How to Do Maximalism without Looking Chaotic, According to Experts

Curate Your Colors

Color lovers, you're going to have to make some tough choices! As much as you may love a wide variety of hues, there's no need to go overboard and incorporate the entire rainbow into your decorating scheme, noted Leskowitz. "Pick just a few colors—two or three—that coordinate, and keep them at the same hue or saturation point, and then you can add in pops with accessories," she advised.

Pick the Right Mix of Patterns

While you'll want to pare down your color choices, you can shake things up by opting for different types of patterns in a room. Leskowitz shared, "Each pattern should be of a different scale. Small, medium, and big patterns in coordinating colors keeps interest high and anxiety low." So go ahead and scout out several that will make your space sing.

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

Brittany Farinas, of House of One, who designed the space above, offers a trick to keep in mind when it comes to patterened wallpaper and illustrations. "Repeated graphic elements ... provide a maximalist look that does not come across as cluttered," she explained.

Work the Walls

And designer Kim Armstrong is also a fan of wallpaper—here's why. "Maximalism without feeling chaotic is achieved through looking at every surface, and determining how to create the most visual interest in a room, while still maintaining a sense of order," she explained. "My approach to do this is through color and pattern, which most often shows up in the forms of fabric and wallpaper. Wallpaper is great, because it provides a foundational base of both color and pattern that you can layer upon." Just keep Farinas's tip regarding repetitive patterns in mind, and you can't go wrong with whatever design you choose.

Think About Texture

Designer Carrie Livingston chose two eye-catching pieces to star in the above dining room.  "I took the De Gournay wallpaper and went for it. It’s a massive statement on its own," she said. "Then the rug makes another statement in a different pattern." But, she added, incorporating texture is also key. "The eye is getting major stimulation," she commented. "So for the rest of the room, there is texture, not pattern—leather chairs, a wood table, velvet drapery, and sculptural lamps."

Eliminate "Stuff"

In the pattern-filled dining room, Livingston avoided small accents. "That’s important," she said, noting that she opted for a large credenza to house entertaining supplies, which are kept out of sight, and didn't overly style its surface. "Clutter that up with stuff and you run will have too many components battling for visual dominance."

Designer Annie Elliott agreed. "Keeping surfaces organized and rather spare can take the edge off a maximalist room," she noted. "Straighten piles of books, display one large object rather than a collection of small ones, and make sure you can see some of the table or shelf surface. The room will look less cluttered and feel more restful."

Strike a Balance

It doesn't matter if items are all different sizes and colors, the key is artfully striking a balance with these pieces, Leskowitz noted. "Balance gives visual weight to a space," she stated. "Even if items in a room do not match, how they balance one another keeps things from looking off kilter and allows our eyes to rest periodically." And this means that not every single item can be a show-stopper. Leskowitz commented, "Our eyes seek out order, so you do not want everything vying for your attention."

Choose Complementary Items

Designer Jessica Davis of JL Design outlined another way in which balance is important when styling a maximalist space. "When I am styling a shelf, I will have several items that are all interesting and different in their own right, but each of these items will 'speak' to another in some way to achieve the balance needed," she explained. "It's always really important to balance patterns and textures in any maximalist space as well," Davis noted. "Maximalist style is a feast for the eyes, and the eye should be trained to dance around the room and take in all of the interest in doses. By focusing on balance, this 'dance' can be achieved."