Maximalism is making a strong statement in Indian interior design, with vibrant colours, elaborate patterns, statement furniture and art transforming homes and commercial spaces. Leading this movement are designers who are unafraid to embrace visual abundance while creating interiors that remain deeply personal and functional.
Kavita Singh
One of India’s established names in maximalist design, AD100 designer Kavita Singh began her career more than three decades ago by launching her home décor brand. Her longstanding engagement with contemporary and decorative arts has shaped her distinctive design sensibility. Singh also collaborated with her niece, actor Sonam Kapoor, on the latter’s Mumbai residence.
“Besides my nani, my aunt Kavita Singh has been the main voice within these walls, alongside my own,” says Kapoor. Singh described the project as “the homage to Indian craftsmanship that my niece has been imagining for a long time”.
Shabnam Gupta
Shabnam Gupta founded The Orange Lane in 2003, building it into a multidisciplinary design studio covering residential, hospitality, retail and corporate projects. Her love for maximalism also extends to her furniture label, Peacock Life.
“Great design isn’t just about shaping spaces—it’s about shaping lives. The belief here is that truly exceptional design is cohesive, transformative, and always centred on people. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about a work ethic that places human needs above everything else, with function leading the way before form.”
Vinita Chaitanya
Bengaluru-based designer Vinita Chaitanya is known for richly layered interiors combining colour, texture, craftsmanship and dramatic detailing. In a Hyderabad mansion, she incorporated Indian materials and artistry throughout the interiors.
“It was a Make in India project; we sourced almost everything from within the country,” she says. A standout feature is the staircase, crowned by a custom 20-foot Murano glass chandelier.
Iqrup and Ritika Dhamija
The mother-daughter duo behind Iqrup Design and Iqrup + Ritz brings together architecture, bespoke furniture and décor. Iqrup Dhamija’s decades of furniture expertise complements Ritika’s background in physics and investment banking, creating a design practice balancing creativity with strong execution.
Marie-Anne Oudejans
Dutch designer Marie-Anne Oudejans has made Jaipur her creative home for nearly two decades. Her signature interiors combine Indian grandeur with European informality through saturated colours, tented ceilings, Mughal-inspired motifs and bold stripes. She has also placed Jaipur’s artisan communities at the centre of her work.
Pavitra Rajaram
Mumbai-based Pavitra Rajaram works across interiors, architecture, product design and branding. Her maximalist approach often incorporates biophilic elements and cultural references. As creative director of Nilaya Anthology, she helped shape a major luxury home décor and collectible design destination in Mumbai.
“It’s a world that’s both material and immaterial, tangible and intangible—because that is also how culture is.”
Shimona Bhansali
Design Hex founder Shimona Bhansali creates immersive spaces filled with colour, pattern and narrative. Her work includes the Papa Don’t Preach store in Delhi and a vibrant Juhu residence.
“It was a deep exploration of narrative and maximalism,” she recalls. “The couple was clear: they wanted a space alive with stories, prints and characters; every corner vibrant and expressive, without a single barren wall.”
Source: Architectural Digest
