Many homeowners these days are accepting a more-is-more design approach, commonly known as “cluttercore.” The opposite of minimalism, this growing trend embraces the idea of filling your space with everything you love—but doing so in a way that’s tidy and strategic, not messy and chaotic. And it’s been gaining popularity gradually since the pandemic, when we started spending more time at our homes.
Want to give cluttercore a try? Log into Tiktok and check out the #cluttercore hashtag (it’s gotten almost 300 million views!) for tons of inspiration. But first, read our tips below on how to make the trend work for you and your space:
Establish a point of view. As with any good design, having a blueprint (literally or figuratively) of the space you’re envisioning is key to optimizing how you’ll use the space. Decide if you want it to look modern, traditional, transitional, etc., and go from there. (P.S.: The pages of NJ HOME are packed with inspiration!) And don’t feel overwhelmed about the daunting task of filling your entire space—in fact, you’ll likely get the same effect if you “cluttercore” just a bookshelf in your family room or a gallery wall in your entryway.
Get personal. The idea behind cluttercore is to show off the items that have sentimental value: a vintage teacup collection or art from your worldly travels, for instance. That way, when a guest walks into your home, they’ll instantly learn about a part of your personality.
Go bold. Whether you prefer bright colors, bold patterns or mixing and matching textures and prints, this juxtaposition is a big part of cluttercore. Opt for uniquely-shaped items (like the curvy furniture featured in our fall ’23 issue of NJ HOME), or mushroom-inspired decor, which has seen an uptick in Pinterest searches in 2023.
Stay organized. It doesn’t matter where you put what, as long as everything in your cluttercore room has a home in your space. Create a motif when you group like-objects together, rather than just hastily throw a bunch of stuff up on the shelves at random. Just make sure each object on display is significant, and not just there to fill space.
What do you think of the cluttercore trend? Will you give it a go? Tell us on Instagram @njhomemag, and check out the brand-new fall issue of NJ HOME magazine, out now!