Minimalism, Maximalism & The Resurgence of Stuff
By Chris Petry
In the early 2010s, minimalism was all the rage. Everyone everywhere was painting their walls hospital white, selling off their collections on eBay and embracing a lifestyle centered around living below one’s means with as little “stuff” as possible. You would visit a friend or neighbor and find that their 3,000 sq ft home contained little more than a bed, some chairs, a potted plant or two, Jackson Pollock knockoffs from HomeGoods and a cowskin throw from Kirkland’s. “Living with the bare minimum” was IN.
If you were the kind of person who had hobbies or liked to collect something, the decade plus dark age of minimalism left you asking two questions: First, just what the heck do those people do in the evening if they don’t read, watch movies, build LEGO sets, play board games, crochet, dust their sports memorabilia or alphabetize their record collect while their like-new blemish-free pressing of Rush’s Moving Pictures blares in the background? Second, if you decided to sell your home would you need to replace all the flooring with white laminate, put all your possessions in storage and make a quick run to Target for Chip & Joanna-eque, faux, farmhouse soft furnishings? Yes, those were dark times indeed.
The good news? Maximalism is back, baby! As the linked article so succinctly outlines, Maximalism isn’t about clutter or chaos. It’s about creating a space that is reflective of its inhabitants, their personalities and needs. If you plan to live in your house for 10+ years, do you really want to find yourself in the position of living for the next inhabitants as opposed to living in a home that makes your feel comfortable in the present? Don’t you want to put your own stamp on things? Exert your creativity and surround yourself with things that make you feel happy and content? I know I do. Why would I want to stare at a pale canvas with a red squiggly line on it when I could look at a Francisco Goya or Caravaggio instead?
So, what changed? Why the shift from minimalism to maximalism? It’s almost cliché to even invoke the pandemic at this point but it was a singularly transformative moment in our culture. One thing that really changed, which most definitely influenced opinions regarding home styles and décor was that people began spending more time at home. For work and for pleasure. With that reality came the need to create some visual stimulation within peoples’ living spaces. Homes were no longer just the place we slept and showered. They were also offices, schools, libraries, places of worship, movie theaters and gyms. Open floor plans began to look dated. Relics of a time where the amount of time one spent with the other inhabitants of their home was limited and, thus, a premium. Now people needed space. Back came the walls and doors. Back came the need to fashion each space into a space unique to its purpose. Uniformity was no longer ideal.
Recently, I read an article by the LA Times wherein they discuss the resurgence of physical media. What is physical media, exactly? Books, movies and music in physical formats. Think hardcover, paperback, DVD, Blu Ray, CDs and vinyl LPs. During the late 20 teens era of rigid individualism, many people began shedding these items to reduce clutter and save space. Trends began moving toward subscription services and less people saw value in maintaining collections. Art became “content” and was viewed as more disposable. While previous generations wanted to own The Godfather and Jaws in the best possible presentation, the newest generation to come of age seemingly cared far less about quality than they did quantity and convenience.
Now, however? More and more people, including Gen Zers are reassessing the value of a home media library. Thank about it. You want to watch Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. You can hedge your bets and hope the title is currently available on Paramount Plus when you decide to watch it or you can pull it off the shelf, pop it into your 4K UHD player and watch it over and over. A friend once confided in me that he paid for Netflix simply because it had The Office and he watched it over and over, like something of a security blanket. While he didn’t seem too moved by the suggestion, I reminded him that the complete series was available on Blu Ray for the cost of a four-month subscription to Netflix. So, while the upfront cost was more, the physical set would justify its price point in no time.
Every day, more and more people have begun to question the subscription model and reassess the true value of multiple streaming services with monthly fees and unreliable options. Five years ago, a home media library was viewed as wasteful, unsightly and unnecessary. Today, it’s viewed more practically.
The return of hard copy books, movies and music are just a tiny symptom of the ongoing shift away from minimalism. Wallpaper is experiencing a comeback. Bold textures and patterns are replacing clean white or beige walls and carpets. Media-driven nostalgia for days passed are leading to an increased demand for vintage decorations, lighting fixtures and furniture pieces. The things of yesterday remind us of important moments in our life. They serve as a form of escapism from the modern, tech-obsessed world that prioritizes conformity and hyper productivity, often at the expense of individuality or self-actualization. Yes, your home is an investment but it’s not just a financial investment. It’s an investment in self. In the end, when you do sell your home, the memories you leave behind will be far more important than any financial benefit.
