My husband and I live in a 1950 ranch-style home a few miles west of Madison, Wisconsin. When I'm not working, I like to do projects around my house, get out in my solo canoe or go camping, read design and psychology blogs and work on mixed media art.
My husband and I live in a 1950 ranch-style home a few miles west of Madison,... More »
By default, the use of squared angles and straight lines tend to be naturals when it comes to interior design. Angled edges exist readily in both design and decor because, frankly, straight lines are easy to work with.
But when we bend those lines and shed the angles, we form a less common but much more interesting loop shape we generally refer to as a circle. Like your most eccentric friend, circles add a much-appreciated vibe to the room and help soften harsh corners.
Take a look at 13 photos that demonstrate this effect, and I'm hopeful that you'll be able to take something away from this ideabook to use in your own home. Give it a glance and see what you think.
This giant crown of lights is the star of this living room and makes quite an impact. My guess is that the fixture was custom built, but it looks easy enough to replicate if you know somebody who works with metal and lighting.
A large round mirror slung against the wall pulls your attention across the glossy floor and into the next room. If you're not into resting objects on the floor, this would look just as great hung up on the wall.
Giving the illusion of a passageway into the next room, this huge circle is actually a large mirror hung low on the wall. Something like this would be fun to try if you already have a large mirror that you want to make-over. Jigsaw, plywood, paint and adhesive and you're good to go!
What appears to be an unembellished hoop of wood standing above the fireplace boasts both confidence and simplicity. And, of course, the circle print hiding behind the O is a nice touch as well.
Elegant pools of blue soften a line-heavy patio giving it a soothing, cool vibe. Using round shapes whenever a particular form allows can assist in creating a space that feels grounded and well balanced.
One of my favorite DIY projects featured on Houzz is this simple yet boldly patterned wall. Much cheaper than wallpaper, these circles add visual dimension and liveliness, all thanks to a little paint and a cardboard pizza box!
A super-sized dot on the wall is a nice deviation from the commonly used rectangular frame. If you're thinking about adding something similar to your own home, I say the bigger the better.
Unexpected features such as an underground light like this one add charm and playfulness to a home. The grid pattern within the circle helps tone the glow down a bit and adds visual interest.
Waking to a large porthole-inspired window each morning would be like stepping into a dream, and the ever changing seasons would make for a kaleidoscopic view. Pure bliss, really.
These bold radial tile patterns above the stove are bright and youthful. What I mean is that I would probably have bullseye Nerf gun contests with my husband when the stove isn't in use. Don't knock it until you try it, people.
The lined white circles floating on the glass may be etched, but in this case it's kind of hard to tell. But you can most likely get a similar effect with a few minutes and a paint marker. It's worth a shot-- this looks really cool!
By now I'm convinced that I need a giant hole punch like this in my own house. It appears that this particular loop tunnels in some much welcomed natural light to an otherwise dimly-lit room.
And now for a few product suggestions, all pertaining to circles. A gorgeous shelf like this makes quite a statement while still allowing the wall color behind to peak through. I generally find small knickknacks to seem out of place and many times they can make a room feel cluttered, but the planks within this circle make a great home for small items.
This round collage of tiny mirrors would be a fun way to add reflection to a wall that you don't want to hang a common mirror on. Sometimes everyday mirrors offer too much reflection, but this one seems just right.
tpelz while modern, punchy geometric patterns have their place, they quickly become cold and dull. it would have been nice to see more organic, softer versions of the circle.
Susan Brennan I love circles too, I have this lovely painting that looked great in my lounge room. The colours are all wrong for my new apartment, but I have listed it on ebay now for someone else to appreciate.