The calm and inviting atmosphere that an organized indoor space can provide is certainly desirable. However, if you organize too avidly, you may inadvertently create an environment that is stuffy and artificial. Ideally, when planning the layout of a room, you should strive to thoughtfully balance order with personality.
Keep it simple
When designing a space, try not to do too much. The wisest course of action would be to choose one or two anchoring elements, like a specific color palette or furniture style, and let them dominate the area. This will give the space a simple center of gravity without rendering things too plain. To best balance out the stylistic center and periphery, you may want to follow the 70/30 rule: Dedicate 70% of a room to one primary stylistic feature, and reserve the remaining 30% for accents or tastefully placed imperfections.
Above all, don’t fall into the trap of seeking too much symmetry when designing a layout. While some symmetry can be pleasant, too much of it risks imposing a robotic and inorganic air on a space. Some strategically placed imperfections can actually imbue surroundings with life.
Use the environment to your advantage
To make any place look natural and inviting, you must make appropriate use of whatever the environment gives you. Pay attention to the topography of your space so that you can arrange furniture in ways that render movement simple. If movement through the area is hassle-free, the prospect of lounging there will probably also be attractive.
When keeping an area clean, you should try to do so in a way that plays to its inherent strengths. One simple but oft-forgotten way to do this is to employ as much vertical space as you reasonably can. Install wall-mounted hooks, tall shelving units, or, if possible, concealed cabinets to store away items. This will leave tables, desks, and other surfaces free for other purposes.
Contrast is your friend
An aesthetically appealing interplay of opposites can give unforgettable character to a room. Light-colored walls or floors can make a dark-colored rug stand out. Rough-textured items, like woven rugs, wool throws, or raw wood, can draw attention to smooth desks, or vice versa. To offset any artificiality and let an area breathe, place a few potted plants here and there. Of course, to choose the optimal locations for such things, you must remain attuned to your surroundings and maintain a proper sense of proportion.
When arranging an indoor space, the ideal should be to achieve a perfect balance of orderliness and naturalness. For some ideas on how to hit this elusive sweet spot, visit our Instagram page. Then, when you have a clearer idea of what you’d like to see, head over to our Marketplace page to get in touch with a team of local professionals and let them bring your vision to life.
