Playing with proportions in interior design can completely transform the feel and functionality of a space. The relative sizes of furniture, accessories, and architectural details can dramatically impact how a room looks and functions. Thoughtfully using oversized or petite elements is a clever way to add visual interest and bring new energy to your rooms.
Introduction
Proportion refers to the relationship between elements in terms of their relative sizes. In interior design, we think about proportion in a room vertically, horizontally, and in terms of individual pieces like furniture or decorative accents. When the proportions feel balanced, a space will feel cohesive. When they are purposefully disproportionate, they can enliven a space.
Thoughtfully playing with proportions allows designers to create spaces that are sensational, functional, and full of flair. Oversized and small-scale elements can change up the perspective in a room and create a bold, energetic environment. Using proportion effectively gives designers an powerful tool to create dramatic, livable spaces.
Ways to Play with Proportion
Oversized Furniture
One of the most popular ways to play with proportion is to incorporate oversized furniture. This is an easy way to make a bold statement and create an eye-catching focal point. Oversized couches, chairs, beds, and other statement pieces make rooms feel grand and full of personality.
Make sure oversized pieces have enough breathing room around them and that the space can functionally accommodate them. An oversized sectional, for example, can define a living room seating area without overwhelming the whole space. Oversized furniture works best in large, open floor plans.
Mix Scales
Juxtaposing furniture and accessories of varying sizes creates an eclectic, collected look. Try pairing a dainty side table with a hulking lounge chair, or mix small chairs with a large dining table. Using pieces of different scales together adds visual interest and keeps spaces from feeling monotonous.
When mixing scales, find balance by repeating design elements in different sizes. For example, if using oversized art, integrate smaller artwork throughout as well. Keeping some continuity between the scales helps the room look cohesive. Mix textures and colors as well for maximum dynamism.
Petite Accents
Sprinkling small accessories and details throughout a room is an easy way to layer in visual intrigue. Miniature furnishings like side tables, ottomans and chairs are chic and take up less real estate. Petite accents like vases, dishes, and decorative objects also punch up open spaces in between larger furnishings.
Group several tiny accents together on a console or bookcase to create mini vignettes. Or place them sporadically throughout the room so there’s always something small and intricate to discover. Keep the petite accents visible – don’t let them get buried under decor.
Vary Ceiling Heights
Changing up ceiling heights and planes is an architectural way to play with proportion. Sunken seating areas, coffered ceilings, soaring two-story rooms, and sloped ceilings all change the perspective of a space. This makes rooms feel grander and adds unexpected shapes and volumes.
In existing spaces, you can customize ceiling heights by adding a suspended or dropped ceiling over an area like a dining nook. Or draw the eye up by adding a tall, oversized piece like a floor lamp or shelving unit. Moldings and beams also emphasize different ceiling planes.
Oversized Artwork
Nothing makes a statement quite like an oversized piece of artwork. Oversized paintings, prints, photographs, and mixed media pieces immediately become bold focal points in a space. Their large scale commands attention on even the biggest walls.
When selecting oversized artwork, make sure to choose pieces that have visual impact from a distance. Large pieces should have bold colors, thick lines, and compelling compositions that read well from across a room. Also make sure oversized art has proper alignment with surrounding furnishings.
Exaggerated Details
Enlarging architectural details and decors takes them to new, super-sized proportions. Try specifying enlarged lighting fixtures, moldings, floor tiles, pendant lights, and hardware. For example, oversized light fixtures instantly become sculptural design elements.
Exaggerated details lend drama and visual richness to any interior. When scaling up elements like tiles or crown molding, make sure they align pleasingly with the room’s existing proportions. The goal is to amplify, not overwhelm, the space.
Tips for Using Proportion Effectively
- Scale up slowly – start by introducing one or two oversized pieces rather than going overboard.
- Maintain clearance – make sure there’s enough spatial allowance around enlarged elements.
- Repeat scales – integrate some continuity between pieces of different sizes.
- Consider functionality – will the space be usable with exaggerated proportions?
- Align elements – place items in consideration of surrounding architecture.
- Ground with neutral hues – balance bold scales with subdued colors and textures.
- Light thoughtfully – illumination can emphasize dramatic proportions.
Proportion Takeaways
Playing creatively with proportion in interior design allows you to take rooms from predictable to provocative. Oversized furnishings make a substantial impact. Mixing scales creates livable eclecticism. Petite accents and details add spirit. Architectural changes affect perspective. Use proportion purposefully, and you can craft interiors full of life and character.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proportion in Interior Design
What are some examples of oversized furniture?
Some examples of oversized furniture include extra-large sectionals, giant floor lamps, big bulky armchairs, outsized armoires, and king-sized headboards. Anything exaggerated in scale that becomes a focal point.
How do you mix small and large pieces harmoniously?
When combining small and large pieces, repeat design elements like color, texture, and shapes in the different scales. Arrange seating groups with a mix of larger and smaller pieces. Layer tiny accessories in between substantial items. The continuity helps blend the scales.
Should all furniture be to scale in a room?
Not necessarily. Many interior designers intentionally blend disproportionate furnishing scales to create eclectic, layered interiors. The mix of sizes adds interest. Just make sure to maintain balance with larger anchoring pieces.
What are examples of exaggerated architectural details?
Some examples of exaggerated architectural details include oversized pendant lights, huge floor tile patterns, super-sized wainscoting or crown molding, enormous fireplace mantels, big built-in banquettes, and dramatic two-story windows or interior arches.
How do you use proportion to make a room feel larger?
To make a room feel larger with proportion, use furnishings with a lightweight, open appearance to increase the sense of space. Minimize visual clutter. Use small-scale patterns. Raise ceilings with molding and lighting techniques. Use mirrored accents to expand perspectives.
What common mistakes do people make with proportion?
Some common proportion mistakes include: choosing one very large piece that overwhelms, going overboard with tiny accents so a room feels cluttered, not providing enough clearance around exaggerated elements, and improperly aligning scaled-up architectural details.
Conclusion
Proportion is an essential and powerful tool in a designer’s toolkit. Thoughtfully playing with the relative scales of furnishings, accents, and architectural details allows interior designers to create sensational spaces full of energy. Oversized elements make a bold impact. Petite accents add flair. Mixing scales keeps rooms feeling fresh, layered, and livable. With the right proportions, interiors go from bland to grand. Experiment with proportion, be adventurous, and bring new vitality to your unique living spaces.