Design Basics Series: Balance

Example of balanced interior

Interior spaces contain various elements, each with its own visual weight determined by shape, colour, size and texture. Certain characteristics enhance or increase the visual weight of an element, and attract attention to it:

• irregular or contrasting shapes
• bright colours
• contrasting textures
• large dimensions and unusual proportions
• elaborate details.

If you want to design a successful interior, you need to balance  all the different elements contained in it. Balance is a design principle that deals with equilibrium, so to achieve balance you need  to equally distribute visual weight in the space. Since interiors are three-dimensional, you should think of visual balance in three dimensions.

There are three kinds of balance:

• symmetrical
• asymmetrical
• radial.

Symmetrical balance

Symmetrical balance

You obtain symmetrical balance when you arrange identical elements in the same position on either side of an imaginary central axis – in other words, you divide the space in two, and arrange objects in the same way on each side, so that they are a mirror image of each other.

Very easy to achieve and understand, symmetrical balance conveys feelings of calm, security, formality and stability, and it’s a simple yet powerful way to achieve visual order.

Symmetry extended to the whole interior is too much, though, and gives it a conventional, boring look. You’re better off creating local symmetrical groupings within the room: this way, you simplify and organise the composition without making it look too formal.

Local grouping of furniture in symmetrical balance

Asymmetrical balance

Asymmetrical balance

Asymmetrical balance brings into equilibrium elements that have the same visual weight, but are different in shape, size, colour and texture – they’re equivalent, but not identical.

If you want to achieve asymmetrical balance, you need to take into consideration the visual weight of each element and use the principle of leverage in their arrangement.

To do this, you counterbalance elements that have a great visual weight and attract the attention – bright colours, dark shapes, heavy textures, unusual shapes – with visually lighter elements. You can either use lighter elements in a larger size, or place the lighter elements at a greater distance from the composition.

Although more difficult to attain, asymmetrical balance is dynamic, informal and visually active; it can express movement, change and spontaneity, and is certainly more interesting than symmetrical balance.

Asymmetrical balance - round shapes and bright colours balanced by square & rectangular shape in light colours.

Radial balance

Radial balance

In radial balance, you arrange elements around a centre point. The elements can face inwards towards the centre, or outwards from the centre. An example of radial balance is a round dining table with chairs around it, or a spiral staircase. When a composition is arranged in radial balance, the central element becomes the focal point of the composition. Radial balance can provide interesting arrangements in  a room.

Symmetrical balance on the wall, and radial balance around the dining table.

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In the next post of the Design Basics series I’ll talk about harmony and how it can be achieved in a room. If you liked this article, please leave a comment, and share the link with others. To receive your free updates and make sure you don’t miss any post, subscribe to Positively Beauty here.

Photo Credit: 1 – Skona Hem; 2, 4, 6 – Cristina Colli; 3, 7 – Elle Decor; 5 – Bolig Magasinet.

Tagged as: design basics, interior design