Updated on: October 14, 2026
Some rooms ask to be looked at. Kiki Goti’s ask to be touched.
Squeezed foam, sharp acrylic and stripes that refuse to stay straight: these are the materials of Kiki Goti, a Greek architect, designer and educator based in Brooklyn, New York. At first glance, her maximalist decor recalls licorice candy. However, the pop color is only the surface. Underneath, Goti is rewriting what domestic objects are allowed to be, and who they are for.
Inspired in part by the geometric textiles of Anni Albers, Goti describes her aim as to “creat[e] stimulating, sensorial designs that intrigue the viewers’ curiosity and stimulate their imagination.” Consequently, her side tables, mirrors and lamps act less like furniture and more like arguments: for color over restraint, for play over polish, and for a feminist idea of the home that breaks free from tradition.
What is maximalist decor?
Maximalist decor is an approach to interior design that favors abundance: saturated color, bold pattern, layered texture and objects with strong personalities. Where minimalism edits a room down, maximalism builds it up. Historically, the idea of maximalism runs from Victorian collecting to the Memphis Group of the 1980s, whose clashing laminates and squiggles rejected the restraint of mid-century design.
Today, maximalist style is less about clutter and more about intention. Indeed, the strongest maximalist rooms feel collected rather than crowded, held together by a repeating color, a recurring material or a single clear idea. Goti’s work offers a useful lesson here: every stripe, curve and color in her pieces follows a system. For more pieces in this spirit, browse our candy-inspired design selection or the dreamlike forms in surrealist design.
Kiki Goti and feminist design: redefining domesticity
Our living spaces carry meaning. Historically, they have also been gendered, with the realm of domestic life assigned to women. From the Impressionist painter Berthe Morisot to Frida Kahlo, female artists have long challenged that view of domesticity. Goti follows in their footsteps through a non-conforming design philosophy.
“Ordinary, everyday objects that might be part of a more patriarchal and masculine design approach now become bold statements of a feminine way of experiencing and redefining domesticity.”
Kiki Goti
In practice, this feminist point of view subverts our expectations of how a home should look. Foam is squeezed into shapes that mimic flowers or organic waves, held in place by acrylic elements. Meanwhile, clashing colors push the result toward a maximalist, utopian vision of the domestic interior. Goti’s “U+II” collection began this reimagining of the home, and her later lighting series carried it further. For more women-led studios working along these lines, read our feature on feminist design or shop our selection of pieces made by women.
Material ambiguity: acrylic, foam and stripes
Another fundamental element of Goti’s practice is materiality, shaped by her training in architecture and her teaching at institutions such as the Pratt Institute. Teaching keeps her close to new ideas in architecture and digital fabrication, which in turn feed her studio work. At the center of her process is what she calls “material ambiguity,” achieved by combining contrasting materials, textures and colors.
The “U+II” collection shows this clearly. Its side table, table lamp and mirror pair hard, striped acrylic with soft, squeezed foam. The side table measures roughly 12 x 12 x 22 inches (30 x 30 x 56 cm), compact enough for a corner. Yet its pop colors and distorted stripes give it the presence of a much larger object.
“My goal for these pieces was to create sensorial objects that evoke some kind of ‘visual tangibility.’ Objects that look tangible. But also ambiguous and mysterious in a playful way. Objects that invite you to interact and engage with them.”
Kiki Goti
As a result, the pieces invite touch. You want to press the foam, then run a hand across the smooth acrylic, all while taking in the stripes that cover each structural element. Interactivity, in other words, is the point. By contrast, many makers of side tables rely on form alone; Goti lets color and texture do the structural work.
Artificial nature: the I+UU and I+I lighting
What crystallizes from Goti’s work is a fascination with dualities, which she calls “productive paradoxes.” She uses them as a starting point to question form, tactility and space, once again revealing her formal training. Her “I+UU” wall light and floor lamp, along with the “I+I” wall light, center on one such paradox: artificial nature.
Compared with “U+II,” this series uses warmer colors, so the pieces read as more natural. Yet the main material is upcycled foam, a non-natural, non-recyclable material sculpted into soft, organic shapes. The “I+UU” floor lamp stands about 76 inches (193 cm) tall, its foam forms stacked like a bright, unfamiliar plant.
“The foam is broadly considered a non-natural material. But defining nature is not as straightforward as it seems to be. If humans are part of nature, are the materials that they produce part of nature as well? Is trash part of nature? I have placed some of these prototypes next to my plants in my apartment as a reminder of these questions.”
Kiki Goti
Notably, this places Goti’s work within a wider conversation about upcycling in design, where discarded material becomes the start of a new object rather than the end of an old one. For lighting with a similarly sculptural presence, see our floor lamps and wall lamps.
Shop maximalist decor inspired by Kiki Goti
Goti’s original collections have since sold out. However, the ideas behind them (bold color, tactile contrast and everyday materials made strange) run through the work of other makers on ADORNO. The pieces below share that spirit, and most come from women-led studios.
In Between Pink Side Table in Stainless Steel and Lace by please touch studio
please touch studio starts with a domestic detail: the rounded piping that finishes a cushion. Here, hand-finished pink lace piping floats between cool planes of stainless steel, so soft ornament becomes structure. At about 20.5 inches wide and 16.5 inches high (52 x 42 cm), it echoes Goti’s pairing of hard and soft, as well as her interest in reclaiming crafts long coded as feminine.
€1.560 incl. tax
“Bricomart Supreme” Vase N.1 by Teresa Fernández-Pello
Teresa Fernández-Pello builds this vase by stacking and thermoforming rolls of electric cable in different sizes and colors, all sourced from hardware stores. Cheap, standard materials become a one-off object, much as Goti turns industrial foam into decor. Consequently, the piece questions the link between an object and its context, a question that sits at the heart of maximalist styling. Browse more sculptural vases.
€586 incl. tax
“Lady Bug” Rug by Pupcha
Hand-tufted in wool, cotton and bamboo silk, this rug takes the shape of a ladybug, with tassels in place of legs and playful patterns across its wings. It measures about 87 x 55 inches (220 x 140 cm), large enough to anchor a maximalist bedroom or reading corner. Moreover, it carries the same sense of humor that makes Goti’s pieces feel joyful rather than solemn. See more handmade rugs.
By Pupcha
€2.170 incl. tax
‘Woolwalls’ in Sustainable Wool – Neon Yellow, Orange and Green by jeanett knipschildt
Hand-woven in 100% European Merino wool, Woolwalls hangs from a recycled brass rod on a leather string. In neon yellow, orange and green, it brings saturated color to a wall while softening a room’s acoustics. In this way, it does what Goti’s foam does: it turns color into something you can feel. Browse more wall decoration.
€1.224 incl. tax
“Chanka-Hanka” Mobile Chandelier in Stoneware and Metal by UAU Studio
Handmade in Romania by designer Vanessa Singenzia, this mobile chandelier gathers stoneware and metal shapes in purple, teal and yellow. Rather than forcing each form into a mold, she let them settle intuitively until the composition found its balance. Each version measures about 20 x 20 x 39 inches (50 x 50 x 100 cm), turning a ceiling lamp into a playful focal point.
By UAU Studio
€2.000 incl. tax
“amethyst” Vase From The Crystals Collection Large Size by Carol Gay
Carol Gay blows glass directly around raw amethyst, letting the stone deform the glass and act as its support. Because every stone differs, every vase is one of a kind. Furthermore, the contrast between heavy mineral and light, bright glass recalls Goti’s play between foam and acrylic, and the lilac color makes it a natural centerpiece for a maximalist shelf. Explore more pieces in glass.
By Carol Gay
€2.614 incl. tax
Angle A Side Table in Acrylic by Iyo Hasegawa
Built from acrylic pieces shaped like a protractor, a triangle ruler and a long ruler, Angle A turns drafting tools into a side table. Its transparency gives the joints a floating effect, while the overall shape depends on the angle chosen. For anyone drawn to Goti’s acrylic work, it shows how the same material can read as precise and playful at once.
By Iyo Hasegawa
€2.800 incl. tax
How to style maximalist decor at home
A maximalist living room
Start with one statement piece, such as a sculptural chandelier or a striped side table, then repeat its colors two or three times across the room. Next, layer textures, like a wool wall hanging beside polished metal, so the eye has places to rest. Finally, group smaller objects in odd numbers on shelves and coffee tables. For more ideas, browse our pieces by room.
A maximalist bedroom
A bedroom can carry more pattern than you might expect, as long as the palette stays consistent. A bold rug underfoot, a colorful wall piece above the bed and a table lamp with character on the nightstand create a cocooning room without crowding it. Still, keep the surfaces closest to the bed clear enough to use.
Mixing pattern and stripes
Goti’s stripes work because they follow a system. At home, pair one large-scale pattern with one or two smaller ones in related colors. Stripes are especially useful here: they add rhythm, and they can tie together pieces that would otherwise clash.
Contrasting materials
Material contrast keeps a maximalist house from feeling flat. Pair soft with hard, matte with gloss, and natural with synthetic: foam and acrylic, lace and steel, glass and stone. For more tactile pieces, see our guide to textured and tactile design.
Minimalist vs. maximalist: what’s the difference?
Minimalism prizes empty space, neutral color and as few objects as possible. Maximalism, by contrast, prizes color, pattern and personal meaning, treating a room as a place to show what you love. Neither is better. However, maximalism is often more forgiving: a home full of stories rarely looks unfinished. Many rooms sit somewhere in between, with a calm base and a few maximalist pieces doing the talking.
About Kiki Goti
Kiki Goti is a Greek architect, designer and educator based in Brooklyn, New York, and part of the wider American design scene. She is the founder of the design studio Some People, which focuses on playful, interactive architectural installations and public art projects. Because of her background in digital fabrication and material research, she began experimenting with new materials and fabrication techniques at furniture scale. In 2022, she launched her first product and furniture collections using upcycled foam. You can follow her current work on her website.
As an educator, she has taught at the Pratt Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pennsylvania and Parsons School of Design. She holds an MSc in Integrative Technologies and Architectural Design Research from the Institute for Computational Design at the University of Stuttgart and a Diploma in Architecture from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Her honors include an Honorable Mention at the Architecture MasterPrize 2021, a nomination for the ArchDaily Building of the Year 2022 and first prize in the AZURE Awards 2018 for Design Excellence, Student Category. ARCHITECT Magazine selected her for its Next Progressives series in 2020, and her work has appeared in Sight Unseen, Azure, Design Milk, FRAME, ARCHITECT, designboom and ArchDaily.
Frequently asked questions
What is maximalist decor?
Maximalist decor is an interior design style built on abundance: bold color, layered pattern, rich texture and expressive objects. The aim is a room that feels personal and collected rather than sparse.
What is a maximalist?
A maximalist is someone who prefers “more is more” to “less is more.” In design, that means favoring color, ornament and a large number of meaningful objects over empty space.
What is feminist design?
Feminist design questions the gender assumptions built into everyday objects and spaces. Designers like Kiki Goti use it to challenge traditional ideas of domesticity and to make the home more inclusive.
Who is Kiki Goti?
Kiki Goti is a Greek architect, designer and educator based in Brooklyn, New York. She is known for maximalist furniture and lighting in striped acrylic and upcycled foam, including the “U+II,” “I+UU” and “I+I” collections.
What materials does Kiki Goti use?
Mainly acrylic and upcycled foam, combined to create what she calls “material ambiguity.” She has also said she wants to experiment with wood and upholstered cushions.
Can maximalist decor work in a small space?
Yes. In a small room, choose a tight color palette, use vertical space for art and wall pieces, and pick a few bold objects rather than many small ones. As a result, the room feels rich without feeling cramped.
Why maximalist decor earns its place
Above all, Kiki Goti’s work is about experience: visual, tactile and intellectual. Her pieces turn familiar archetypes into more inclusive objects, always considering how they will affect both a space and the person living in it. That is the real promise of maximalist decor. It is not about filling a room, but about filling it with things that make you look twice, reach out and feel something. In the future, Goti plans to work with wood and upholstered cushions, so expect her to keep surprising the design world.
