Making Cluttercore work for you
Yelena Moroz-Alpert
"Intentional clutter, in contrast, is the curation of beloved objects and collections—it's a lived-in aesthetic that shows off who you are and what you love. And this year, designers and homeowners alike are embracing this new take on maximalism. A recent Pinterest report picked "mix and maximalist" as one of 2025's biggest trends, noting that searches for “eclectic maximalism” increased 215 percent year over year, and “vintage maximalism” was bolstered by 260% during the same time period.
If you're worried the look will feel overwhelming, don't be. “A layered, complex, densely textured room can actually be quite peaceful and relaxing,” says New York City interior designer Darren Henault. “Being surrounded by dozens of your favorite things is wonderful.” Thea Bloch-Neal, founder and lead designer of Curated by Thea, agrees. “Rooms [that] are filled with meaningful items are so inviting because they give us permission to exhale. Spaces are meant to be lived in, and it’s unrealistic to expect them to look pristine all the time.”--Excerpt from article by Yelena Moroz-Alpert, in House Beautiful, 2025-Oct-6