Decorating
How to Bring Balance to an Asymmetrical Room
Become the master of visually balancing an off-centre room with these expert tips and tricks
Symmetry is a simple way to balance a room and create a confident and pleasing look. However, creating a non-symmetrical room is a great way to show off your design prowess and give a room some interest and layers. The key to succeeding at an asymmetrical look is all about visual balance. These five steps will show you how to create this visual balance whether you’re starting from scratch or working with an existing room.
STEP 2: Balance the room from a central focal point
In this asymmetrical room, though the furniture is of different scales and styles, the space feels visually balanced because the furniture is arranged around a central focal point. From this central point the designers were able to visually balance the different materials, such as the timber partition wall with the small timber table and low-slung chair. Again, the large, over-scaled wing chairs and floor lamp is balanced with the black window frame on the opposite side. By bringing the different materials across the space, the overall look is balanced and to the viewer the space has visual harmony.
In this asymmetrical room, though the furniture is of different scales and styles, the space feels visually balanced because the furniture is arranged around a central focal point. From this central point the designers were able to visually balance the different materials, such as the timber partition wall with the small timber table and low-slung chair. Again, the large, over-scaled wing chairs and floor lamp is balanced with the black window frame on the opposite side. By bringing the different materials across the space, the overall look is balanced and to the viewer the space has visual harmony.
This room, like the last, uses a central point from which to balance the asymmetrical design. Unlike the previous, however, this room arranges the furniture on the grid. Balancing the strong linear lines of the TV cabinet is the long sofa opposite, while the two light grey chairs are balancing the window opposite. This room is a great example that shows both form and colour can be used to create visual balance in an asymmetrical room.
STEP 3: Use joinery wisely
In this kitchen, with the island bench as an anchor, the architect has played with the proportion and balance of the joinery to create a strong and well-grounded design. The key to this look is to ensure that the different asymmetrical elements have the same visual status – that is, while they may be different sizes or shapes, to the eye, they are visually balanced. They have achieved this by making the smaller rangehood darker than the much larger refrigerator bank.
In this kitchen, with the island bench as an anchor, the architect has played with the proportion and balance of the joinery to create a strong and well-grounded design. The key to this look is to ensure that the different asymmetrical elements have the same visual status – that is, while they may be different sizes or shapes, to the eye, they are visually balanced. They have achieved this by making the smaller rangehood darker than the much larger refrigerator bank.
In a room with a strong architectural element, such as the ribbon window, the natural reaction may be to align furniture to create balance. But asymmetry can work just as well, particularly when extra storage is needed. The trick is to create a design that gives the asymmetry purpose. In this case, the joinery balances the visual mass of the bed.
More: 7 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Dreams Come True
More: 7 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Dreams Come True
STEP 4: Put art to work
When you’re faced with blank walls, it can be difficult to find a starting point from which to balance an asymmetrical room. In this instance, art is perfect for achieving visual balance. The painting’s frame and dark palette is being used to balance the timber armchairs across the room.
PRO TIP: Art is an especially effective tool for those who are renting a home and don’t have the option of changing joinery or where they have existing furniture.
More: Work of Art: How to Rustle Up a Masterpiece
When you’re faced with blank walls, it can be difficult to find a starting point from which to balance an asymmetrical room. In this instance, art is perfect for achieving visual balance. The painting’s frame and dark palette is being used to balance the timber armchairs across the room.
PRO TIP: Art is an especially effective tool for those who are renting a home and don’t have the option of changing joinery or where they have existing furniture.
More: Work of Art: How to Rustle Up a Masterpiece
In this space, the large work of art has been used to balance out the large window opposite. This is successful because the scale and shape of the art mimics that of the window and, though there is no relationship between the colours or materials, the scale works to create visual balance.
STEP 5: Create a monochromatic look
Though a room may be asymmetrical and the furniture of different styles, a monochromatic colour scheme will work to create visual cohesion and balance. In this room, the chaise lounges, armchairs and rug are all the same soft tones. By doing this, despite the asymmetry and differing styles of the furniture, the room feels balanced because the same visual weight has been given to each element. Having the wall painted in a similar colour further enhances the visual balance.
Though a room may be asymmetrical and the furniture of different styles, a monochromatic colour scheme will work to create visual cohesion and balance. In this room, the chaise lounges, armchairs and rug are all the same soft tones. By doing this, despite the asymmetry and differing styles of the furniture, the room feels balanced because the same visual weight has been given to each element. Having the wall painted in a similar colour further enhances the visual balance.
In this room the various shades of grey and warm taupes have been used to create visual balance where the eye wouldn’t necessarily find one as there is no central focal point. The designers have achieved this by keeping the larger pieces of furniture in more subtle tones while using the accent furniture to balance the room. For example, the black floor lamp on the left is balanced with the black side table in the middle of the room and then again with the table lamp on the right. Using colour in this way is an effective way to subtly balance an asymmetrical room.
Also note how the art on the walls has been used to balance out the windows!
TELL US
How have you created balance in an asymmetrical room? Share your ideas in the Comments.
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Also note how the art on the walls has been used to balance out the windows!
TELL US
How have you created balance in an asymmetrical room? Share your ideas in the Comments.
MORE
Master Visual Harmony Without Spending a Cent
Houzz Tour: Avant Garde Queensland Apartment Given a Monochrome Touch
Curate Your Own Art Gallery at Home
In the bedroom, matching beside tables may be the norm, however having mismatched tables or even lamps is the perfect way to give a bedroom some visual movement and individuality. The most important point when choosing mismatched furniture to create an asymmetrical look is that the pieces are sufficiently different to each other so as not to look like a mistake. For instance, don’t choose two different round tables of a similar size. Instead, find a round pedestal table and a large rectangular bedside table, or a small round table and a large round table of different styles. To balance different-sized bedside tables, matching lamps help to visually anchor the look.