Balanced Decorating
By Lauri Ward
Author of Home
Therapy : Fast, Easy, Affordable Makeovers
Think about it. Have you ever worn a sandal on
one foot and a boot on the other? No? Then have
you tried wearing a black leather glove on one hand
with a red wool mitten on the other? Okay, probably
not. Since our bodies have lots of pairs we tend
to feel most comfortable when we wear matching pieces
of clothing or accessories. Doing that gives our
physical appearance the symmetry to which we all
innately gravitate. The same concept applies to
our homes. Every room looks better and feels more
balanced if it is decorated with matching pairs.
One of the most common complaints I hear from my
clients is, “My home needs help. Nothing feels pulled
together!" The reason is simple: Most people
aren't aware of the importance of balance when it
comes to interior decorating. They may obsess about
finding the perfect paint, the furniture style that
truly represents their personality, or the fabric
that will wear best on their sofas and chairs. And
yet, it never occurs to them that adding pairs to
their house or apartment will make the space feel
less chaotic.
And it is not just my clients who are seeking more
tranquility. All across the country the trend toward
creating a more Zen-like environment has been gaining
momentum over the course of the last decade. People
are paring down their possessions in an attempt
to create a more relaxing environment. They want
to be able to roll out their yoga mat and stretch,
and then sit down comfortably to meditate without
being distracted. They want to be mindful of their
breathing, not the decorating dilemmas that make
them uncomfortable in their own home.
If you think your rooms are not as good-looking
as you would like but you haven’t been able to figure
out what is wrong with them, chances are your place
is off-balance. Fortunately, there are a number
of ways you can fix this common mistake without
spending money.
Start by reuniting any pairs you have separated.
Just remember: couples belong together. If you have
separated pairs of any kind -- for example, putting
one in the living room and the other in the bedroom
-- get them back together in the room where they
will look their best and be most functional. And
don’t be afraid that if you add lots of pairs, your
room will be boring. I have used up to twenty pairs
in a very large room and they looked fabulous. Just
remember "Imelda's Rule:" you can never
have too many pairs. (And, no, displaying lots of
shoes doesn’t count!)
If, for example, you have one standing metal lamp
next to the sofa in your living room and its mate
is in the den, bring the pair of lamps together
and place them at either end of your sofa. Or, if
you have a pair of table lamps, that have been separated,
display them on matching end tables. Doing that
will automatically make your room look and feel
more balanced, will improve the general lighting,
and will provide an additional place for someone
to sit and read comfortably.
Keep in mind that any pair, no matter what kind
it is, will help balance a room. If you don’t happen
to have any to work with, you can sometimes create
a pair. For example, if you have two different brass
lamps and you want them to look like a pair, simply
add new, matching shades. The fresh shades will
fool the eye into thinking they are a pair. And
if one lamp is a bit shorter than the other just
place a few large art books underneath the shorter
one until the tops of both lamps are level with
each other. Voilà, you have a pair!
Some other ways to add pairs: Flank a sofa with
a pair of chairs to create a balanced and intimate
U-shaped conversation area or place the chairs side
by side across from the sofa to provide an easy,
face-to-face place to chat. Display a pair of urns
or a pair of vases on top of a fireplace mantle
or add balance with a pair of prints, framed identically
and hung side by side. Pairs of figurines, candlesticks,
bookends -- you probably have lots of pairs around
your house that you can use to add balance to your
rooms.
Remember Noah who was told by a higher authority
to get two of every kind of animal for his ark?
Well, take it from the top: Bring the pairs you
already have together and you will quickly and easily
make your house or apartment feel balanced and more
restful without having to buy new furnishings.
Copyright © 2005 Lauri Ward
Author:
Lauri Ward, the author of Home
Therapy : Fast, Easy, Affordable Makeovers
(September 22, 2005; Putnam; $34.95US/$49.00CAN;
0-399-15296-2), Use
What You Have (R) Decorating : Transform Your Home
in One Hour With Ten Simple Design Principles --
Using the Space You Have, the Things You Like, the
Budget You Choose
and Trade
Secrets From Use What You Have (R) Decorating,
is the founder of Use What You Have®, Inc.,
and the Interior Refiners Network®. She has
appeared frequently on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Today,
and ABC Evening News, among other programs, and
on HGTV, the Discovery Channel, and Fox television.
Ward, who has been featured in The New York Times,
House Beautiful, Elle, Inspired House, and other
magazines and newspapers, lives in New York City
and Boca Raton, Florida.
Visit her website at www.redecorate.com
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