During the pandemic, social media platforms were flooded with videos and photos of unmade beds, piles of books, messy tables, and people’s belongings strewn all over their houses. This is now a new trend: Cluttercore.
Have you searched for #cluttercore on social media? You might be surprised at what you find. Millions of TikTok views and thousands of mentions on Instagram and Twitter make it very clear that the messy movement is more than just the latest trending topic.
But behind all this apparent chaos is a philosophy, a lifestyle, a desire to surround ourselves with things that mean something to us, things that make us feel happy and safe and that make our home a special place. And that is exactly what interior design strives to do.
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Why is Cluttercore so popular?
Cluttercore taking off in this way shows how design is a simply a reflection of our lives. We’ve been confined to our homes. We’ve seen our movements be restricted and how our relationship with our surroundings has changed.
Covid-19 has made us see our homes in a different light and has changed our relationship with them. They are no longer just another space in our lives. Our homes are now where we create our lives. We’ve gone from just being in our homes to living in our homes. They are now multipurpose spaces and have become our refuge. Jennifer Howard, author of Clutter: An Untidy History, says “we want to feel safe, we want to feel comfortable, we want to feel protected and taken care of”.
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This is how cluttercore gives life to our living spaces and there’s nothing better to help us do that than objects that make us feel good and that remind us of life beyond four walls. Memories start to occupy a space in our own home. “There’s a real feeling of abundance that is appealing to us right now, given how restricted our lives have become,” Howard explains.
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Organised mess, not chaos
Followers of Marie Kondo can relax because the disorganisation behind cluttercore is not about chaos. It is based on the pursuit of comfort, which differentiates that lived-in feeling from complete mess.
It is not about accumulating more stuff, nor is it carelessness. It is an organised collection of meaningful items that make our living space unique. It is creative chaos, a trend that allows a range of different objects and styles to live side-by-side.
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Minimalism is making way for maximalism. Eye-catching colours, different patterns and texture, unique furniture, mixing several styles from different time periods, and interesting decorative pieces are the foundations of cluttercore. It is all about fun, sophisticated, eclectic spaces with personality and meaning that tell a story of the inhabitants’ past experiences.
Andrea Childs, editor of the magazine Country Homes & Interiors, explains that “at its heart, Cluttercore is an exuberant celebration of our homes and our love of interiors – layers of colour, pattern, and texture; surfaces and walls filled with artworks and accessories; keepsakes and trinkets given the same consideration as expensive purchases”.
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Top tips for maximalist decorating
Cluttercore’s popularity has turned maximalism into 2021’s top trend. But how can we apply it elegantly without it being overwhelming?
Finsa’s latest trendbook highlights this focus on maximalism and gives us a few tips via the Explore trend: reference different cultures and diversity, choose eye-catching colours, patterns, and textures that make you want to touch them. We’ve elaborated on these ideas below:
- Eccentric creativity. This is all about Cluttercore gives free reign to your creativity with its mix of geometric shapes, contradictory patterns, a combination of new and old art, antiques, and vintage pieces.
- Details from different time periods. These touches provide a little bit of drama and remind of us of the luxury of the past. Combine styles from different time periods and geographical regions by using textiles, embroidery, and unconventional furniture.
- Eye-catching colours. Colour is one of the foundations of cluttercore. No neutral shades, just eye-catching colours that make us feel something, combined with creative lighting that allows us to immerse ourselves in a complete experience. We are trying to create an eclectic space.
- Focal points. Our collectables need to come out of our drawers and be put on display. Shelves, tables, and walls should become display cases for objects that are meaningful to us and that we have been amassed over the course of our lives.
- Space to breathe. It is important not to feel overwhelmed. Some designers even incorporate calming areas into their designs: an empty wall in a maximalist space is all we need to make sure we don’t feel overwhelmed by our own
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Be inspired by clutter and surround yourself with all the things that make you happy. Join the cluttercore movement on social media using #ConnectionsByFinsa.
