Symmetry + Balance
Symmetry + Balance
By incorporating principles of balance into your decor, you can bring order, structure and visual appeal to a space.
Through careful use of colour, texture, size, shape and lighting placement, it is possible to craft an aesthetically pleasing space that speaks to one’s individual style and taste. In this post we will explore how careful use of these basic elements can help create spaces full of beauty and comfort — all while creating a sense of Zen-like harmony. Read on as we examine the impact symmetry and balance have on interior design.
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Symmetry + Balance in interior design
Balance and symmetry are two essential elements of interior design that help create aesthetically-pleasing environments. Balance is the visual equilibrium of objects within a space, achieved by placing them equally between each other and maintaining equal weight on either side - for example, putting furniture or decorations on opposite walls of a room or spacing art equally along a wall. Symmetry involves creating a mirror-image of elements such as decor, textures, and colour, often in an even pattern across the space.
The balance of symmetrical shapes and forms creates a sense of order that help achieve an overall pleasing and harmonious appearance in the room. Employing symmetry via decor or furniture placement can lend a feeling of grandeur, consistency, timelessness and strength to the room's design. By working with elements such as lighting, shapes, colours and textures in the interior design, you can create the illusion of symmetry even if none exists. Not only does it add visual interest, but it also helps to make a room feel more organised, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
Balance and symmetry can also help to make a smaller room look larger, giving the illusion of more space than is actually available. When used correctly, balance and symmetry can bring harmony to an interior design scheme and create an inviting atmosphere. Let’s look at each element itself — symmetry + balance.
Symmetry
Symmetry is the perfect way to create a balanced atmosphere in your interior design. By strategically placing similar items such as furniture, accessories, and artwork around a room, you can easily achieve an aesthetically pleasing space. To begin creating symmetry in your home, first identify a focal point. This could be anything from a fireplace mantel to an eye-catching piece of furniture. From there, it's all about finding pieces to fill the room that will support this focal point while drawing the eye outward to the other elements in the space. It is important to keep in mind the size and shape of pieces that you are using as well as their relative placement throughout the space so that everything stays unified and balanced-looking.
Balance
Creating balance in interior design begins with understanding the fundamental principles of symmetry and asymmetry. Symmetrical balance means that a room is divided into two identical halves, either visually or in terms of practical use. Asymmetrical designs on the other hand make use of a range of elements that are not mirror images but which together appear unified and balanced. It is important to remember however that perfect symmetry can quickly become ‘boring’ - this is why it is essential to inject some touches of asymmetry. Lighting, textures, furniture placement and art pieces can all be used to create an interesting composition while still maintaining underlying neutrality. Combining symmetrical elements with slight variations in texture or colour provides dynamic movement and visual interest, allowing you to create beautiful, balanced interior designs.
how to achieve balance and symmetry
Finding balance and symmetry can help to create a sense of tranquility and harmony in your space. Incorporating similar pieces of furniture into a space, using wall art with symmetrical styling, grouping like items together, and maintaining even scale between furniture are all useful tips to help achieve balanced and symmetrical interiors. Mirrors are also a great tool for creating reflective symmetry; try placing a feature mirror opposite artwork or lighting to achieve this effect. Balance can also be achieved by implementing different materials and colour schemes throughout the space - think light/dark, warm/cool or bold/subtle - to provide contrast yet coordination between rooms. Achieving balance and symmetry doesn't have to be time-consuming or difficult, but it can bring big rewards in terms of cohesive interiors.
In a living room, for example, artwork or furniture can be placed symmetrically adjacent to the room's main focal point, such as a fireplace. Try placing two armchairs on opposite sides of a sofa, adding two matching side tables and other complementary pieces to create an inviting seating area that appears balanced and stylish. Hallways, too, benefit from the use of symmetry – place wall sconces at equal distances on both sides of the hallway wall or match symmetrically sized side tables next to the doorways or entrances in your home. Balanced decor can even be employed in small areas like bathrooms, for example, select identical sink vanities and towel racks to give the space an ordered look.
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While symmetry creates a more formal feel, balance plays an important role in achieving visual interest while simultaneously providing a sense of equilibrium to a space. Taking the time to plan and understand the principles of balance and symmetry allows you to create interiors that are sophisticated, stylish, cohesive, and timeless. Masterfully combining balance and symmetry will give you the opportunity to create gorgeous spaces with purposeful placement of furniture and décor that promote comfort as well as delight.
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You Might Also Be Interested In:
>> The Visual Weight of a Room
>> The Principle of Contrast
>> The Principle of Scale + Proportion
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