Clustering

Words: Jack Harrington | Photo: Claire Mianecki
Maximalism takes a new form.

You may or may not have heard of clustering from social media, but you’ve definitely seen a cluster in the wild. It’s a show of self-expression that uses items to illustrate your personality — in one cramped but beautiful space. Grab all of those knickknacks you can’t let go of, and find a space to start clustering.

What is Clustering?

First, think maximalism — many objects placed together that may not have a lot in common beyond the fact that they’re next to each other. But these clusters are methodically curated to paint a portrait of the curator’s identity.

Meghan Blum, owner of Meghan Blum Interiors, known for her timeless styles and design, has experience with maximalism and clustering.

“I’m a collector at heart, so I love the maximalist style. I love to put things you love around you and layer in lots of things,” Blum says. “It makes you happy to be surrounded by things that you love, and it helps tell the story of who you are. More is more and less is a bore.”

Clustering is intentional and tells a story about the creator. Each pile is an unconventional way of making your keepsakes a centerpiece in your space.

“One of my best pieces of advice is to buy things that you love,” Blum says. “When you buy what you love you’ll always have a spot for it in your home. When you just buy to buy, you will tire of it sooner than later, and it won’t have the standing power in design.”

Uniquely Yours?

Imagine putting your favorite Jane Austen novel, a seashell you got in southern Florida, a picture of you and your best friend, a weird ceramic clown figurine from your grandma, a small jewelry box, a ticket stub from the Sabrina Carpenter concert, and the lucky penny you found on the side of the street — all placed together on a windowsill. The real connection between these items is the love their owner holds for them. They all bring back memories.

One may call this clutter, untidiness, or even a mess. But those who cluster know the mess tells a story.

Clustering vs. Maximalism

Similar to many current trends, clustering gained popularity from TikTok. The topic may seem niche, but it’s found a home online and in people’s IRL abodes.

The true difference between clustering and maximalism — or the distant cousin, clutter — is that it doesn’t have to be everywhere. It doesn’t need to take over your entire life or house, just a certain space where you let your favorite tchotchkes take over.

“I am today years old on learning about the trend clustering,” Blum says. “Although I had to look up the actual trend, clustering has been something we always do in design. Throughout a design in a space or kitchen, for example, we will cluster different groupings together. You’ll layer items of different scales, sizes, and shapes to form an interesting group together.”

Clustering boils down to self expression. It visualizes the clutter of your brain in an aesthetically pleasing way. It allows you to present yourself to the world in a way that showcases what you love and your niche set of unique interests.

“I love to weave the unique stories of each client into each space,” Blum says. “[I help them] tell the story of their life and how their home can be a place they feel energized and live a life in flow.”