Here’s a Clever Place for Artwork That You Probably Haven’t Considered Yet

Let’s get something out of the way: Even if minimalism is in — and has been in, and perhaps will always be in — you don’t have to follow suit. In fact, maximalism comes with its own benefits. For those who feel like this design ethos speaks more to their personalities, maximalism can provide numerous sources of expression and experimentation. Take artwork as one example. 

In the Parisian apartment rented by Arnold d’Alger, creator of bazar d’alger, and Bruno della Mattia, a web developer, all of its 915 square feet are filled with objects that carry some form of emotional significance. “I learned not so long ago that the mess I create with my accumulation, and compulsive art, and secondhand buying is called ‘cluttercore,” d’Alger told AT. “The style of the apartment was not defined in advance, it’s just an accumulation of things we love. We changed furniture many times to get to this last version (I hope).”

There’s a jungle of plants intended to separate “rooms” and a bevy of secondhand porcelain, which is used for art projects. There’s piles of notebooks eager for new ideas and stacks of gold-rimmed plates ready to host loved ones who stop by for endless meals. And on the walls, there’s a style choice to keep in mind in order to embrace your inner maximalist: Art is hung beneath a wall of windows, tucked beside a chair beckoning a good lounge. 

Yes, art is also on soffits and just beneath the ceiling, scattered like a freehand museum on any open surface. But hanging these items below the windows is something new. It’s one way to cultivate a cozy nook from an otherwise blank expanse. 

If you have available space beneath your windows, consider following suit and adding artwork. While the matching graphic pair in this apartment look interesting enough to replicate completely, it’s also possible to add a single rectangular artwork or maybe a smaller trio. Furthermore, if you really want to increase the coziness of this makeshift snooze zone, you might want to hang personalized memorabilia instead. Perhaps you have a beloved photobooth image that you can tuck beneath the window, or a couple of postcards to preserve out of direct light. Whatever it may be, if you plan on recreating this same lounging nook, then you’ll get to appreciate these pieces whenever you put your feet up. 

Need more ideas for what you might place in this spot? D’Alger suggests the following, and don’t be surprised if trying it makes you lean into his penchant for maximalism, too. 

“If you don’t want your home to look like any other, mixing old and new is certainly the best way to avoid that,” he says. “And supporting young artists by buying their original works can also be key.”