Seeking Balance in Your Home Decor
In our homes, as in other parts of our lives, we are happier when we live with balance and harmony. Just like the rest of our lives, balance in the rooms of our homes is sometimes hard to create.
For many years, decorators and home owners tried to create this physical balance by having pairs of everything: 2 matching end tables, a matched pair of wing chairs, even sets of twin beds in the master bedroom. This certainly created a balanced room. It also created rooms that were sterile, formal and visually boring. In a formal setting or a Federal or Georgian home, this is still the way things should be to look 'right.' Our ancestors valued this perfect balance so highly that they created false doors in hallways so that both sides matched or doors that looked like windows so that the right and left sides of the back of a house matched perfectly. This can still be seen if you go to visit some of our historic homes. A notable example is the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, Md.
We, however, tend to prefer a more relaxed approach to our homes.
So how do we create a feeling of balance without matched pairs of everything? You can use:
Color
Dark colors have more 'weight' than light colors.
Actual size
Height, depth and width of an object
Mass
A thick bulky looking object has more 'weight' than a fragile, delicate one. Just visualize a blown glass vase and a terracotta pot of the same size.
Number
A group of several like objects in different sizes grouped together creates 'weight.' Think of an assortment of silver candlesticks.
Light
A dark corner has more 'weight' than one filled with light.
If you want to prove this to yourself, gather together a group of assorted objects and use a tabletop/mantel and try out different scenarios. Be sure you have different sizes, colors, textures and shapes. You can put a larger framed picture against one end and a slightly smaller one in front of it. On the other end of your table put a heavy pot. Do the same thing with a matching pot at each end. Try pairing the picture group with an assortment of candles in candlesticks. Each time you create an arrangement, step back and look at it. In fact, if you have a digital camera, take a picture of it. If you do this for a while you will start to get a feel for balance. You can actually give the illusion that the tabletop is tilted slightly by throwing off the visual balance.
The same effect can occur in your room arrangements. If you doubt this, close your eyes and try to 'see' a room in which you felt physically uncomfortable or slightly disoriented even though there was no obvious reason. A room in which the heavy items are all on one side of the room, almost feels as though the floor tilts. Once you have a feel for balance you can start to create a harmonious home.
Stand in the doorway of any room in your house that you feel isn't 'right.' What do you see? Does the burgundy chair stick out like there is a spotlight on it? Does the entertainment center overwhelm the room? Do you have a TV and a fireplace battling for focal point? Do your easy chairs look like they were made for children next to your mammoth sofa? Does your fireplace mantel look like you are setting up for a tag sale? Your room is out of balance.
Move the furniture around and try different arrangements until you have one that works. Unless you have a room that is just for show like a Victorian parlor, you need to be able to use the room comfortably. Once the practical set-up is done, look at the room from different angles. If the room is out of balance use color and accessories, plants and pictures, groups of like objects, light and volume to create an illusion of balance.
Try grouping the accessories on your mantels and tabletops. Balance the entertainment center on one side of the fireplace with a tall plant or group of plants on the other. Note: avoid having the tops of everything at the same height. You might as well draw a line around your room. Repeat the color of the chair in pillows, throws, lampshades or the matting around a group of pictures. You really will be amazed at the difference it makes.
We may all be born craving balance but except for the lucky few, we have to learn to achieve it. There is a myriad of books on the subject and it can help to read them and look at the pictures, but the best way to get a feel for balance is 'hands on.' Experiment with portable objects until you get a feel for what works and then enjoy creating your harmonious home. Indra A Books, author of this and many other lifestyle articles is the owner and founder of ON THE GO 4 U, Personal Shoppers & Concierge Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The company's creed is to provide its clients with the ultimate life management experience. In addition to its shopping and concierge services, ON THE GO 4 U also publishes a monthly e-zine and conducts workshops on wardrobe, entertaining and decorating. For more information about the author and ON THE GO 4 U, please visit http://www.onthego4u.net
Content for this article was provided by Suzanne Copenhaver, Design Consultant to ON THE GO 4 U. Suzanne has years of experience decorating in less than ideal situations and always provides us with tons of insight.
© 2005 Indra Books for ON THE GO 4 U
Related News
Living on a converted farm with extended family on either side is ... - ic Newcastle.co.uk
Dollhouses provide big educational opportunity - San Francisco Chronicle
Dollhouses provide big educational opportunitySan Francisco Chronicle, USA -11 hours agoFor the young interior designer, decorating is the best part. We may live in 21st century America, but a dollhouse gives us the chance to live in times past ... |
Interior Decorating for Your Dollhouse - Corsavoo.com
Interior Decorating for Your DollhouseCorsavoo.com, France -Aug 23, 2008Decorate with simple furnishings in neutral colors. If your dollhouse will be a display item, then you have much more latitude in designing its interior. ... |
Who's That: Interior Decorator Nina Freudenberger is a designing woman - New York Post
US Labor Day Travel Likely to Drop, Continuing Summer Slide - Bloomberg
The many shades of success - Westmount Examiner
Interior Design Examiner - Examiner.com
Examiner.com |
Interior Design ExaminerExaminer.com -Aug 26, 2008Driven by a passion for design, Diane Leone is a Certified Interior Decorator who has produced award-winning interior decorating. ... |
MIXING THE OLD WITH THE NEW - The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com
MIXING THE OLD WITH THE NEWThe Times-Picayune - NOLA.com, LA -3 hours agoINTERVIEW WITH AN EXPERT: If you're a collector, interior decorator Thomas Jayne has some suggestions for you on how to incorporate your treasured items, ... |
Home and Garden Calendar - Indianapolis Star
Home and Garden CalendarIndianapolis Star, United States -Aug 15, 2008Interior decorating: 7 to 8:30 pm Prestwick Country Club, 5197 Fairway Drive, Avon. Presented by Decorating Den. Registration required. Free. ... |
'What can I do to make it better?' - Wilmington Advocate
'What can I do to make it better?'Wilmington Advocate, MA -Aug 20, 2008Q: How did you go from the world of high tech to interior decorating and design? A: During the transition period at Digital, when Intel had bought out the ... |
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Furniture Placement Secrets
The easiest and most inexpensive way to invigorate the design of your living room is to rearrange the furniture items you already own. Furniture placement can be a daunting task, no matter how big or small the room. If you are someone who always figured furniture placement would be better left to professional interior designers, fret no more. These tips will help you embrace the task of balancing your sofa with your coffee table or armchair, and allow you to create peace and harmony amongst all your furniture.
Mission Style Lighting - Its Timeless Beauty Continues
If you ask most people to tell you about Mission Style lighting you are likely to be met with a blank stare and shrugged shoulders. But, if you ask these same people if they have ever heard of the Arts & Crafts Style, you are probably going to see a lot more recognize this term. The truth is, these terms are virtually synonymous.
How to Select an Interior Designer
Selecting an interior designer is the most important decision that you can make before investing a lot in a home decorating project. Assuming you can afford the services of an interior designer, you have many choices of designers available. How do you go about selecting an interior designer? If you have the time to go through an interview process, this is the best way.
The Value of Wedgwood China
If Josiah Wedgwood were alive today, even he would be surprised at the large sums of money changing hands for some of his early work. Still intact, still complete early collections are almost priceless, especially the ones owned by royalty and celebrities. Many have come up for auction at prestigious auction houses around the world and have garnered quite a large amount of interest from well-heeled investors looking for something interesting to spend their money on.
Granite Tile Countertops
The beauty and warmth of granite makes it an ideal material for aesthetic appeal in home design. Granite has been a popular choice of designers for decades. Adding solid granite countertops to a kitchen can be quite costly, with prices starting at $60 a foot installed. Although granite countertops are very popular, solid granite countertops may not be for everyone. A homeowner may not be willing or able to invest in granite, or a home is in an area subject to limitations on resale values. In cases like this, it may be best to consider granite tile countertops as an acceptable alternative to the solid stone installations.
Seeking Balance in Your Home Decor
In our homes, as in other parts of our lives, we are happier when we live with balance and harmony. Just like the rest of our lives, balance in the rooms of our homes is sometimes hard to create.
For many years, decorators and home owners tried to create this physical balance by having pairs of everything: 2 matching end tables, a matched pair of wing chairs, even sets of twin beds in the master bedroom. This certainly created a balanced room. It also created rooms that were sterile, formal and visually boring. In a formal setting or a Federal or Georgian home, this is still the way things should be to look 'right.' Our ancestors valued this perfect balance so highly that they created false doors in hallways so that both sides matched or doors that looked like windows so that the right and left sides of the back of a house matched perfectly. This can still be seen if you go to visit some of our historic homes. A notable example is the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, Md.
We, however, tend to prefer a more relaxed approach to our homes.
So how do we create a feeling of balance without matched pairs of everything? You can use:
Color
Dark colors have more 'weight' than light colors.
Actual size
Height, depth and width of an object
Mass
A thick bulky looking object has more 'weight' than a fragile, delicate one. Just visualize a blown glass vase and a terracotta pot of the same size.
Number
A group of several like objects in different sizes grouped together creates 'weight.' Think of an assortment of silver candlesticks.
Light
A dark corner has more 'weight' than one filled with light.
If you want to prove this to yourself, gather together a group of assorted objects and use a tabletop/mantel and try out different scenarios. Be sure you have different sizes, colors, textures and shapes. You can put a larger framed picture against one end and a slightly smaller one in front of it. On the other end of your table put a heavy pot. Do the same thing with a matching pot at each end. Try pairing the picture group with an assortment of candles in candlesticks. Each time you create an arrangement, step back and look at it. In fact, if you have a digital camera, take a picture of it. If you do this for a while you will start to get a feel for balance. You can actually give the illusion that the tabletop is tilted slightly by throwing off the visual balance.
The same effect can occur in your room arrangements. If you doubt this, close your eyes and try to 'see' a room in which you felt physically uncomfortable or slightly disoriented even though there was no obvious reason. A room in which the heavy items are all on one side of the room, almost feels as though the floor tilts. Once you have a feel for balance you can start to create a harmonious home.
Stand in the doorway of any room in your house that you feel isn't 'right.' What do you see? Does the burgundy chair stick out like there is a spotlight on it? Does the entertainment center overwhelm the room? Do you have a TV and a fireplace battling for focal point? Do your easy chairs look like they were made for children next to your mammoth sofa? Does your fireplace mantel look like you are setting up for a tag sale? Your room is out of balance.
Move the furniture around and try different arrangements until you have one that works. Unless you have a room that is just for show like a Victorian parlor, you need to be able to use the room comfortably. Once the practical set-up is done, look at the room from different angles. If the room is out of balance use color and accessories, plants and pictures, groups of like objects, light and volume to create an illusion of balance.
Try grouping the accessories on your mantels and tabletops. Balance the entertainment center on one side of the fireplace with a tall plant or group of plants on the other. Note: avoid having the tops of everything at the same height. You might as well draw a line around your room. Repeat the color of the chair in pillows, throws, lampshades or the matting around a group of pictures. You really will be amazed at the difference it makes.
We may all be born craving balance but except for the lucky few, we have to learn to achieve it. There is a myriad of books on the subject and it can help to read them and look at the pictures, but the best way to get a feel for balance is 'hands on.' Experiment with portable objects until you get a feel for what works and then enjoy creating your harmonious home.
Black and White Themed Teen Bedroom Decorating Ideas
When we found out we were having twins, our teenage daughter volunteered to move into a smaller bedroom so that the twins could have the bigger one. It was definitely time to come up with a new bedroom theme! We also didn't have much space to work with or a lot of money to spend. So when we moved her into the smaller bedroom, she decided to decorate with a black and white theme.
How to Choose the Right Air Conditioner Filter
The air filter in an air conditioning system keeps the cooling coils and air inside the room clean and free from all pollutants, pet dander, ozone emissions and airborne particles.
A Guide to Duvet Covers
A duvet is a type of bedding, similar to a comforter. Duvets (pronounced do-vey) are very popular in Europe and are catching on in the rest of the world. It is a type of blanket filled with down, wool or synthetic fibers that is used put on top of a fitted sheet, in place of a second sheet and other blankets.
Amish Furniture For the Home
Amish Furniture makes a home warm and welcoming. Hard woods, have invited friendly visits and important family gatherings for years. When you sit on a solid piece of wood furniture, you feel secure, welcome. You can find this quality but you'll have to search for it.
Inuit Stone Sculptures From The Arctic North
When most people think about stone sculptures, it's probably giant pieces of abstract art located outside large buildings or perhaps inside a famous art gallery or museum. Sometimes people think of stone sculptures as the ancient Roman or Greek mythological characters like Apollo, Venus or Zeus. For contemporary fine art, many see stone sculpture only for serious collectors or for the rich and famous to display in their well kept mansions. Most individuals, even avid art fans, rarely think about or are even aware of Inuit stone sculptures from the Canadian Arctic north.
Persian Area Rugs - Tabriz Rugs are a Fine Choice to Enhance Your Room?s Décor
Tabriz rugs are made in the north western part of Iran. The quality in a Tabriz rug is exceptional. The look that a Tabriz rug adds to a room is one of fine quality and although Tabriz rugs can be pricey, they are definitely worth the expense, because of the fine touch their look can add to your room. Also, the quality can last for years and years to come. The rug can also retain its value.
The Value of Antique Grandfather Clocks
These days, everything from ovens to telephones silently mark the minutes in glowing red and green letters, rendering the "tick tock" of the mechanical clock increasingly unnecessary. Digital clocks might be more convenient and accessible, but they will never hold our affection the way a good old-fashioned round-faced clock does.
The Charm of Traditional Shutters
For those wanted to give their home an instant facelift, traditional shutters are a great option. Window shutters add style and grace to a house, transforming it into a warm and welcoming home. From brick homes to stucco, old-fashioned to modern, traditional shutters will transform most any home.
Decorating The Bathroom ? Dress Your Mess For Less
The bathroom may be the hardest room to decorate. Its use and nature make the room decorative uninspiring, and its limited size and necessity of function make it difficult to add very much. Further, making a major change to the room's décor generally requires huge sums of money, when you consider the expense of changing tiled floors or walls, or replacing existing fixtures such as showers and sinks. However, there are a few thrifty things you can do to turn your bathroom from an eyesore into a place of decorative elegance.
Use A Wallpaper Border For A Budget Backsplash
You can add some splash to your kitchen without spending a lot of money by applying a simple wallpaper border for a backsplash. You can get a pretty good bargain on borders in the closeout bin at your wallpaper store or home improvement center, but make sure they have enough of the border to go around the area you want to cover as these bargains are usually close outs and you might not be able to get more!
Turning Your Childs Room into a Mysterious Jungle
(When designing a child's room, you want to create an atmosphere that inspires and stimulates them mentally. The room should be interesting to the child, and should reinforce both rational thinking, and creativity. One way to achieve this goal is with a fun science based theme, which will present a topic in the natural world in an exciting manner.)
10 Home Decorating Ideas To Quickly Update Any Room
Not all home decorating ideas require a heavy investment of time and money. If you're looking for a few affordable home interior decorating ideas to freshen up a room over a weekend, try these ten:
Safely Decorating Your Kids Bedroom
? Wall Decorations:
How to Kickstart a Good Bedroom Design Project?
Dear friends,
|