How to Embrace the Maximalist Trend with Wall Art (Without It Feeling Overwhelming)
Looking for original colourful wall art in Australia? Explore available artworks here.
Maximalism isn’t about clutter. It’s about confidence.
It’s walking into your living room and thinking, yes, this feels like me.
Not like a showroom. Not like a safe Pinterest board. Not like something chosen because it was neutral and polite.
If you’re craving bold colour, personality and expressive original art in your space, wall art is the most powerful place to start.
Here’s how to embrace colourful maximalist wall art in a way that feels layered and intentional, not chaotic.
Sandra with her mixed media collage art on display at the Sydney Affordable Art Fair
7 tips for dressing your walls to stand out from the minimalist crowd
Start With Art That Feels Like You
Embrace Colour With Intention
Consider Scale in Contemporary Interiors
Create a Gallery Wall That Tells a Story
Layer, Don’t Match
Support Local Australian Artists
Let It Be Joyful
Start With Art That Feels Like You
Before thinking about frames or placement, ask yourself how you want your home to feel.
Do you want energy? Warmth? Boldness? Playfulness?
The best maximalist spaces begin with art that creates an emotional response. When a piece makes you smile, feel seen, or stand taller, that’s the one.
Original artworks like Bloom Big & Bright or Bold, Brave & Brilliant were created to bring that unapologetic presence into a room. One statement piece can shift the entire mood of a space.
When you choose art based on how it makes you feel rather than whether it matches the sofa, the whole room becomes more personal.
Embrace Colour With Intention
Colourful wall art doesn’t have to overwhelm a space. In fact, it often anchors it.
Look for repeated tones, shapes or patterns within the artwork that can subtly echo elsewhere in the room through cushions, books or ceramics. That’s what makes maximalism feel curated rather than cluttered.
Bold feminine portrait art, layered mixed media collage and expressive still life pieces can all act as a confident focal point.
Consider Scale
Scale is everything. Especially in contemporary interiors
In open-plan Australian homes, a larger artwork like Let’s Make Margaritas or Bloom Big & Bright can hold its own and stop a space from feeling sparse.
In smaller rooms, a thoughtfully placed mid-sized original or a cluster of smaller pieces can create intimacy and warmth.
If you’re hesitant, start small. A piece like Burst Free & Bloom or Just for Fun can introduce colour and personality without committing to a full statement wall. Smaller original artworks are also a beautiful way to begin collecting art.
Create a Gallery Wall That Tells a Story
Gallery walls are popular for a reason. They allow you to layer personality over time.
Mix original art with limited edition prints. Combine portrait and still life. Blend colour with quieter pieces. The key is cohesion through tone or theme, not uniformity.
A gallery wall built around confident, expressive artwork will always feel more interesting than one built around matching frames alone.
Layer, Don’t Match
Maximalist home décor works best when it feels lived in.
Lean artwork on shelves. Layer framed pieces in front of one another. Mix canvas, paper and even sculptural elements. Hanging art at slightly varied heights creates movement and keeps the eye engaged.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s personality.
‘Bloom Big & Bright’ original mixed media collage by Sandra Gale
Support Local Australian Artists
If you’re building a home that reflects who you are, consider buying original art from Australian artists.
Not only are you bringing something unique into your space, you’re supporting creative practice and craftsmanship.
Each of my mixed media artworks begins as large sheets of painted paper. I cut, layer and arrange the pieces by hand until the composition feels balanced and alive. They’re then sealed and professionally framed in Tasmanian oak, ready to hang in contemporary homes.
Original art carries a different energy. It feels intentional.
‘Delightfully Brilliant’ Limited Edition Fine Art Print
Let It Be Joyful
Maximalism isn’t about proving you’re cultured. It’s about enjoying your space.
If a piece makes you smile every time you walk past it, that’s reason enough.
Homes aren’t galleries curated for approval. They’re personal spaces that should reflect confidence, individuality and colour.
‘Because It Makes Me Smile’ original mixed media collage by Sandra Gale
A Small Studio Refresh
I currently have a small Studio Refresh collection available. These are original mixed media artworks making space for what’s next in my studio.
Some are bold statement pieces. Others are smaller entry-level originals perfect for beginning your art collection.
Want First Access To New Work?
If you love colourful, expressive original wall art and want early access before public releases, you can join my Colourful Inner Circle.
Subscribers receive private previews, first access to new collections and behind-the-scenes studio updates.
The most sought-after pieces often sell quietly before they ever reach social media.
If you style your walls using bold, colourful artwork, I’d genuinely love to see. Tag me or send a photo. There is nothing better than seeing art settle into its new home.
xo Sandra
