12 IG Accounts to Mine for That British Maximalist Look

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A warning to minimalists: look away now. There is an unapologetic breed of British decor style which celebrates – quite simply – ‘stuff’.

In these eclectic homes, more really is more: objects and heirlooms displayed alongside busy fabrics and wallcoverings make for rooms where every surface tells a story. The look is layered, abundant and deeply personal.

Being a maximalist doesn’t equate to being a hoarder, though. There’s a delicate line between curated and cluttered, and in our view, these accounts do it best.

1. @lucindachambers

Stylist and designer (and formerly British Vogue’s fashion director) Lucinda Chambers has lived in her London house for over 30 years. And it shows: each room carries decades of considered additions, from bold colour statements and unique textiles, to intriguing objects picked up on her travels. There are parallels with the way Chambers herself dresses, but fashionistas might be surprised to hear that what drives her approach is in fact comfort. As she told House & Garden: ‘If you want to look in any way stylish, you have to feel comfortable and houses are the same. If you can’t throw yourself on a sofa, or slope off and have a nap, it doesn’t work.’

2. @sean_anthony_pritchard

Via Instagram squares, garden designer and author Sean Anthony Pritchard displays his latest cut flowers in scroll-stopping arrangements. But as much as we’re entranced by the posies of dahlias and bunches of kale artfully assembled into bowls, it’s the domestic backdrops we’re captivated by. Pritchard’s cottage in Somerset boasts jaunty walls smattered with art and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves groaning under the weight of books. The coffee and side tables, piled high with candles, more books, and of course – vases, tell a similar story.

3. @violent_dent

Romantics rejoice: fashion designer Violet Dent’s west London flat is proof that you can be a collector – and a proud one at that. Dent’s airy, split-level home is a treasure trove of pieces she has handpicked over the years: ceramics, art, baskets (and even straw hats) which are thoughtfully arranged. Underpinning her penchant for display are white walls, a predilection for pink and red, and an affection for stripes and faded florals, which helps create visual harmony across the apartment.

4. @maximilianhurd

The creative consultant and general dandy about town Max Hurd has moulded an unassuming London terrace into the most flamboyant of homes. Proving that you should never judge a property from its exterior (in this case: red-bricked and petite), inside is a mesmerising clash of colours and patterns which channel the eccentricity of a country house. Hurd is refreshingly unconventional – admitting that he chose this particular house purely because its walls could hold an enormous, extravagantly coloured painting which he grew up with (it takes pride of place in the hallway).

5. @hillhousevintage

It’s not surprising that Sutton, who chronicles life from her postcard-worthy home in Norfolk via Hill House Vintage, has amassed 600,000 followers. Always joyful and optimistic, this is country life at its best, the sort of haven where copper jelly moulds line the kitchen walls, armoires are crammed with pre-loved linens, and retreating from the world means padding down to the potting shed. Cheery and authentic, scrolling Sutton’s feed feels good for the soul.

6. @pearllowe

For maximalism through a faded filter, then Pearl Lowe is your woman. The singer turned designer is fanatical about lace, fringing, chandeliers, vintage rugs and furniture. These romantic tendencies all come together in an enchanting melting pot that is her Georgian pile in the Somerset countryside. Even die-hard Modernists will be enchanted by the fairytale charm of it all.

7. @manwithahammer

Some call it classical while others call it maximal… whatever the term, Greg Penn’s 30-room (not a typo) mansion on the south coast has it all: ornate architectural features, heritage paint colours, antiques, tapestries and more textiles than a swatch book. The fact that he is renovating the former naval building by himself makes following his journey all the more compelling.

8. @the_idle_hands

Can you mix marble, mustard, pattern and slatted wood in a kitchen? If you’re Sandra Baker, AKA The Idle Hands, then it’s a yes. The interior stylist’s grand home in the north of England is a laboratory of ideas, which evolves along with her changing tastes. The spare room, with its clover-leaf wallpaper, blue radiator and abundance of soft textiles, is a place we’d love to stay.

9. @appreciationprojectuk

Margate-based Lyon pivoted from designing accessories for luxury fashion houses, to interiors. This explains her unique approach to colour palettes and passion for finer details. Working on projects across the UK and beyond with Appreciation Project, tune in for snippets from her seaside home where unusual colour combinations make unforgettable schemes.

10. @kitkempdesignthread

If the name Kit Kemp doesn’t conjure a headboard of fantastical proportions wrapped in a mood-boosting print then it sounds like your next hotel booking should be a Firmdale one. Kemp co-founded the chain (think a dozen positively boutique retreats, each one as unique as the last) in the mid-Eighties, decorating elegant settings across London and New York in her signature clash of opposites. Distinctive, uplifting and always a feast for the eyes, Kemp regularly shares her latest creative pursuits to inspire others to banish the beige.

11. @pinkhouseliving

It’s hard to find anyone more committed to decorating with pink than Emily Murray. So much so that her account is called Pink House Living. In her rose-tinted world, pink is a backdrop for tropical wall coverings, zig-zag tiles, velvet sofas, brass hardware and even a trapeze. The result is fun and escapist - and a little bit like stepping into a shiny new restaurant where you’ll have a memorable brunch.

12. @sophierobinsoninteriors

Interior stylist Sophie Robinson sees the world through a kaleidoscope. She brings a graphic approach to maximalist decor, and is generous with what she shares on social, dispensing tips, advice and personal wins almost daily. Her appetite for using bold colour is infectious – so if you’re debating a yellow ceiling or blue window frame, give her a follow and don’t be surprised if you fall under the influence…

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Make room in your 'saved' folder – you're going to need it.