Discover the trend of cluttercore... and find out why it's not just being untidy!
‘Cluttercore’ is a design trend that celebrates mess. It encourages people to be unapologetically themselves and not be fearful of breaking the mould. It feels like everywhere we turn; we’re told to declutter, pair back and live a more minimal life. But the latest rebellious trend is anti-minimalist.
A key trait of cluttercore is the abundance of belongings, trinkets or meaningful items. However, it’s never grimy or unclean, just delightfully busy. It’s meant to reflect your personality, creating a space that’s completely your own.
‘Cluttercore celebrates abundance, individuality, and storytelling’
Sam Greig, Head of Design at Swoon
The word ‘clutter’ is often associated with negative connotations, such as hoarding or being messy due to laziness or carelessness. Since the 1990s, the concept of decluttering has gained popularity, with minimalism becoming linked to the image of an organised and successful individual.
In film and television, chaotic and unorganised characters are often depicted with ‘messy’ yet cosy home styles. Take The Weasleys’ home in Harry Potter; The Burrow, is warm, inviting, and full of interesting, personal trinkets and items that make it feel truly lived-in.
However, cluttercore doesn’t have to mean an unorganised life, you can achieve the look while remaining organised. The key is ensuring everything has its place, so you always know where to find it.
One tip for creating a cohesive space is to choose a colour scheme. Trends expert at Tapi Carpets & Floors, Johanna Constantinou, has shared the following advice, ‘By choosing a unifying colour scheme, such as jewel tones, earthy hues, or pastels, the mix of patterns feels curated rather than chaotic, adding depth and personality to any room.’ However, don’t let this limit you, your theme could simply lean towards darker or lighter tones.
10 ways to embrace cluttercore in your home
1. Bold wallpaper and mismatched patterns
Don’t be afraid to mismatch your wallpaper and wall paint colours, or any other items in your home for that matter. If you fall in love with a wallpaper or a colour you’ve seen, don’t hold back and incorporate it into your space. The beauty of this approach is that you can update it as your style evolves over time.
2. Trinkets and items you love
Showcase your favourite books on the coffee table in your living room, add unique artwork you love to your walls, and display a bunch of your favourite flowers for a personal touch. You can also arrange small trinkets you’ve collected from holidays or received as gifts on shelves or bookcases to add character to your space.
Sam Greig, Head of Design at Swoon commented: ‘To master cluttercore, focus on curation rather than random accumulation. Begin with items that hold sentimental value, such as family heirlooms, travel souvenirs, or favourite books.
3. Bookcases (the busier the better)
Fill your bookshelves with curious items, old books, photo frames, and special souvenirs like festival or show tickets. Don’t stress about organising them perfectly, arrange them in a way that feels right to you. Your bookshelf is also a great spot for plants, especially trailing ones, to add a touch of whimsy.
4. Wall art for a unique space
If you’re someone who enjoys discovering indie artists, thrifting for unique finds, or hunting through charity shops, you’ll love this idea. There’s also no need to hold back, like @ellashausofcolour you could fill an entire wall with your favourite artwork if that makes you happy.
5. Playing with lighting
Lighting is a great way to create a cosy, lived-in feel for your space. To achieve the look choose a variety of lighting options including floor lamps, table lamps, ceiling lights and even fairy lights and candles. Choose unusual or unique designs that you love to suit your space.
6. You can’t get enough plants
Lots and lots of plants! Plants breathe new life into a space and bring the outdoors indoors. They can make a space feel more peaceful and relaxing. If you're new to looking after plants, opt for low-maintenance options like snake plants, spider plants, or succulents.
7. Painted and upcycled furniture
Cluttercore is all about colour – the more colourful the better! It can be expensive to buy lots of new furniture in bold and bright colours, so our advice is to upcycle what you already have.
It could be as simple as painting a small piece of furniture, like a side table, or something larger like a display cabinet or writing desk. The best part is that your upcycled piece will be unique.
We have a wonderful project which will teach you how to upcycle furniture using decoupage. This tutorial shows you how to use leftover wallpaper to create a striking look in your home.
8. Paint your doors and ceiling
Painting your ceiling and doors in a bold colour is a quick and easy way to add character to your space. It’s a brilliant way to add personality to your home by incorporating a colour that resonates with you. If you want to find out more about colour trends for 2025, take a look at our guide.
9. Pillows, throws and footstalls
Go big or go home! This is especially true for soft furnishings, which are a fantastic way to add texture and colour to your space. Cosy cushions and chunky blankets will create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in your home.
If you’re feeling creative you could also make your own cushions, try our cactus cushion tutorial for a bright fun accessory.
10. Colourful candles
Colourful candles are an easy way to add charm to your home. If you have a dining table they make a wonderful centrepiece.
We adore these from Etsy, they’re colourful and have a honeycomb pattern on the outside.
5 tips on achieving the cluttercore look
1. Make it personal to you
Let your personality shine through your decor – the joy of cluttercore is embracing what makes you, you! Collect trinkets, print out photographs, and collect unusual items that bring you joy.
Sam Greig, Head of Design at Swoon commented: ‘To master cluttercore, focus on curation rather than random accumulation. Begin with items that hold sentimental value, such as family heirlooms, travel souvenirs, or favourite books.
‘Layer these with bold, colourful decor, artwork, and textiles to add depth and personality. Use open shelving or styled surfaces to showcase your collection while ensuring each piece feels intentionally placed.’
2. Mix-and-match your items
Don’t get caught up wondering if something will look right, if you love it then it will be right.
3. Embrace reuse and upcycling
Mismatched furniture, odd chairs and repainted items are all big parts of cluttercore. That could be items you’ve thrifted, a discovered vintage item, or even something found on the side of the road that you want to give a new lease of life!
4. Keep it organised chaos
Although you’ll be embracing items that you love, it’s important to curate your collection carefully – totally love the items you’re bringing in. It’s also a good idea to have a loose idea of what colours you’d like to see in the house, for example, light pastel colours or moody darker tones. It helps to keep the space coherent.
It’s also important to give each item its place because having a lot of items can easily get out of control, and it might make you feel more stressed if your space starts to appear messy rather than intentionally organised chaos.
5. Break the rules
Finally, our top tip for embracing cluttercore is to break the rules! Rebel against minimalism by being unashamedly yourself. Don’t worry about what anyone else likes, this truly is about celebrating your uniqueness.
3 items to get you started on your cluttercore look
1. Bold artwork
Look out for maximalist artwork to enhance your space. Choose artwork that has an abundance of colours and textures, and that will stand out.
Take a look at this pickle artwork from Etsy, it’ll be a fabulous addition to your cluttercore kitchen.
- Pickle jar painting, buy now from Etsy from £18.29
2. Colourful squishy cushions
A pile of comfy colourful cushions is a must-have in your cluttercore-styled home. This one from Nordic Nest is a great way to start livening up your sofa.
- Styles cushion 45x45 cm in Rose, Buy now from Nordic Nest, £37.90
3. Big, bright lighting
Like the cushions, you’ll want to go big and bold with your lighting! Whether that’s through colour or unusual shapes or materials.
- Tutti Frutti Helter Skelter Oversized Cone Lampshades, buy now from Not on The Highstreet, from £70
More ideas for your home makeover
Whether you go big with cluttercore, or stay restrained with minimalist style, here's 28 quick tricks to make your home feel brighter and better.
