Over the last decade, homes and living spaces have been plagued by an ever-growing evil. No, it is not flies, mice, ants or mold growing amidst the walls of homes too humid for comfort. I am talking about something far worse: Millennial gray. It has swept through America and popular culture, turning old Victorian homes into cold, robotic-like structures. Perfect for something like a dentist’s office, but not for a space in which you call home. This style of “aesthetic” is characterized by its lack of color, opting for light shades of grays and whites – not to be confused with its close counterpart, boring beige. As someone who enjoys a good trend here and there, a gray base with a light pink pillow being the only pop of color just does not do it for me. As my roommate said, “I am not really into the whole ‘elephant-mouse core.’” This goes for any “pop” of color one decides to use with their boring gray palette. It does nothing. If anything, it makes me more annoyed.
But I digress. What I am trying to say in a long-winded, convoluted way is this: We need to bring back Art Deco. Expression and diversity have been crushed by the growth of minimalism and monotony. Now I know you may be asking, “Emily, what is Art Deco?” Oh, am I so glad you asked, dear reader. Art Deco is an art movement that grew in popularity post-WWI in the 1920s and 1930s. It is known for its bold, geometric shapes, patterns and symmetrical form. Materials of chrome and lacquered wood are hugely represented in the luxurious and sleek architectural patterns of buildings and decor. Picture these rich, contrasting colors with metallic accents. Gold and silver lines accent the use of deep jewel tones such as blues, greens and reds. Art Deco does not shy away from the neutrals of boring beige and millennial gray either. In fact, many art pieces and styles of Art Deco utilize neutral and dark colors to further show the beauty of contrast and color. Think of “Great Gatsby,” 1920s old money and “flapper girls.”
What I am not saying is that we should bring back the customs and all of the societal structures of the 1920s. I am not even saying that we should all copy the style to a tee. Rather, we must take inspiration from these ideas. Art Deco is a wonderful book to take a page out of when it comes to expressing oneself through the space one lives in. It shares the basis of its ideology and practice with the more modern term, “maximalism.”
Maximalism expresses the beauty of abundance. It shares ideas with Art Deco in many respects. There is a complexity to it that is expressed through layering different patterns, colors, textures and objects that one may cherish. Maximalism is the outward expression of what makes you “you!” It can be what you, the designer, make of it. Perhaps old, excessive colors are your thing. Maybe a collection of trinkets or different pairs of salt and pepper shakers is more your jam. Perhaps you may enjoy weird oddities and bugs. You may just love the color purple! The core of a maximalist aesthetic is to fill the spaces you live in and the clothes you wear with bits and pieces of yourself. It embraces the eccentricities of an individual. I mean, how many gray couches and light, pastel pink pillows and rugs can one see in a dorm room before they all start to look the same?
Our world needs whimsy and light. Bring back art for art’s sake, a funny poster that makes you giggle, a weird blanket with a cartoon character on it, truly anything and everything. We need art to survive. We are creative, unique creatures made by an even more creative God. Why would we want to dampen our gifts, humor, talents and creative spirits for a “cute space?” Pack your life with things that reflect you. Buy that weird trinket, thrift that cool lamp, get that “Five Nights at Freddy’s” poster and most importantly, fill your life with art.
