Have your home be a bold expression of you. A space that sparks true joy. Your most frequented rooms inspire you. From bold color palettes to hand-selected décor, your home evokes emotions and memories, brought to life by the individual pieces that surround you.
Gone are the days of sterile neutrals and minimal interiors. It’s time to take risks and embrace the design choices that make you happy, rather than those that are expected. Think of your home as a blank canvas, the perfect place to experiment and express yourself. Make your home boldly unique. Boldly you.
Bold Design Styles
Interior design offers a broad spectrum of styles. Some are bold and dramatic, whereas others are more subtle. Most bold design styles are a deeper reflection of personality, featuring carefully chosen personal touches. A bold design style rejects neutral, standardized spaces in favor of dramatic, high-impact alternatives. If you’re not sure where to start when implementing bold designs into your space, it might be easiest to determine which style you most align with.
Maximalism is the opposite of clean-lined, neutral minimalism; it holds a “more is in fact more” principle. It features bold, bright colors, playful patterns, and eclectic collections. Maximalism highlights bold, daring choices and fosters self-expression through personalized spaces. If you’re looking to implement boldness into your space, maximalism is a great place to start.
Color drenching involves saturating a space with a single color or its related tones, from ceiling to floor. The biggest reason people try color drenching is the drama; paint is an easy, affordable way to make a big visual impact. Highlight architectural details by bathing the room in one hue to emphasize texture, shadow, and shape. Color drenching is unapologetic and wholly unique. No two color-drenched spaces will look alike, making it a great option for those seeking a truly one-of-a-kind design.
Grandmillennial, the vintage-inspired style, blends traditional, vintage elements with a modern twist. This option is a great choice for sentimental individuals or those who favor a more antique, artisanal style.
Bohemian style embraces a more natural, relaxed feel. Bohemian (boho) interior design is eclectic and free-spirited, blending relaxed vibes with diverse cultural influences and vibrant, earthy colors. It champions self-expression over rules, emphasizing layered textures, natural materials, and cherished mementos.
Kitsch leans into the maximalist aesthetic but more often celebrates “camp,” or pop culture memorabilia. It includes vintage references and quirky collectibles often mixed with a touch of irony or humor. It embraces quirky and nostalgic with just the right amount of “gaudy.”
Y2K, a retro-revival style, draws on the late 1990s and early 2000s. It is a blend of playful pop culture and retro-futuristic room decor. It includes metallic/shiny materials, playful furniture like inflatable chairs or bean bags, and vibrant, neon color palettes, mixed with nostalgic décor/tech.
Elements can be taken from any of these styles and mixed with others. There’s no one way to curate a bold home. Using the pieces of each style that resonate the most will make your space the most you.
Statement Pieces and Silhouettes
Statement pieces are the anchor of your space. Focus on selecting statement pieces that resonate with you on a personal level; choosing something meaningful ensures your home reflects your personality. Trust your instincts. If a piece speaks to you, it’s likely the right choice. The more unique, the more you, the better the statement.
Lean into statement pieces with unique shapes and silhouettes that emphasize the individuality of your space and create a central focal point for your space. Look for pieces with ornate details and timeless shapes. Being mindful when selecting pieces crafted from enduring materials and finishes extends their longevity in your home so you may enjoy them for years to come.
What to look for when choosing statement pieces:
- For smaller, more approachable touches, focus on accents. Accent chairs and love seats in unconventional shapes or patterns are a smaller commitment with a big payoff.
- Sculptural or artistic coffee tables can instantly take a bland room from boring to elevated. Focus on timeless elements if you want your pieces to evolve with your changing space and tastes.
- Picking a piece with exclusive design elements that speak to you and your space will ensure your personality shines through.
- If you want your pieces to evolve with your fluctuating space and changing taste, focus on timeless elements.
It’s best to test out your statement pieces before you buy. Stop into your local Furniture Mart to explore a wide range of options, styled on the showroom floor for you to test and envision the piece in your own space.
Scale
Playing with the size of your furniture, art, and patterns can instantly create dramatic visual interest. Although using scale dramatically doesn’t always mean including oversized items, often, juxtaposing larger, bolder elements with smaller, delicate ones has a greater impact.
How to play with scale:
- If you’re hoping to reduce the negative space in a larger room, adding bigger pieces can help.
- Play on proportions to make bold choices feel intentional. Adhere to the 2/3 rule for pieces surrounding the focal point.
- Create an immediate impact by utilizing a single overstated element. Think floor-to-ceiling mirrors, a statement sectional, or even an oversized eye-catching chandelier.
Utilizing Color and Pattern
Bold colors and patterns can look harsh on their own, but when paired together in a coordinated rhythm, they create a symphony.
Colors impact mood and emotions. Choosing the colors for your space will not only affect how it looks but also how it feels. Creating color pairings in your space can also create a calming balance or loud energy. First, discover the mood you want to achieve in your space. If you are looking for cozy, quiet, soft, earth tones with low contrast. If you want your space to energize and inspire you, opt for warm, vibrant, and high-contrast color schemes or dramatic color pairings. If you’re hoping to capture a specific feeling, carefully consider your color choices.
Patterns can be incorporated through upholstery, wallpaper, art, or even rugs. They are a great way to add personality and movement to your home. Like color, patterns can influence emotions in a space. Patterns can create a focal point in any space, instantly drawing attention. Patterns can also be used to hide everyday wear and tear; it’s harder to see a small stain or imperfection on a patterned piece. For a more neutral, subdued space, patterns can bring life and perk up the neutrals.
Most effective ways to use color and patterns:
- For a gentle transition, incorporate loud patterns, styles, and colors in moderation; pick one item to start with and work around the room from there.
- Keep a space grounded with an anchor color, the main shade that all other colors will complement. Once you've selected your dominant color, incorporate it at least three times in your space.
- Adding accents in the complementary colors of your wallpaper helps keep a space's loudness balanced and cohesive.
- Find the pattern that speaks to you. Start by identifying which patterns feel most fitting for your personality.
- If you’re looking to try pattern layering, combine multiple patterns or prints in a single space, utilize a “hero” pattern, the piece that will serve as the anchor and dictate the mood of the room.
Dopamine Decor
Dopamine decor is a design style that focuses specifically on elements that trigger joy. It emphasizes choosing pieces that genuinely make you happy rather than neutral or universally appealing options and prioritizes feeling over formula. The core objective is to design for happiness.
Dopamine decor comes from the fashion trend “dopamine dressing,” where people wear clothes that make them happy and spark joy. Dopamine decor follows a similar vein, with its use of bold colors, eclectic patterns, and a hint of nostalgia that all conjure feelings of happiness. Think quirky home decor, nostalgic design, and fun pops of bold patterns/colors.
The beauty of this trend is that there’s not really a wrong way to do it. If the colors or items you choose spark joy, then you’re doing it right. Dopamine decor is, at its core, a form of personal expression and a way to make any space feel boldly unique, boldly you.
- Add quirky statement pieces that serve as conversation starters, showcase your personality, and tell a story.
- Texture can add depth and elevate the dopamine decor look. Luxe textures take the design from playful to polished.
- Choose a starting point. This will be the focal point of the room, the thing that you base all your other decisions on.
- Be thoughtful in your purchases/design choices; if it doesn’t spark joy or feel personal to you, it might be best to reevaluate.
- Adding personal touches, such as travel mementos or family heirlooms, helps make the space feel more uniquely you.
Let your home tell your story. Let it reflect your personality, experiences, and unique taste. There is no one way to decorate your home, but hundreds of ways to make your home more you. Create a home you enjoy for its style and its ability to make you feel good. It’s time to choose what brings you the most happiness. Improve your home and mood by leaning into design elements that spark the most joy. Make your home boldly unique. Boldly you.
