Having a room that is balanced is conducisive to the well being of all those who enter. Have you ever noticed how in most homes there is a room that most people just naturally gravitate towards? This room often is the most comfortable and inviting space. Here are some things to consider when you balance a room to create a feeling that will draw you in.
Balance with Textures - Rooms usually have several different textures taking place. Whether it is the smoothness of perhaps a leather arm chair, or a lamp base, or the rough texture of carved wooden accents in the furniture or decor. Having these textures evenly distributed in the room with no one dominating entirely over the other is ideal. Large smooth textures from a leather bound sofa can be balanced out by a large Sisal rug on the floor, or a wall hanging with a lot of texture. Always look around your room and identify the different smooth and rough textures. Are they balanced with opposite textures? If not add something, or reduce something. It really makes a difference.
Balancing with Colors - Strong colors are visually weighty in a room. To balance them you must have neutrals to combat their impact. Having too much of any one color in a room can be either too stimulating or too boring. Again this is where balance comes into play. Perhaps the primary color of a room is neutral. Strong darks, or strong brights can balance out the neutral and give it a boost. This can be in the form of dark wooded furniture, or individual art pieces. It doesn’t always have to mean paint color. Take time to look at your room to see if the colors are balanced. Too much of either is not good.
Balancing with Furniture - Room balance is about textures, colors and also furniture. Having furniture that is proportional to the room and in relation to the other furnishings is extremely important. Failing to keep the pieces in scale can create negative closed in feelings if the furniture is too big, or too open and sparse if the furniture is too small. Always keep scale in consideration when buying or arranging furniture. Remember even a not so big piece of furniture can have a visual weight that makes it appear larger if it is in a bold color, either very light or very dark.
