Have you ever had the feeling that one, or several, of the rooms in your house does not feel quite right, but you have no idea why?  It may be because the room is out of balance.

Maybe you feel the room is tipping to the side because there are many heavy pieces of furniture on that side, or it could be that the artwork or accessories are imbalanced.

If you are experiencing this very common situation and a Seattle interior designer is out of your budget, follow these simple tips to get your room to the right balance equation:

1.Large vs. large.  If you place a heavy piece of furniture on one side of the room, maybe a bookcase for your big collection of books, place something large on the other side too; it could be a cozy sofa with a big art piece on top.  This will balance the room by adding height and visual weight to both sides.

2. Separate.  Split bookcases and entertainment centers to achieve balance.  Place one of the sections in a different place inside the room, next to the sofa or fireplace, to make them look less heavy around the space.  Sectional sofas can be too large for a certain room, making it feel too heavy or cramped, thus, place the sections one in front of the other, as you do with sofas and love seats.

3. Symmetry.  This means both sides of the room are identical.  The symmetry, matching furniture, gives a very formal visual effect and is easy to create.  Two matching chairs on either side of the sofa or matching candlesticks on each side table; may do the trick.

4. Asymmetry.  Yes, opposite to the above one, but incredibly interesting.  The trick here is to put together comparable, but not matching, pieces.  Look for pieces in different sizes, shapes and colors, and work a gorgeous asymmetrical arrangement, like for example, a huge vase on one side in contrast to three smaller candlesticks or an interesting lamp on the other.  These arrangements may need a little more knowledge or feeling to create, because you have to perceive the visual weight of each piece, and they create informal settings, alias, more cozy ones.

5.Think lamps.  These are great balancing pieces.  Place a floor lamp on one side of the sofa and a table lamp on the other; you can even put books under the table lamp to make it look a little higher.  You can also put two different table lamps on each side of the sofa; or even think of placing two different side tables on each side.

6.  Plants.  Place a tall potted tree across from a big bookcase to balance its height; vertical mirrors also work.  To balance both sides of a sofa, place a potted plant on one side and a table lamp on the other.

7.  An eye on art.  To complete furniture that is too short or too narrow for the space, hang one or more art pieces on the wall above it.  Color is a great balancing tool too.  Darker and stronger colors are heavier than lighter ones, so think about this when you are placing art in front of a big piece of furniture like an armoire, bookcase or entertainment center.

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to post it to your site or blog and forward this link to your friends. Have a great day!

Don’t Forget to Subscribe by RSS or Email:

To kill a space, there is nothing better than strict rules, however, there are certain ‘crimes’ in decorating that not even the boldest interior designer in Seattle will dare to commit for the sake of originality or fame.

Crime #1: Neglect Editing
The rule that states that less is more is sacred.  An overcrowded room, full of furniture and trinkets, diminishes its main purpose, which is to showcase you and anyone else meant to enjoy it.  Be brave and get rid of half the furniture and everything else inside your rooms; keep what you truly love, donate what you think is beautiful, discard what doesn’t work, and allow for pure and positive energy to flow around every corner.

Crime #2: Shut Your Ears to the Room
Listen to the empty room before you decorate it.  Feel its proportions, its surfaces, textures and colors; check the quality and the direction of light, and let its function guide the design.  The furniture for a room must move places according to the space it was designated for.

Crime #3: Follow Trends Mindlessly
Forget about copying the minimalistic or Asian style presented by the top interior design magazine.  The best room is the one with a unique identity, where you go in and immediately feel its special energy and balance because it shows your personality; the room is you!

Crime #4: Settle For What’s Common
A room decorated with certain objects or style just because that’s what’s normally done, is a loser.  Your imagination is the limit as to what your special room can become.  Let it surprise you with your unexpected side, allow it to show you how confident and unique you truly are.

Crime #5: Not Make It Fun
Have you heard the advice: don’t take yourself too seriously?  Well, it applies to decorating too.  There is always, and there always should be, room to be ironic, clever and interesting in a funny way.  Good taste should be a personal principle, not an established rule.

Crime #6: Dread Color
Color is the cheapest and fastest way to imprint personality into a room.  A well-selected color completely transforms a space and opens it to the senses from the inside out.  Want to laugh, dream, dance, or rest fully in your home?  Paint it with vibrancy and let bold colors speak about you.  Never fear it!

Crime #7: Being Too Formal
Long are gone the days of formal dinning as in the XVIII century castles.  Today we enjoy using and mixing our best china every day.  At home, you want to actually feel at home; feel free, relaxed and be casual.  You want your guests to feel at ease and special.  You want to live your life at home!

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to post it to your site or blog and forward this link to your friends. Have a great day!

Don’t Forget to Subscribe by RSS or Email:

Everyone wants to enjoy living spaces with a warm personality, where they can relax after a hard day of work or rejoice with family and friends over a homemade meal.

Although the main elements in a room- sofas, tables, chairs, and rugs in living spaces, and bed, side tables, and chests of drawers in the bedroom- are key to its general feel, the details and accents are the ones in charge of setting the atmosphere for a cozy, warm, and inviting feeling.

Many people turn to professional interior designers for help in creating their dreamed home environment, and they end up with beautiful spaces perfect for complementing and enhancing their lifestyles.  However, if hiring an interior designer in Seattle, New York, Mississippi, or any other location is over budget right now, you can still enjoy the luxury of a designed look by implementing these easy and affordable ideas:

1.  Get cool lamps.  Lighting is an easy and classy way to enhance any space. Contrary to overhead lightning, which is harsh, impersonal, cold, and uninviting, indirect light provided by beautiful and unique lamps can really turn your living spaces into calm and relaxing areas while decorating them with gorgeous lampshades reflecting your personal taste and style.

2. Choose unique wall hangings.  Not only art pieces fit your walls.  Look for special wooden objects, like trays or masks, or even fabrics, which convey a sense of style, energize and complement your personality.  Any object can work, just be creative and follow your instinct.

3.  Bring the sea into your house.  Shells, coral, and starfish always look good and give a sense of elegance to a space.  They conveys a link to nature and love for life, which are a positive signature in decoration.

4.  Get an unusual chair.  It will be a focal point of interest and, the more different and contrasting, the better!  If not a chair, it can be any object which may dominate the room and show off your character, portraying you as an interesting and unique individual.

5.  Frame notes.  Those notes your friends and family have given you, and you do not want to throw away, but have no idea where to put, frame them and show them off.  Those are powerful messages, guiding your energy and reminding you of what’s important.  Your spaces will immediately be filled with caring vibes from the people who wrote them, and these can be felt and lived.

6.  Books and books.  Nothing says cozy and interesting as books.  Besides intensifying any space’s appearance, books convey knowledge, intelligence, and balance.  Any welcoming atmosphere must contain books, these reveal yourself to your guests, showing them your interests.

7. Make it personal.  No matter how many elements you put into a room, it will never feel complete unless you include yourself in it.  Personalize your spaces with special objects from vacation trips, flea market finds, or any object that relates personally to you.  The idea is that anyone who visits you goes away knowing you a little better because of a unique element they saw on a table, decorating a sofa,or holding a picture.