Function meets flair through the bold-and-bright maximalism design trend.
By Ashley Probst
Design enthusiasts are increasingly embracing a bold and vibrant approach to interior design: maximalism. The antithesis of minimalism, this aesthetic encourages the use of an eclectic mix of bold colors, patterns, shapes and materials to create distinct spaces that reflect homeowners’ personalities.
Newport Beach-based interior designers Erica Bryen and Shelley Starr explain how this expressive home trend allows homeowners to embrace authenticity. By challenging the societal norm of conformity, maximalism grants permission to celebrate intentional excess and individuality.
“I think a lot of people hire designers and want the same thing,” says Bryen, owner and principal designer at her eponymous Erica Bryen Design. “In other parts of the world, you hire designers because you want something completely different and outside of the box.”
This echoes a growing frustration among designers who wish to reject the cookie-cutter style, which Bryen says has led to homeowners incorporating the same pieces from the same trendy home decor stores. This sentiment is shared by Starr, president and principal designer at Shelley Starr Interior Design.
“For me, … [in the] island life of Balboa or Newport Beach, I just see a whole lot of white paneling and a whole lot of very bland interiors,” Starr says. “We’ve become very homogenized.”
Both professionals find it shocking when people are impressed by these identical homes when, in reality, 10 other houses on the same street may look exactly the same. The call to action is clear: Embrace authenticity and break free from the mold, for homeowners and designers alike.
Small Start, Big Impact
For Bryen, interior design is all about making a statement that sparks interesting conversations. Since things change throughout one’s life, starting with something impermanent can be beneficial. Not only does it help ease people into this extravagant style, it also allows them to make adjustments.
“Pick something like a wallpaper that you’re in love with and, if you’re scared, just do it on your back wall. You don’t have to do your whole room,” Bryen says.
From there, choose colors from that pattern and layer them throughout the room. “If it’s a rug you love, layer the room around the rug and that’s your punch.”
The appeal of this tactic is if you ever decide that any element feels like it’s too much or you simply grow tired of it, you can remove that piece and replace it with something that aligns more with your current vibe.
In order to avoid making a maximalist space feel overwhelming, Bryen suggests focusing on smaller areas like a powder room, hallway or child’s bedroom.“Kids love to explore and have something new and they love color, so you could do it in a kid’s room,” Bryen says of these inherently creative areas.
Tips for Transformation
For those looking to integrate maximalism into their home, Bryen emphasizes the profound impact of layering patterns, which can be scary for some homeowners.
“Some people are afraid that if you have a geometric pattern, then another one won’t go [with it],” she says. “I think it’s OK to layer like a stripe and a pattern and even a flower on top of that.”
But what it truly comes down to is curating dynamic, engaging environments that reflect one’s unique identity.
“Don’t do everything that you see out there on Instagram. Don’t follow the pack,” Starr says. “Have your own taste and be fearless, and enjoy it. Every single thing that I do and that I mix is about really drawing your attention to that space and creating a story.”
Starr finds that this tactic entices people to use every part of a house, even oft-overlooked spaces like a hallway. Another aspect to consider is how each room will be used.
“It has to be functional. It has to be thoughtful. It has to be purposeful,” Starr says, adding that she recommends maximizing organization as well as choosing items or materials that are durable and easy to maintain.
A Cosmic Creation
Both of these Newport Beach-based designers have created exceptional examples of maximalism, each bringing their visions to life in remarkable local projects. For instance, one of Bryen’s projects in Dover Shores highlights her client’s passion for art by creating a home that feels like a dynamic gallery while maintaining a cozy atmosphere.
“This client didn’t want something generic—she wanted bookmarks in the house, such as interesting art, creative patterns and fun wallpapers,” Bryen says, noting that much of the house emulates artists “that bring punch and color in life.”
The home features standout pieces like a color-changing canvas that shifts hues as you walk past it, a canvas covered in folded paper reminiscent of origami and a portrait of a woman made from thousands of toothpicks.
“The artist painted each one a different color, put it together and it makes a face. So when you look at it from the side, as you walk in, it kind of changes, too,” Bryen says.
These eclectic conversation pieces were complemented by accents like neutral-colored marble countertops and fireplaces, which were incorporated to ensure the space was visually stimulating without being chaotic.
“A lot of the slabs in the house are a little moody, so I think they go along with the funk and function,” Bryen says. “My inspiration was to keep the house cohesive and calm because there is so much to look at—you don’t want to feel dizzy.”
The Cottage Comeback
While Bryen’s project is a modern marvel, Starr’s Balboa Island home demonstrates how historical charm can be reimagined through bold and playful elements. This project turned a decrepit abode into a bright, functional space that demonstrates Starr’s method of infusing character into every corner.
“That particular cottage … is an 87-year-old house that the city demanded be torn down,” she says. “I was like, ‘No, let’s save this cottage. Let’s completely reimagine and save it.’ ”
Not only did Starr rescue this home from being demolished, she fell in love with it along the way.
“The funny thing is that I ended up being the client,” she says. “I did that little house for my daughter and I and a group of my dearest friends. … The day it was done, the keys went out to everybody that I loved.”
As an homage to her friends, Starr mounted a vintage painting of a drunken white Labrador retriever in repose on a striking, emerald green background in the living room. “We based the whole room on that because what do our friends love to do? We all come [together and] we have big dinner parties—and it would just be funny.”
This approach extends to smaller spaces, such as a powder room and pantry, where vibrant colors and bold patterns help open up these areas.
“The smaller the room, the bigger I go,” Starr says, noting that the pantry was once dead space underneath a staircase that she refused to close up. It now features green cabinets and striped wallpaper. “Just walk by that pantry and it puts a smile on your face,” she says. “Everything about it is just charming and fun, and it’s functional.”
Despite having additional homes in Munich and Los Angeles, the Balboa Island cottage is the one her family runs to immediately after disembarking the plane.
“It’s a dream life,” Starr says. “There is not a corner I don’t turn that doesn’t make me so happy. … Every single room is just as yummy to me as the next.”
This sentiment captures the essence of maximalism, where every detail, pattern and color is thoughtfully curated to enrich the experience of the space. Maximalism is more than just a design trend—it’s an invitation to create environments that evoke joy and resonate with our personal stories.
