Designing for Minimalist vs. Maximalist Decor

While there are many unique approaches to office design, most of them can be mapped along an axis with minimalism at one end and maximalism at the other. Minimalism relies on clean lines, a limited palette of colors, and modern materials to give your office a clean, orderly look. Maximalism welcomes bold colors and textures and often incorporates furniture with ornamental details and decorations that prioritize aesthetics and functionality. Whether you have a strong preference for one or want to incorporate elements of both, you can get some ideas for designing your office below. 

Minimalism
The minimalist trend for homes and offices alike takes heavy cues from Scandinavian design, which prizes neutral colors as a backdrop for furniture and decorations. If you want to recreate your office in a minimalist vein, start with the walls. An off-white with blue undertones or a light gray is an ideal foundation and will give your office a clean appearance without making it feel too austere.

To complement the cool neutrals in your office, you’ll want office furniture that lends some texture to the space without making too much of a statement. Popular materials for minimalist office furniture include aluminum, light-toned woods, and plastic. Upholstered furniture should be limited to soft grays or blues so it doesn’t clash with the rest of the office. Ghent’s line of Aria glassboards pairs perfectly with a minimalist office, as they’re frameless and the hanging hardware is completely hidden. A glassboard can be a seamless addition anywhere you need to host meetings or brainstorm sessions. 

Maximalism
This style is perfect for anyone looking to infuse the office with a personal touch and make it a unique place to work. While you may want to stick to a predominantly neutral color for your office walls, consider shaking things up and painting an accent wall (or a few) a bright shade. For a peak maximalist effect, use a patterned wallpaper for your accent wall. 

Your choice of office furniture for a maximalist design is flexible, but you may want to favor pieces made with dark wood or upholstered with bold patterns. You can also adopt a futurist maximalism by adding modular furniture to your office, which offers flexibility depending on your employees’ needs. To make any space in your office more functional and beautiful, incorporate Ghent’s Hex line. These modular pieces look like an abstract art piece, but they also work as bulletin boards, acoustic panels, or whiteboards. When you’re decorating communal spaces, get fun with it and incorporate casual furniture that you might not normally find in an office, like couches with patterned upholstery or leather loungers. Your imagination is the limit.