Viva individualism! Three cheers to today’s personal sanctuaries that are preferable to the stark, oh-so-correct minimalism of the homes and offices of the early 2000s.

Like much in life, the design motto has shifted to ‘Do what makes you happy’. And while that blanket advice can go horribly wrong (do you fancy jail time?), it is reassuring guidance when it comes to how we build and beautify our spaces.

Amanda Talbot, an internationally recognized design consultant, stated in her 2012 book Rethink: The Way You Live: “The home of the future is not as sci-fi as we imagine. Instead of whizbang gadgetry and the bells and whistles … [it] is all about sustainability, energy-efficient design, an expression of the individual, and a hotbed of creativity and inspiration.”

Individualising your space is a carte blanche allowing you to choose your fav colours, textures, ornaments, artworks, photos and those little thingamajigs that spell out you as individual.

Clutter not being cool, the emphasis is on careful curation, because our spaces act as a visual autobiography. While minimalism strips away the "noise" to find peace, individualism finds peace through personal resonance.

Whereas the sentiment portrayed by minimalism is the utility of space, in self-curation the focus is on story: the travel finds, art and collections. And who can resist a story? Imagine the tales that go along with a collection of Matchbox cars, or a clutch of tiny and tall teddy bears. Seen as dust-collectors by minimalists, but as soul-rechargers by the owners, this kind of sanctuary is a cocoon, a safe place.

Balance is required to make a space feel layered and authentic. The environment (the colours and light) should set the stage, while the details (the objects and stories) provide the soul. Perhaps that is where the term "Warm Maximalism" comes from: A space that is rich and full, yet still feels intentional and curated. As American interior designer Billy Baldwin once said: "Be comfortable. That's the main thing. Contentment is much more important than show."

Speaking of a warm, welcoming home, where lies the rub? Balance can be found by placing a modern, comfortable couch (the warmth of utility) against a wall filled with an eclectic gallery of personal photos or art (the warmth of memory). Together: Magic! And to top it off, toss your favourite textured item in as well.

But what if you don’t like sharing your story in the form of your home décor? Perhaps you prefer a blank canvas of less-is-more, perhaps you have taken decluttering to the next level. And why not? Do what makes you happy.