A beautiful mess: cluttercore is a new trend that runs opposite to minimalism
In the recent past, the minimalist trend was very popular. This meant getting rid of all non-essentials and preserving only a few, indispensable objects.
Recently, however, an opposite trend is emerging; defined as "cluttercore" on social media pages, it has quickly gained popularity. Cluttercore is based on the maximalist approach, using an abundance of colors, forms and a mixture of different styles - "organized chaos" is probably a good way of describing the cluttercore style.
Let's check out some examples of what this style consists of:
A beautiful mess: maximalism trumps minimalism
The minimalist trend, perhaps best represented by Marie Kondo's "tidying up" methodology (aka decluttering), emphasised eliminating everything that you are not emotionally attached to and which you only use infrequently.
Now, however, many have gone in the opposite direction, preferring a more cluttered decor. "Be careful what you throw away," wrote the New York Times journalist Rob Walker. This statement is precisely what cluttercore is all about: reflect on the bond you have established with your possessions and save as many as you can from the scrapheap. A house full of meaningful memories reflected in possessions, is a house one can love.
Clutter is therefore welcomed, as long as it is organized and structured: making room for new items is fine, but you best memories will be "embedded" in the items you already have.
The key features of cluttercore
Cluttercore is a trend that shares many features with maximalism: both styles love using a spread of colours, shapes/forms, materials and styles. For cluttercore, "disorder" is created by the quantity of objects used. So what are the key points for this trend?:
- Personal objects: first of all, displaying your personally beloved objects is fundamental in cluttercore; use these objects to tell the world who you are through the possession displayed in your home;
- Furnishing accessories: your furnishing accessories should be colorful and "exaggerated". Again, choose objects that you love and that help you express personality (such as cushions, curtains, carpets or tablecloths with unique patterns or colors).
@enchanting_the_haus_/Instagram
- Thematic: for a cluttercore decor at its best, you need to choose a theme to stick with; the theme can be nature, literature, space, technology, comics, travel, adventure, animals, etc. Let the theme guide you in your decoration decisions;
- Color choices: colors chosen should be from the same color palette (or range of colors), in order to give your "disorder" a semblance of logic.
- Organization: to keep your home clean and from turning into a dump site, your clutter must be organized. Possessions should be meaningful and decorative and not just plonked down willy-nilly and/or just to fill space;
- Empty spaces: to prevent creating an oppressive feel, leave some areas empty and clear so you can "breath".
So, for your next project, why not try going cluttercore!
