Homes & Gardens: What is clustering? (Copy)

We investigate the anti-minimalism trend that *lets* you display your clutter.

Featured by Homes & Gardens | Article by Amelia Smith

Far from untidy, this design trend embraces the clutter bug in all of us and makes it beautiful.

Image credit: Audrey Scheck

Clutter has, by far, the most negative connotations when it comes to our interior spaces and is often seen as bulky, messy, and in the way. But a new ‘clustering’ trend is hailing an end to this rather restrictive view of our belongings. 

Instead, designers are encouraging us to embrace our clutter (to some extent) and use it to outfit our homes to tell a personalized story, in an interior design trend perfect for making any home look a little more lived-in and well-loved. 

Here, designers and home organizers share their thoughts on the clustering trend, including how to ace it in your home for the perfect maximalist oasis. 

The Clustering Interior Design Trend

The trick to this trend is making your clutter look intentional, not leaving your stuff laying about when you are not in the mood to tidy up – a style that is a little more akin to cluttercore when done well.

‘The delicate balance between "cluttered and collected" is something a seasoned designer knows all too well,’ says Trish Knight, co-founder of Knight Varga Interiors. ‘Most clients are not truly minimalists or maximalists but fall somewhere down the middle and are often requesting we mix in their collected treasures and valued personal objects. 

'Even when we are not designing around a client collection, we like to style the surfaces to inject life into the home and make it look lived in from the beginning. Carefully selected and layered in pieces will infuse personality, interest, and warmth into a home.’