The ‘Whimsy-Maxxing’ Trend Isn't Fleeting, It's the Answer to a Home Packed With Personality – Shop 20 Playful Pieces to Get the Look

With playful shapes, colorful accents, and decor that makes a statement, the this trend will turn your home into the physical manifestation of your personality

whimsical home decor
(Image credit: Future)
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Homes, just like people, have personalities. Some are polished and restrained, while others are vibrant, spirited, and full of life. Lately, we’re seeing a growing appreciation for the latter – that is, interiors that embrace color, character, and creative expression. And that’s exactly why the ‘whimsy-maxxing’ trend is having such a moment.

As the name suggests, whimsy-maxxing is all about embracing a whimsical aesthetic to the max. This internet-ism spans categories – clothing, beauty, even lifestyle. In the context of making your home more whimsical, it means not stopping after one playful decor detail, but letting personality ooze into every corner of every room. Designer Peggy Haddad calls whimsy-maxxing ‘the art of maximizing charming, whimsical pieces and patterns in a space. Having no limits on unique or quirky furniture and decor creates a very personal, collected feeling, and can be so delightful if done tastefully,' she continues.

There’s no doubt that whimsy-maxxing can make your home look and feel more like you. However, this design trend walks a fine line between charming and chaotic. So, in order to infuse your home with whimsical energy in a tasteful and considered manner, balance becomes key. ‘We approach even the most playful spaces with cohesiveness as a top priority, with each furniture piece, textile, pattern, and accessory playing off the next,’ Peggy explains. Together, these whimsical stars and their grounding counterparts create vibrantly layered and storied rooms that are nothing short of personal.

dining room

Whimsy where you least expect. In her latest collection with Lulu and Georgia, designer Sarah Sherman Samuel put a twist on traditional dining room decor with the Lenkki Dining Chairs – bringing a sense of unexpected whimsical charm to this formal space.

(Image credit: Lulu and Georgia)

Whimsical decor has a way of finding you – rather than you finding it. However, some brands always seem to give us exactly what we're looking for. Lulu and Georgia, for instance, is one of them – its recent collections with designers Sarah Sherman Samuel and Eny Lee Parker are the definition of whimsy. Even Anthropologie has whimsy woven into its DNA – with pieces like the Floral Glass Chandelier and the Hale Dresser as proof.

There’s really no right or wrong way to try the whimsy-maxxing trend in your home. It’s personal, after all, so it comes down to what you like and what makes you happy. And I think I’ve picked some winners below. Ahead, find 20 pieces to bring some whimsy into every room.

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Devin Toolen
Devin Toolen
Style Editor

Devin Toolen is a New York-based Style Editor for Homes & Gardens. After achieving her Bachelor’s Degree at Villanova University, Devin moved to Paris, France, to obtain her Master’s Degree at Parsons School of Design. Upon returning to the United States, Devin began working in the media industry with Cosmopolitan Magazine, where she wrote trend-driven fashion stories and assisted on set for many photoshoots, and later Livingetc, where she wrote interior design stories and assisted with the magazine’s social media pages. She has an appreciation for every aspect of personal style – from the clothes we wear to the design of our homes. In her spare time, Devin enjoys embroidery and antique shopping in the city.