AT last, some news that is music to my ears.

Maximalism is IN.

“What’s that?” I expect most people will ask. It’s the opposite to minimalism, and I’ve been waiting years for it to come back into fashion.

I’ve never liked minimalism, typified by austere, open-plan homes with barely any furniture that appear in property magazines. I don’t understand why people fawn over them – they are not in the slightest bit homely.

The kitchens are the worst. Devoid of any protuberances – knobs, hooks, handles and the like – they are not dissimilar to operating theatres. But for years their sleek, clean, object-free surfaces – usually hewn from some sort of granite – have been on everyone’s wish list.

In open-plan living, the minimalist look extends through every room. These are the sort of houses where you would never see a newspaper left on a chair, an unwashed mug left on a work top or a used tea bag on a draining board.

You would never see a Welsh dresser, its racks chock-a-block with mugs, jugs and plates, jostling for space with letters, keys, coins and random bits and pieces.

Neither would you see a pinboard on the wall, strewn with postcards dating back a decade, dental appointment reminders and other paraphernalia.

York Press:

TO THE MAX: Shelves laden with personal objects are more homely says writer Helen Mead – and becoming more fashionable

And you would never see a heap of haphazardly-placed magazines, or a corridor full of scattered shoes.

Yet this is the sort of house in which I feel at home. I love rooms with lots of knick-knacks, where there are lots of things to look at that spark conversations.

Some may call it clutter – far from it. To me it is comfort décor, full of charm and character.

My neighbours’ cottage is a great example. Every surface is full of wonderful objects – pictures, plates, cushions, ornaments and trinkets.

There is so much to see and every item tells a story. As a whole, the vision is one of bohemian cosiness. It is a real haven.

The house also contains dozens of teddy bears, which the lady of the house collects. Of all shapes and sizes, they sit on shelves, mantelpieces and windowsills, intermingled with cushions, crockery and paintings.

Being a maximalist allows you to, as creative decoration specialist Jessica McCarthy says, "indulge your inner collector".

“Maximalist spaces are an amazing way to display personal collections,” says McCarthy. “As someone who loves vintage pieces and a good flea market find, I love being able to display all of my found objects in unique ways that I wouldn’t normally be able to do in a modern or minimal space.”

My sentiments exactly: I can’t resist a nice ceramic jug and have amassed a small collection which are perched on top of the kitchen cupboards.

I also love more unusual bits and pieces, like the Victorian candlesticks and the vintage flour container I found in a charity shop. Not everyone is as keen on my finds. “Can I give you a word of advice Helen?” a visitor to our home asked. “Less is more.”

Hopefully not for much longer. Even minimalist-minded stores like IKEA are acknowledging the shift to maximalism, devoting several pages in the latest catalogue to it.

Some say that with minimalist rooms, you really notice individual objects. That’s because there is barely anything else to notice. Rooms brimming with interest have so much more character.

I don’t expect it to happen overnight, but if the trend continues, my home will no longer be seen as some outpost of eccentricity, but a beacon of style.

I may even wake up to find photographers from the top interiors magazines beating a path to my door.