Decorating
Master Visual Harmony Without Spending a Cent
Can't work out why a room just isn't working? Reconsidering the balance of furnishings in the room may be just the solution
Scale and proportion cost you nothing. Have you ever said to yourself, “I know what I like, but I don’t know how to pull it all together?” Understanding scale and proportion will help you pull together your furniture and furnishings to create visual harmony in your home.
Put simply, scale or proportion refers to how elements relate to each other in a space; in this instance, furniture, features and furnishings. To create a room that is pleasing to your eye, your furniture should be the right scale to suit the size of the room, but also in proportion to the other elements. Let me give you an example. A large, overstuffed and bold-print upholstered sofa would look more balanced in a big room than in a small room. A small room would look overcrowded with large objects and would suit furniture that is lower, lighter in design and with smaller proportions.
Using the tips below, look at your home with a fresh eye. If the rooms don’t seem ‘resolved’ perhaps the scale and proportions of your furnishings are wrong. You don’t need to rush out and replace everything – perhaps just set aside a weekend to do some rearranging … what fun! Rearranging the furniture is like taking a long-needed holiday – you may be surprised at just how refreshed your home feels afterwards.
Put simply, scale or proportion refers to how elements relate to each other in a space; in this instance, furniture, features and furnishings. To create a room that is pleasing to your eye, your furniture should be the right scale to suit the size of the room, but also in proportion to the other elements. Let me give you an example. A large, overstuffed and bold-print upholstered sofa would look more balanced in a big room than in a small room. A small room would look overcrowded with large objects and would suit furniture that is lower, lighter in design and with smaller proportions.
Using the tips below, look at your home with a fresh eye. If the rooms don’t seem ‘resolved’ perhaps the scale and proportions of your furnishings are wrong. You don’t need to rush out and replace everything – perhaps just set aside a weekend to do some rearranging … what fun! Rearranging the furniture is like taking a long-needed holiday – you may be surprised at just how refreshed your home feels afterwards.
Be bold and proud
The pieces in this room are all of generous proportions, even to the choice of coffee table books and flower arrangement. This similar scale in furnishings gives the room a feel of being ‘established’.
BONUS TIP: If you have a large room, zone it to suit the function of the various parts of the room. Rugs help create mini rooms in a larger space.
The pieces in this room are all of generous proportions, even to the choice of coffee table books and flower arrangement. This similar scale in furnishings gives the room a feel of being ‘established’.
BONUS TIP: If you have a large room, zone it to suit the function of the various parts of the room. Rugs help create mini rooms in a larger space.
Play with repeats
Be brave with repetitive patterns or shapes. Here, strong geometric shapes with balanced proportions are repeated in the artwork frames, wall panels, armchairs and the mirrored feature on the cabinet. Visual interest is maintained as the repeated shapes and patterns are in varying scales.
Be brave with repetitive patterns or shapes. Here, strong geometric shapes with balanced proportions are repeated in the artwork frames, wall panels, armchairs and the mirrored feature on the cabinet. Visual interest is maintained as the repeated shapes and patterns are in varying scales.
Achieve proportion perfection
To help get the right balance of scale and proportion, start off with the piece you want to act as feature – in this instance the wall mural – and work from there. The horizontal line of the mural is repeated in the horizontal aspect of the bed which is low, and the circular shape of the lampshades are repeated in the table. The size of the bedside lamps are in perfect proportion to the height of the bed and don’t detract from the mural.
BONUS TIP: If you have a bedhead, scale can be achieved if you keep the height of the bedside lamps about the same height as the bedhead – or for drama, a bit taller.
To help get the right balance of scale and proportion, start off with the piece you want to act as feature – in this instance the wall mural – and work from there. The horizontal line of the mural is repeated in the horizontal aspect of the bed which is low, and the circular shape of the lampshades are repeated in the table. The size of the bedside lamps are in perfect proportion to the height of the bed and don’t detract from the mural.
BONUS TIP: If you have a bedhead, scale can be achieved if you keep the height of the bedside lamps about the same height as the bedhead – or for drama, a bit taller.
Bring in a breath of fresh air
Don’t clutter a room. You want it to breathe so the pieces all relate to each other in a harmonious way. As Coco Chanel taught us, less is more. Leave some ‘white space’ in your home so the features can shine.
Don’t clutter a room. You want it to breathe so the pieces all relate to each other in a harmonious way. As Coco Chanel taught us, less is more. Leave some ‘white space’ in your home so the features can shine.
Look up
The shelves going up to the same height as the fireplace help to balance the room.
The shelves going up to the same height as the fireplace help to balance the room.
Work to children’s heights
In a child’s room, scale down the furniture and furnishings to make them feel comfortable and snug. Children will relate to the furnishings in this room – the low shelves, the small ladder and the cosy enclosed beds.
In a child’s room, scale down the furniture and furnishings to make them feel comfortable and snug. Children will relate to the furnishings in this room – the low shelves, the small ladder and the cosy enclosed beds.
Create an optical illusion
For small rooms with low ceilings, a shallow sofa in a neutral fabric and on legs, will add light and space to a room. To see the floor or rug beneath the furniture creates an illusion of space.
BONUS TIP: Having your curtains ceiling-hung will give the illusion of height.
HAVE YOUR SAY
How often do you rearrange the furniture in your house? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
MORE IDEABOOKS
11 Ways to Lift the Impact of Your Small Living Room
8 Living Room Layouts That Work
Stylish Storage: Show-Stopping Shelving Suggestions
For small rooms with low ceilings, a shallow sofa in a neutral fabric and on legs, will add light and space to a room. To see the floor or rug beneath the furniture creates an illusion of space.
BONUS TIP: Having your curtains ceiling-hung will give the illusion of height.
HAVE YOUR SAY
How often do you rearrange the furniture in your house? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
MORE IDEABOOKS
11 Ways to Lift the Impact of Your Small Living Room
8 Living Room Layouts That Work
Stylish Storage: Show-Stopping Shelving Suggestions
Furniture shape and size should be appropriate to the space. This long and narrow table repeats the architectural lines of the room and floor.