Stepping Up the Scale
Overgrown doesn't have to mean overblown when you take accessories, artwork and furniture up a notch or two
I am a freelance editorial and wedding photographer and Houzz contributor based out of Hershey, PA. Come visit me at 'A Nest for All Seasons' where I write about design, photography and modern garden living!
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Traditional design theory teaches us to create balance and use lines and shapes to create pleasing harmonies. And also to adjust the scale of the pieces we choose to fit the space perfectly. While these are all sound concepts, there are certainly times when it's appropriate to break the rules.
Playing with the scale of accessories, furniture and materials can give your space a jolt of personality. Try amping up the volume of your chandeliers, going grand with outdoor furniture and boosting the impact of your artwork by scaling up the size.
Playing with the scale of accessories, furniture and materials can give your space a jolt of personality. Try amping up the volume of your chandeliers, going grand with outdoor furniture and boosting the impact of your artwork by scaling up the size.
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In a more "appropriate" size, this standing lamp would still be striking and beautiful, but as an oversize statement piece, it truly sings. The lamp is clearly the star of this room and serves as a piece of art as well as a functional source of light.
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Looking for hanging fixtures? Try simply using a classic lampshade, sized up for impact, for your island pendants. The neutral shade and linen material keep them humble.
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Play with scale to make an entrance. This walkway could have been crafted with a traditional poured concrete walk or identical circular pavers. Instead, the designer went huge with the scale of the circles, creating a functional walkway that serves as a conversation piece.
| The great outdoors is the perfect place to play with scale. A giant firepit really grounds the space and gives the seating arrangement much more impact. |
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Artwork is another feature that always benefits from a larger scale. Large architectural pieces give this tall feature wall a striking presence. If you don't have large pieces of art, try grouping two or more for a gallery wall.
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| The unexpected often works. In this vignette, the baskets are piled too high and smooshed up against the ceiling. There is too much white space on either side, and the baskets are all wrong. Or are they? The very "wrongness" creates a feeling of overabundance and extends the height of the furniture. The collective piece then balances the floor-length windows on either side. What might at first seem wrong is very, very right. |
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| So the next time you are purchasing furniture, artwork, lighting or accessories, consider playing with the scale of the pieces. Try oversize shades or a nontraditional-size couch. Why not hang supersize canvases of your children's artwork or place giant stepping stones leading to your front door? Be brave! More: Remake a Room With One Big Piece Architect's Toolbox: Scale and Proportion |
Ideabook updated on Feb. 19, 2012.
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