Maximalism, But Make It Organized: Why Cluttercore Is This Year's Must-Try Design Trend

With a resurgence of bold hues and personal expression, cluttercore is making its way back into today's decorating scene. Popularized by Gen Z as an extension of cottagecore, cluttercore is all about filling your space with things that make you happy—even if it means your room looks a little, well, cluttered. Just as minimalism once flooded interiors in the 2000s and 2010s with its less-is-more approach, cluttercore is having a major moment right now.

While this bold aesthetic might not be for everyone, it's helping people reclaim comfort and personal storytelling within home decor. To help you try this popular decorating style, design experts share how to embrace cluttercore without overwhelming your space.

Even though the word "clutter" would send Marie Kondo running for the hills, in the context of cluttercore, it just means "more". Cluttercore is all about artfully displaying the things you love and already own, rather than filling a room with random stuff to achieve a design aesthetic. The only condition? You need to have a lot of it.

"Cluttercore is your home throwing you a little cozy party and celebrating all those little treasures and collections that tell your story," says organizing expert Cassandra Aarssen. "It’s organized chaos at its finest, sprinkled strategically in small, intentional doses throughout your home—never, ever spilling onto your precious workspace or disrupting your daily life."

Cluttercore vs. Maximalism

If the design principles of cluttercore sound familiar, that’s because this design trend shares some similarities with another popular aesthetic—maximalism. Maximalism is a term that was first coined in the 1970s and arose as a response to years of minimalism. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a resurgence in the popularity of maximalism as people increasingly shirk the minimalism movement once again. 

So what’s the difference between these two trending styles? Compared to maximalism, cluttercore has more of a vintage, collected feel. "Clutttercore is not quite maximalism—which is more about being dramatic and lavish—nor eclectic, which is about bleeding different design styles," says designer Theresa Butler.

Instead, this style utilizes more personal items that are important to the individual. "Unlike traditional maximalism, cluttercore isn't just about 'more is more,'" Aarseen says. "It's more of what makes your heart happy, but thoughtfully arranged in a contained area of your home."

Hallmarks of the Cluttercore Style

Before embracing the style, it's important to learn what defines the aesthetic, particularly how it strikes a balance between curated and cozy. Below, we break down key characteristics that bring cluttercore to life.

Personal Storytelling Through Objects

This style is all about creating a visual storytelling experience, giving you the opportunity to showcase your life through the things you love. "It’s joyful clutter, not stressful clutter," Aarssen says.

Cherished mementos, quirky collectibles, and meaningful everyday pieces that spark joy or nostalgia are all great candidates for decor. "Cluttercore emphasizes variety, which involves displaying one's life, interests, and collections for all to see," says designer Theresa Butler.

Intentional Displays

But there’s a method to the cluttercore madness. Despite an abundance of items, there’s still a strong emphasis on structure. You'll often find organized displays—such as a gallery wall of collected artworks—alongside anchored zones, such as a stack of books on a side table or a group of plants in a corner.

Aarssen agrees. Using eye-catching anchors can make your space feel intentionally styled, rather than accidentally cluttered, she explains. To get the look right, she recommends starting with larger, bold pieces or statement items. Then, focus on anchoring playful little finds.

To make the space feel cohesive, use thoughtful color palettes with repeating patterns and hues. Remember, the end goal is for your space's visual and tangible clutter to speak, not compete, Butler says.

A Balance of Positive and Negative Space

While there may be more stuff in a clutter-core styled space, there should still be pockets of emptiness, too. "A tiny gap here, a bit of shelf peeking through there—small pauses keep your cluttercore looking charming, not overwhelming," Aarssen says.

One of the easiest ways to achieve this balance is to connect your collections. Arrange related items (like quirky animal figurines or vintage decor pieces) together as mini showcases, leaving plenty of space between your arrangements. "Pathways matter. If you need to step over things and push items out of the way, [your space will feel] less like organized chaos and more like an unorganized mess," Butler says.

How to Embrace Cluttercore Without Feeling Overwhelmed

Despite its name, cluttercore is not about a space feeling messy or cluttered. Rather, it’s about displaying the objects that you love and creating personal meaning in your home. But there's a delicate balance between creating an over-stuffed, highly-stimulating space and one that tells your story and feels calming. A few basic design principles will help you achieve the cluttercore aesthetic and keep your space from looking messy.

1. Keep It Sentimental

Sentimentality is at the heart of cluttercore. Avoid filling your space with items just for the sake of achieving the cluttercore style. Instead, display items that are meaningful and bring joy and comfort to your space.

2. Be Wise with Your Color Palette

When choosing a color palette, Butler recommends sticking to 2-4 dominant colors with similar hues. "Think quirky, not carnival," adds Aarssen. "Then, pair it with a neutral base, making your furniture, rugs, and walls this neutral color, so that your colorful items can shine without feeling overwhelming."

3. Create Dedicated Display Zones

Use open shelving or tall bookcases as visual containers to create a cluttercore look that feels cozy, not chaotic. "Confine your cluttercore collections to specific spots like shelves, cabinets, or nooks, and don’t let them creep into daily living and working areas like kitchen counters or desktops," Aarssen says. "I love combining vertical organization with a dedicated display zone for a two-in-one system. Tall shelves or bookcases help the eye move upward, giving your home height while also not taking away your precious floor space."

4. Rotate Your Displays

"If you have more stuff than will fit on your designated shelving, swap out your collections from storage every few months," Aarssen says. "Think of it as changing your home’s adorable outfit. This lets you enjoy all your treasures without overcrowding."

5. Practice the Art of Layering

By layering larger items behind smaller pieces, you can create eye-catching clusters. Aarssen says that groups of items in odd numbers—she suggests groups of three, five or seven—work best. Not only are these groupings eye-catching displays that anchor your space, they take up less room than spreading out your collections.

6. Keep a Balanced Approach

"Remember, cluttercore is all about celebrating your personality and the items you love—but always keep it off those work surfaces and everyday living spaces," Aarssen says. "Cluttercore should never feel like actual clutter in that it negatively impacts your life and makes cleaning, tidying, and finding things harder."

Butler agrees. "Think of cluttercore as organized chaos. While it may look wild, everything has its place," she says. "Be iintentional with the story you want to tell."

Then, focus on the items that make you happy. "Only keep the items you truly love; don’t display items because they were a gift or expensive. No negative treasures allowed in cluttercore," Aarssen says.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Start Small

Let’s face it—achieving a cluttercore aesthetic can be time-consuming and expensive when you start from scratch, even if you shop secondhand. Don’t be afraid to start small before you jump headfirst into cluttercore. For example, create a few isolated spaces in your home that embrace cluttercore—like a large bookcase or gallery wall—to try it out and see if you like it.