Configuring a room to reach its maximum potential is no easy task! It’s pretty common to begin shifting furniture around with no real game plan in hopes of finding the layout that works best - and often without success. Usually, this happens when one doesn’t understand how to properly create balance and harmony in a space.
So, how can we master the art of creating balance? For beginners, paying attention to how symmetry, size, and weight come together is the first step in understanding how to create a balance. So, here are 3 design rules to keep in mind when rearranging your furniture and decor.
Symmetry, Weight, & Scale
Creating balance in a room or an entire home is all about symmetry. We humans love symmetry, and we always prefer to spend time in a symmetrical and orderly space versus a cluttered and chaotic one. When it comes to interior design, some rooms benefit from extremely symmetric designs, and others benefit from more symmetrical distribution of weight.
This bedroom, designed by Colorado’s Joe McGuire Design, is a great example of symmetry. Each side of the room practically mirrors the other half, which is a design aesthetic that works beautifully so long as you keep the clutter and chaos down to a minimum.
In the above image, Annette Jaffe Interiors works to bring out balance by focusing on weight and scale instead of symmetrical styles. For example, two armchairs can easily balance out the weight and proportion of a large sofa.
Architectural Focal Points
Most rooms come with built-in focal points, such as fireplaces, bay windows, floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick walls, and so on. While these may not be one of the first elements we decide to plan our design around, it’s important to work with them instead of against them.
One way to work with such elements is to understand which “lines of symmetry” will work best with your focal point. The “good lines” show the best areas for larger furniture pieces. If you’re not hiring an interior designer and/or are new to styling your own space, placing your foundation pieces along these lines will provide the best symmetry (remember, symmetry is key!).
Both of these designs place the largest furnishings along the so-called “good lines.” This honors the built-in focal points (fireplaces and windows), creates the perfect amount of space for conversational grouping, and provides easy viewing of the TV.
Decor & Accessories
Now that you’ve sorted out your room’s furnishings, taking into account symmetry, weight, scale, and focal points, it’s time to give your space personal touches! Decor can be just as tricky as the foundation pieces since we often accumulate a lot of keepsakes throughout the years, which can easily overwhelm the eye. However, there are a few tricks to getting a curated and polished look when it comes to your own home decor!
While symmetry might not be as important when it comes to decor, balance definitely is. For example, large decor and accents (such as big plants or sculptures) look best in bigger rooms. This keeps the size of the decor proportionate to the rest of the room, adding to the space instead of overcrowding it. The same goes for table decor; that large lamp might be beautiful, but it will look out of place on a table that’s too small.
As for smaller pieces, vignettes are the best way to make use of these decorations. These pieces don’t have to be matchy-matchy but should complement one another. Another good rule of thumb when displaying small-scale items is to group them in odd numbers; for some reason, our eye finds this more soothing than seeing even numbers.
To recap, when styling your home, there are a few key elements that will help keep your interior looking balanced and well thought-out. The first step is paying attention to symmetry, weight, and scale for the overall layout. Once you’ve figured out how to maintain balance with the room’s “weight,” the next step is to pay attention to those architectural focal points. Using these focal points as a guideline for your larger furnishings will help dictate how to assemble your weight and symmetry. And lastly, when it comes to your finishing touches, size and scale matter! Keep the size and scale of your decor proportional to your room and furnishings.
If that is all too much to digest, it is no surprise. There is a reason that interior designers exist. Just like a doctor or a lawyer, interior designers are educated and experienced so that your home is designed right the first time. This could literally save you thousands of dollars and lots of time and frustration. ♥
