The piece becomes clearer when every addition has a reason beyond filling space.

Filling space is the default, and it dilutes. Each element added without a reason takes a little attention from the ones that had a job, so the piece gets busier and less clear at the same time, which is why more effort can produce a weaker result. Nothing has to be minimal. Every part simply needs a purpose beyond occupying room.

Go through what you are making and ask of each addition what it is doing. Anything that answers only that it looked empty there is a candidate for removal. Take out two of those and see whether the thing reads more easily.