Interior Designer Amber Guyton Shares How 'Soulful Maximalism' Can Transform Your Living Space
Interior designer and author Amber Guyton shares her framework of 'soulful maximalism' to help people design spaces rooted in culture, comfort, and personal joy. In an interview with theGrio, the author of 'Soulful Maximalism' outlined actionable ways to turn any home into an intentional reflection of self.
Designing a home can often feel like a daunting task, particularly when mainstream design trends tilt heavily toward sparse minimalism. Interior designer Amber Guyton, the founder behind the firm Blessed Little Bungalow, is offering an alternative vision through her design framework called soulful maximalism. In an interview with theGrio, Guyton discussed the principles detailed in her book, Soulful Maximalism: A Colorful Guide to Living Boldly at Home, offering practical advice on how to cultivate spaces that reflect personal identity, culture, and warmth.
According to Guyton's interview with theGrio, a living space should function like a love letter to oneself and feel like a warm hug whenever walking through the door. Rather than designing for hypothetical future home buyers or trying to keep up with temporary trends, she urges individuals to embrace their spaces today. In her conversation with theGrio, Guyton noted that her own home openly reflects her Black identity, emphasizing that living spaces belong to the people residing in them right now.
Before diving into paint colors or decorative patterns, Guyton advises establishing foundational comfort and utility. As reported by theGrio, she prioritizes functional essentials such as a supportive mattress and a comfortable sofa to ensure the home serves as a place of genuine rest. Once functional needs are met, homeowners can introduce color without feeling bound to permanent decisions. Guyton noted in the interview that warm neutrals and tones like olive green can act as accessible entry points, while items like drapes, rugs, and accent pillows allow people to test out vibrant shades such as plum without heavy commitments.
Cultural representation forms a central pillar of Guyton's design ethos. As detailed in theGrio's reporting, her own home follows a clear guiding rule of displaying Black faces across every room. This includes family photographs, wall decor, and artwork from Black artists such as Melissa Koby, B. Robert Moore, and Ronald Jackson, as well as products from Black-owned businesses like wallpaper company Mitchell Black. Guyton emphasizes that art does not need to be expensive or museum-grade; framed personal photographs from past trips or family gatherings serve as meaningful, high-impact art pieces that anchor a home in personal history.