This Diwali, designers encourage you to embrace minimalism to the fullest

 This Diwali, designers encourage you to embrace minimalism to the fullest

More of everything is what maximalism is all about, notably sparkle and glitter, brightness and aggressiveness, and an unrestrained mingling of colors, textures, textiles, and designs.

Exuberant carpets, artwork, and metallic accents elevate maximalism to a new degree. Image sourced from Spacejoy-Unsplash

As the world came to terms with Covid, and sanitization and cleanliness became survival imperatives, design became more about minimalism. Maximalism, or going overboard with abandon, has replaced those gloomy years. As we previously said in our 2023 trend predictions, this is the period in which everything, including design, is being embraced with exuberant enthusiasm.

Excessive amounts of everything, particularly sparkle and glitter, boldness and brightness, and an unrestrained mixing of colors, textures, materials, and designs heaped on top of one another are what define maximalism. Consider furniture with satin or striking gold prints; imagine paintings, drawings, and other artworks hung on every wall in a space. Silk carpets next to zebra-striped durries. Maximalism falls within the category of postmodernism, which embraces excess and rejects strict norms and order.

Thus, what role does maximalism play in design?

Vinod Singhi and Ranju Singhi are the principle architects and creators of Basics Architects, located in New Delhi. Although their design philosophy is still based on sustainability, simplicity, and nature-integrated architecture, they have not shied away from embracing the richness and variety of maximalism.

The Singhis believe the idea is a celebration of uniqueness, self-expression, and extravagant design rather than a return to the simplicity of minimalism. It's about bringing opposites to balance and creating audacious designs that are ecologically conscious and visually stunning. It's time to embrace excess in a way that blends patterns, colors, textures, and shapes in a harmonic way to create rooms that are rich, colorful, and filled with personality.

Asumi Rawat, principle architect and founder of Asumi Rawat Desiign in Mumbai, acknowledges that she usually goes with a more muted palette, but she is also making the most of the minimal by adding strong and brilliant colors sparingly and in a regulated way to heighten the visual impact of places.

Additionally, Rawat incorporates natural materials and lush green vegetation into her creations.  The reason for this is because "maximalism in 2023 is about making every element essential and impactful, aligning with our core objectives; it's not just about extravagance."

Colors and light in play

According to Rawat, your Diwali day décor should include a lot of components. Place flowers and candles on the side tables and center tables in the living room and other areas where guests are being hosted. Numerous ones. In addition to the standard diyas and lanterns, outdoor spaces may be adorned with rangoli, rows of candles, and an abundance of fairy lights. Personally, I think a mix of classic materials makes the entryway of the home seem cozier," she says.

For Ranju Singhi, the three most crucial components of her Diwali décor are:

Lighting: To provide a cozy and enchanted ambiance, with the play of light and shadow enhancing the whole holiday celebration

Greenery: Nothing adds interest to a space like shades of green. Adding to the "richness" of décor while embracing nature in all its splendor is a beautiful thing. According to her, "plants also symbolize prosperity and fresh starts, which are essential to joyous celebrations."

Get close to me: Create décor that is one-of-a-kind and meaningful by adding trinkets and artwork that honor the cultural heritage of your family or that are coupled with fascinating tales from your travels or other life experiences.

How that's done

In terms of interpreting maximalism in her works, Rawat claims to have learned the remarkable impact of using wall paneling and layering in various ways. "We have concealed storage compartments with paneling so that the doors blend in seamlessly with the surrounding walls. Additionally, we have layered busy textiles on headboards and bed backs.

While designing the Pernod Ricard headquarters in Dubai, the Singhis used a maximalist design philosophy. To create a place that reflected the vitality of the brand, materials like wood, copper and gold finishes, painted brilliant colors, and tinted glass were employed.

In addition, the Singhis made care to "embraced biophilia as well on a grand scale" in order to strengthen the connection between the interior and outside spaces.

In addition, the Fybros office and warehouse in Noida stands out from other nearby buildings because to its maximalist alteration, particularly its distinctive façade. The building mixes sustainable vegetation with GRCs in a novel way. Vinod Singhi states, "These elaborate architectural details combine beauty and functionality, providing seclusion and sun shade while boosting energy efficiency.

What is popular?

According to the Singhis, this year's requests from customers have been for designs that balance contemporary style with the classic allure of nature. Designs that satisfy customers' aesthetic preferences while staying within their budgetary constraints have been requested. "In order to create a great design experience, we have adhered to these constraints and have adopted a practical approach that leverages innovative solutions to fuse durability with style and cost-effective materials," explains Ranju Singhi.

"Clients seem to love panelling," adds Rawat. They constantly want an abundance of paneling around the home. I keep saying that it shouldn't be done too much. When I explain the benefits and applications of paneling, they respect my viewpoint on the matter.

Maximum eco-friendliness.

"Eco-friendly items, like flowers, banana leaves, and handpainted mitti diyas with natural colors, can be used as décor on Diwali day to reduce environmental impact." According to Rawat, using supari or bamboo work may give the holiday décor a novel and exciting look.

According to Vinod Singhi, when it comes to interior and architectural design, aim for:

a. Sustainable resources: Reclaimed wood or recycled metal are two examples of sustainable materials that may be carefully chosen to produce detailed and bold patterns, achieving maximalism instead of depending on excessive consumerism.

b. Repurposing and upcycling: Take into account repurposing and upcycling already-existing furniture and décor as an alternative to embarking on a buying spree.

c. Biophilic elements: By including a large number of indoor plants, maximalism may embrace nature. They not only give the design more life and lushness, but they also enhance indoor air quality and encourage wellbeing.

d. Energy-efficient lighting: By using LED or energy-efficient bulbs, the lavish, sumptuous lighting that is often found in maximalist design may be made more environmentally friendly.

In conclusion, Rawat states that carefully considered ideas, designs, and concepts should be developed based on the available space. It's also important to consider usability and accessibility. When designing a maximalist environment, designers often overlook the longevity of specific materials. As a result, maintenance problems typically arise once the area is turned over. I take great effort to choose materials that are enduring because I believe it's essential to having a nice house.