to embrace who I am. Which means maaaaybe making a cheeky purchase over the holidays to add to the wall behind our favourite yellow chair. I fell in LOVE with this aerial autumnal photo – but the space surround it is looking a little too bare for my liking. Cue Desenio’s well timed Christmas sales! You (and I) can get 30% off when spending £60 (ps. this does not include handpicked/collaboration posters or frames).
So I’ll be seeing you all in the New Year… with a few new pieces to our place too! Because even still, it needs plenty more…
Happy holidays my maximalist loving pals!
Kelly x
(PS. In case you missed it – this post is in collaboration with Desenio. All my selections, thoughts, opinions and tendencies to maximalise my home are all my own.)
