Crafting a well-balanced interior design can be tricky, but it’s important if you want your space to look intentional and cohesive. With a balanced look you’ll feel more at ease, without clutter getting in the way of your home’s overall flow.
Balance in interior design focuses on how the elements within a room can work in harmony. This helps to create focal points and enhance the overall style. Whether it’s your furniture and floors, or small details like accessories, there’s plenty to consider when designing your space with balance in mind.
The great news is that with a few practical tips and some well thought out planning, you can easily create a harmonious design. Let’s take a look.
Balancing colour schemes for a cohesive look
Pops of colour are a great way to add interest to a space, but too much can take over your room. To avoid this, you need to be intentional when choosing a colour scheme.
First, it’s a good idea to choose a dominant colour as a base for your palette. This will help you choose what to add into your space. Next, choose a secondary colour that complements it. Lastly, choose an accent colour that works well with both, but provides a bold pop of colour and interest to your rooms.
Your colour scheme could be anything from neutrals to bright shades, so think about what you like. Keep in mind though, that neutrals are more versatile when it comes to styling.
Now that you’ve chosen your palette, it’s time to add it to your design. A good rule of thumb is the 60-30-10 rule:
- 60% for your dominant colour – think walls, floors, and large furniture pieces
- 30% for your secondary colour – try adding this to your upholstery or larger accessories
- 10% for your accent colour – incorporate this with small items or artworks
By keeping your colour scheme organised like this, you’ll create a harmonious space that feels both balanced and inviting.
Harmonising textures and patterns for visual interest
With the colour scheme decided, now it’s time to choose how you’ll use texture and patterns. Patterns are perfect for adding depth to your space, and texture provides warmth and sets the tone.
For texture, variety is key, so you’ll need a range of surface textures that work well together. Think the textured look flooring designs seen in hybrid floors, paired with fluffy blankets, wooden furniture and velvet curtains.
When it comes to patterns, consider how they’ll work together, but also how they’ll work within your space. Larger patterns tend to work better in larger rooms, with smaller patterns looking better in tighter areas. To avoid visual clutter, balance intricate patterns with larger prints.
Creating spatial balance with furniture and decor
Spacial balance is all about arranging your elements in a way that feels cohesive and harmonious. To do this, you need to look at the room as a whole and think about what works best for the space.
The first thing you’re going to want to do is map out the area. This helps you ensure that you’ve got a clear pathway to all doors and any other areas you need to access frequently. From here, choose one or two main furniture pieces to be your larger elements, complimented by a few smaller items.
Here’s a few things to keep in mind:
- Size isn’t the only thing to take into account. Darker items tend to have more visual weight than those in lighter hues.
- For a formal look, create symmetry with matching lamps for example. For a more casual look use asymmetrical designs.
By ensuring your furniture and decor works in this way for the space, it’ll be both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
Lighting and accessories that balance the look
The lighting that you choose for your space heavily influences the atmosphere, so it can be helpful in achieving balance. To do this, use accent lighting to highlight key elements within your space.
Top Tip: If a corner feels empty, but you don’t have any elements that can fill it nicely, a stylish lamp never goes astray.
When it comes to accessories, these can quickly become clutter if not chosen and placed correctly. As a general rule, be sure to select options that align with your overall aesthetic. Minimalist spaces, for example, benefit from functional accessories that contribute to their clean look. For a more bohemian look, try adding accents in soft tones and plush materials.
Achieving harmony through thoughtful design choices
Creating balance is essential when crafting a harmonious and beautiful space that you can enjoy every day. With this in mind, have fun with these tips and don’t be afraid to experiment. After all, interior design is a great way to add your personality into your home. Explore different combinations of colour, texture, and layouts and soon you’ll have a perfectly balanced home to enjoy.