Meaningful Maximalism: A Defense for Filipino Design and Balance
A tin of Danish butter cookies hiding a sewing kit. Sando bags folded like origami triangles. A Santo Niño draped in sampaguita garlands beside a wooden barrel man from Baguio. These vignettes don’t just speak of clutter—they tell stories of resilience, sentiment, and culture. In a Filipino home, every item has a past, a purpose, or a potential use. This is Filipino maximalism: expressive, resourceful, and deeply personal.
Rather than follow minimalist ideals of form and function, Filipino maximalism thrives in joyful abundance—where history, memory, and practicality converge. But how do we honor this cultural instinct while still keeping our spaces livable? This blog reflects on the roots of our maximalist tendencies, and offers tips on how to embrace them meaningfully, without being overwhelmed.