Have you ever walked into a room and something felt “off?” Without proper balance a room will appear lopsided and you may feel uncomfortable in the space. Visual balance is key to creating a space worth spending time in.
For example, consider a room where all the furniture is pushed up against one wall and the adjacent wall is empty or has a TV simply hung on the wall. We, as designers, see this often. It’s not uncommon to design a room around the television. The trick to create a cozy space that revolves around the TV can be summed up in one word: balance.
There are 3 types of balance in interior design; symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial.
Symmetrical balance appears when objects are mirrored or repeated. The sameness creates a feeling of comfort and unity. It often creates a more formal atmosphere. Symmetry can be achieved through furniture arrangement, lighting, accessories, and millwork. Below are excellent examples of symmetrical balance.
Symmetrical balance- found on pinterest
An example of symmetrical balance on an entryway table. Image found on Pinterest.
Asymmetrical balance creates energy and visual interest by using objects that are different but perceived to have similar visual weight. This is a little more challenging to achieve. Asymmetrical balance is best achieved by using an odd number of items. In a collage wall, it’s often more interesting to have 3, 5, or 7 items and to vary the items in shape and size. Below are examples of asymmetrical balance. Notice how the 2 chairs balance the sofa and the visual weight of the lamps balance each other while adding height to the room.
The chairs across from the sofa create asymmetrical balance and the items on the mantel are asymmetrical. Image found on pinterest.
Asymmetrical balance on a mantle- image found on pinterest.
The last design principle for balance is radial balance. In a nutshell, radial balance is the art of designing around a central point. A round dining table and chairs is the most common use of radial balance. Another great example is a conversation area using 4 chairs and a table or ottoman to anchor the center. Below are fantastic examples.
Radial balance. At the Sauder Furniture Design Studio
Radial balance found on Pinterest. Notice the symmetrical balance, too?
So let’s take the room below and solve a balance conundrum. The heavy items are lined against one wall while the items that have less visual weight are adjacent. How can we balance this room?
Found on Pinterest
There are many options but let’s focus on one. Using the below floor plan will allow the homeowner to keep both sofas. It would be wise to invest in matching or coordinating slipcovers to quickly update the sofas. Remove one of the TV’s and position it against the wall across from the sliding glass door. Be sure to invest in window treatments or shades to allow for optimal TV viewing. This arrangement allows for both TV viewing and a great conversation area.
Floor plan produced by a Sauder Furniture designer
Do you have a room that you are struggling with? Whether symmetricalasymmetrical, or radial, balance plays a major part in a well-designed room. A designer can save you time and money to update your space with a complete overhaul or spruce it up with a more cohesive arrangement and appropriate accessories.
Our next post will focus on scale and proportion. Follow us to stay up to date with our blog and to learn the importance of hiring an interior designer.
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