Maximalism is trending, especially among the Gen-Z population. The opposite of minimalism, maximalism reflects excess, which is perhaps why it’s popular with a generation who grew up on the internet and its seemingly endless array of ideas. Maximalism has given way to this generation’s preference for bold aesthetics, mixed patterns, textures and lots of colors. Nowhere is this more evident than on TikTok, where fashion videos full of excessive layering, outrageous accessories and interiors full of mismatched wall art and numerous plants cover the app. Maximalist design, or the idea that more truly is more, is easiest to install indoors, where only those you trust and invite in can experience the quirky, occasionally overwhelming design trend. Here are some of the best ways to use maximalism with tile.
Kitchen Island
Carissa Henderson, who specializes in fun, colorful interiors, preaches layering and contrasting textures and colors to create the ideal maximalist kitchen. Here, she uses square-foot Terrazzo tiles in blush under the kitchen island countertop. The pink tile’s color contrasts the royal blue ceiling, black-and-white accent wall, and the kitchen’s dark appliances. Its sleek texture adds some visual variation when paired with coarser wood grain on the countertop, kitchen table and floor.View this post on Instagram
Kitchen Backsplash
It can be helpful to have a few standard colors link a room together when including several patterns and textures. This kitchen, by interior stylist Kate Pearce, does just that. The texture of this Circulos black cement tile serves as a statement backsplash, taking up nearly an entire wall. It contrasts with the wooden kitchen island, upcycled from an 1800s barn in Connecticut. The bright blue stove balances the room and highlights that same color in the rug. The yellow and green in the rug also bring out the island’s stacked books and decorative vase.View this post on Instagram
Fireplace
When adding many different colors to a room, the quality of the texture can be just as important as the color itself. Josh Guzmán, who sources Kazimah Carpets and Decor from the Middle East and India, says one of his most prominent pieces of advice includes buying well-made, crafted pieces. Incredibly colorful pieces that draw attention to themselves but are also mass-produced often highlight cheapness in their texture. This beautiful rug—primarily red and matching the quality-made couch’s throw pillows—has shades of blue and teal. The colors lead the eye to the room’s fireplace, framed by hand-crafted, square sea green Zellige tiles from Morocco.View this post on Instagram
Bathroom Wall
If an excess of color doesn’t speak to you, try balancing a bit of color with various neutrals and textures. In this bathroom, the rug is the colorful star of the show, and neutral pinks, whites and tans throughout the rest of the room complement it. Lighter pink accents in the statement rug bring out the same hue in the wall’s Norwegian rose marble, made up of 6-by-12-inch tiles. Flecks of tan and white in the tile perfectly match the shiny counter and floor, a room designed by Tina Bousu.View this post on Instagram
Laundry Room
Do-it-yourself designer Tina Bousu also designed this laundry room with paint that slightly shifts color depending on how the light hits it. Perhaps this made it easier to match the pink in the wall color to the laundry room’s vibrant cabinetry and light fixtures. This room is wonderfully paired with textured neutrals so that colors don’t overwhelm the maximalist space—for example, the sleek, white Casablanca Carrara marble tile floor in 4-by-12-inch pieces. The gold-leafed concrete countertop contributes a neutral addition to the area, matching the walls. Potted plants warm the room to create a cozy-but-busy feel.View this post on Instagram
Shower Wall
This bathroom perfectly combines color, pattern and texture to represent a maximalist room. The sharper shower wall, covered in Norwegian rose marble tile, complements similar colors in the softer floral wallpaper over the sink. Pettigrew Adventures, an interior design brand, paired these contrasting patterns and textures with a gold mirror, faucet and a beautiful blush sink. Because these colors match those in the wall coverings, the whole room is a maximalist’s dream.View this post on Instagram
