Small Scale Ways to Maximize Your Space
It’s a minimalist world right now, and not going to lie, we are immersed in it. The notion of simplifying our lives with a focus on the essential is as present in our everyday as it seems to be in our personal surroundings. Don’t get me wrong, the neutral toned slate of a household adorned with soft hues and warm finishings is a tried and true favorite, but let’s say one is looking to step outside of the beige bouclé box. Taking note of the unfortunate misconception that is maximalist — aka “lots of stuff” — what we actually mean is pops of color, print and rich texture. For this, we are tapping interior designer Gillian Segal, founder of Gillian Segal Design, to spill the tea on achieving the MAXIMUM effect.
When designing living spaces, every chosen element should embody the experience anticipated within its surroundings. Whether that be a household for entertaining your nearest and dearest or a mood lifting, solitary oasis to align you with your best self, either way, you are in the midst of a rare opportunity for innovative experimentation. “As much as I also love a nice cream bouclé, it is feeling a bit ubiquitous and I always want our work and clients homes to feel fresh and unique to them. In this post-covid world, I feel very inspired to create spaces that feel fun, playful, whimsical and happy. For me, this means bringing in fun prints.”
GILLIAN SEGAL’S ENTRY LEVEL KEYS TO MAXIMALIST DESIGN:
Restraint is the better part of beauty.
“Our first step is always defining the mood of the space, which is usually done through the creation of a moodboard. It is a way for me to think through my ideas, and more importantly, edit them. Restraint is a very important part of design, even when you are looking to maximize and go big!”
Paint your life in bright colors and bold strokes.
“I gravitate towards more neutral hues of bold color — i.e a mossy green vs. kelly green or an oxblood vs. cranberry — and interesting shapes.”
A tiger cannot change its stripes. Or can it?
“I’m a sucker for a classic stripe, especially if done in interesting tones or scale. And if you’re mixing prints, I like pairing very large scale prints with small scale ones.”
Now that we have touched on some small scale ways to maximize your space, let’s dive deeper for those looking for a total renovation.
BEYOND BOUCLÉ:
All or none.
“At the moment I am very interested in working within monochromatic spaces (i.e all green) and working within different hues, textures and patterns. I find this results in something that feels both layered and playful, but also quite peaceful at the same time. If you are experimenting with blending fabrics and patterns I think this is an approachable way to start!”
In with the new, NOT out with the old.
“Working with dramatic and unexpected marbles is something we have been told defines our work. However, for us it’s all about the mix and layering of many items to create spaces that feel collected and soulful. Having a combination of new and old, and the juxtaposition of elements that are raw or patinated and polished and refined is also important. I also like to include something that feels very raw or nubbly in texture mixed with something more refined — it creates interest and a more casual feeling that is inviting.”
Don’t forget your fifth wall.
“The ‘Fifth Wall’ (a.k.a. the ceiling) is another vehicle for creative expression, but one that is forgotten about so much! If you are going to incorporate something different on the fifth wall, then you need the rest of the room to balance it out. You need to choose one or the other as the focal point— not both. Using the fifth wall can be as simple as ‘dunking’ a room in a paint color. So often people choose white ceilings rather than continuing the color on the ceiling, dunking is when you completely ‘dunk’ the room in that one color.”
Paperweight.
“I love using wallpaper in powder rooms— the confined space allows you the flexibility to play with patterns and textures more freely. Let’s also not forget about a wallpapered ceiling, it leads your eye upwards and adds another dimension to the room! We recently covered an entire room (including vaulted ceilings) in a beautiful grasscloth paper and it was breathtaking.”
“Don’t take design too seriously! It should be fun — picking a paint color isn’t a life long commitment, you don’t have to marry it, so experiment and play.”