6 Budget-Friendly Tips to Create a Maximalist Apartment

Maximalism is the design equivalent of “going big or going home,” characterized by loud colors, unique patterns, and a mixture of textures worked into a space through clever layering and repetition. Minimalism will always have its place in contemporary decor, but the bold styles of maximalist design continue to win the hearts of renters everywhere. And while minimalism usually makes more sense to those on a budget (the less stuff you need, the less money you need to spend), there are still plenty of cost-effective ways to create a beautiful maximalist apartment.

Budget for the Basics

Whether you’re maximalist, minimalist, or anything in between, you’re going to need some essentials in your apartment. If you’re starting from scratch, allocate some of your budget for the right pieces and make them the stars of whatever room they’re in. Accents and accessories are cheaper than couches and bed frames, but spending a bit more to get that beautiful dark green velvet couch may be worth it to get the look you want.

Maximalism isn’t just about layering haphazardly — you still want to work within a semi-curated color scheme. Spending some extra dough on an eye-catching bed frame, chunky wooden tables, or funky armchairs will bring important visual anchors into your space and allow you to design around them accordingly. You can save a lot of money throughout the design process just by starting on the right foot.

Spend on the Accessories

Once you’ve taken care of the biggest pieces, you can turn your attention to the accessories. Area rugs are an easy way to bring in bold colors, textures, and patterns. Look for Persian, Bohemian, or rugs made of natural fibers instead of modern prints, and make sure to check out estate and yard sales in your area for some serious savings.

Bedding and throw pillows can turn a drab bedroom into a maximalist dream. Go for interesting textures like waffle duvets or flowing linens and layer blankets on top of each other. Pillows don’t have to match, and they can be made up of a variety of soft materials including velvet, cotton, hemp, and linen.

Long, flowing curtains with interesting patterns are another must-have for maximalist apartments. Vintage or handmade curtains will bring the charm you want, but they can be expensive. Cut costs by buying the material you like and finding a local seamstress to bring it to life. You can even learn to make your own curtains and throw pillows for the ultimate money-saving decor hack.

Thrift, Thrift, and Thrift Some More!

Maybe you don’t have the funds to buy that beautiful dark green velvet couch new — but if you have the time and some internet savvy, searching the web for deals on used furniture and accessories can be a huge help in making your maximalist apartment dreams come true. Lots of used but quality vintage materials can be sourced on sites like Craigslist or Facebook marketplace, as well as local thrift and consignment stores. Make a day of it and keep an open mind; you never know when a piece might jump out at you and get the whole design process flowing.

Use Old Frames

Maximalist interiors incorporate lots of art on the walls, either in the form of large, attention-grabbing pieces or several small frames arranged together on one gallery wall. Buying new frames can get expensive, but you can score some old frames for much cheaper at secondhand stores. Don’t worry about mismatching, either, as that’s just another part of the maximalist appeal. The more ornate, the better. And feel free to get crafty with gold and brass colored spray paints!

Add Plants

The layered look of maximalism also applies to houseplants. Choose a variety of sizes and species and add them to your shelves, bookcases, tabletops, and empty spots on the floor.

Golden pothos and spider plants are lovely trailing plants that aren’t fussy about lighting and water, and they can be hung from the ceiling, placed in corners, or added on top of shelves. Snake plants and dieffenbachia are easy-going upright plants that look great on floors, especially next to furniture. Monsteras and fiddle-leaf figs add some drama with their interesting foliage and can get large quickly, so consider investing in one or two as statement pieces for your living or dining room.

To save money on houseplants, learn to propagate your own (which you can do with any of the above mentioned) or try out plant swaps on social media plant groups. Visit your local nursery or garden center whenever you can, as they’ll likely have plant sales whenever they get a new batch in.

Go Bold with Paint and Wallpaper

Painting is a fun and cheap way to change the entire vibe of your apartment. While darker colors scare some people off, consider using them to bring a dark and moody look to a room and then adding bright accents for splashes of color. You don’t have to stray away from neutrals, either, but make sure there’s some tint to them for the sake of visual interest. Browse big-box store paint kiosks for cans that were mixed in error, or wait for sales (which tend to change every week).

Wallpaper is another excellent way to add bold textures and patterns to your apartment, and just like paint, it doesn’t have to break the bank. Some wallpaper is very expensive, though, so if you have your heart set on a particular print, perhaps a feature wall will suffice. Peel and stick wallpaper is usually a lot cheaper and easier to install – plus, it’s not going to tick off your landlord.

Creating a unique maximalist apartment may take some time if you’re on a budget, but that’s okay. Have fun thrifting online and perusing your local secondhand stores, and let the pieces find you. With the right mindset and a little patience, you can create the maximalist apartment of your dreams without sweating the cost.