This philosophy of texture contrast is exemplified in Greco Deco’s design of Rosendale-based inn Six Bells, where Adam Greco uses small prints to make a big impact, with Victorian-style sofas, matching throw pillows, meticulously drawn wallpapers, and drapes that match the couch fabric to create a sense of unified design. Color-drenching, or leaning on a unified color palette, keeps the room from looking crowded.
Integrate a statement sofa into your current space
Gage suggests solid walls and a vintage rug to set the foundation for a room where the sofa will be the star. “Treat the sofa as the anchor,” says Smith. “Pull one or two colors or textures from it and repeat them in smaller accents across the room.” Aiduss concurs: “Unify the space using a chic color palette. Consider painting the walls and ceiling the same color if the room is small, or pop the walls or trim with contrast.” Statement pieces, or home decor like books or vases can help support the chosen color palette and incorporate it more subtly throughout, as seen in Christopher Meloni’s home, where the deep blue and turquoise books reference the marbled modular sofa.
Go big, but edit regularly
“The best maximalist rooms are those that allow you to focus on a view and not feel overwhelmed with neighboring seating areas,” says Jenkins, who broke up this living room with a blue statement sofa to disrupt the eye, paired with a bold animal print throw pillow. Chinoiserie table lamps or patterned lampshades create a visual appeal that can make a patterned sofa feel right at home with more powerful design elements, instead of opposing its surrounding home decor. “A strong side table, art with scale, or a well-chosen vintage rug keeps the eye focused. When every item has a role, the room reads as bold and confident rather than chaotic,” says Smith.
All designers agree on the importance of an ongoing edit, emphasizing scale and balance as the trademark of well-executed maximalist style,…