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Posts Tagged ‘informal balance’

Making Informal Balance (Asymmetry) Work

Friday, March 23rd, 2018

Fine Furniture Design’s Cachet Collection: Notice the three seats in this living room. Two of them come in the same neutral hues while the third one, the couch on the left comes in a darker color.

Did you notice how interior design trends get hotter and more chic each year? With more and more interesting design elements being added to the fundamentals, sometimes one would think what happened to the basics? Is there something wrong with just relying on the basics or do these elements still work? Today, let’s look at informal balance also known as asymmetry.

Why Does Asymmetry Matter?

Asymmetry, simply put, is a kind of balance. Generally, as homeowners and designers think of balance as a design concept, they just stick with symmetry or perfect balance. This is like making use of mirror images in your home. This is, of course, always a wonderful option, in fact, you could never go wrong with it but if you want to stand out, this may not always be the one that would take you to that road to uniqueness.

If symmetry is all about creating a mirror image and making it balance the other half of the space, then asymmetry is all about the repetition of other elements such as colors, forms, and lines. You won’t see any splitting-into-halves with the second type. This is like setting up a living room with a feature couch and an end table plus a floor lamp.

Informal Balance Equals Visual Interest

Now that both types of balance have been defined, it’s time to take a closer look at informal balance. Asymmetry is commonly used because it adds visual interest. After all, compared to symmetrical designs, it is not common. Repetition does tend to look monotonous over time so having achieved an asymmetrical look adds to the enigma of a space.

There is a psychological aspect to asymmetry. Our brains normally process information that is repetitive or are in pattern. The mirroring effect in symmetrical homes makes it a lot easier for humans to figure out what the function and style of a room are.

If, however, the design is asymmetrical, it can take minutes for the brain to absorb what is really being depicted. The design is not obvious so the brain works harder in figuring out what is being shown to it. Since the brain tends to work hard with this kind of balance, it defines the space to be more interesting.

An asymmetrical element can also be found in a symmetrical surrounding. An example of this is the fireplace that’s right in the middle of a living room with the same number of chairs and a monochromatic color palette. But notice where your eye goes to the moment you enter the room.

There’s your answer.

Informal Balance Is More Casual

You have probably seen hundreds of mirror image designs in your entire life. It is likely that the stately dining rooms that you’ve seen online or in magazines show long dining tables with two rows of chairs that all look alike. The rigidity of the duplication in such a style is symmetrical and, therefore, more formal.

In contrast, the asymmetrical style isn’t absolute. It does not try hard to be perfect. In fact, there is a huge allowance in the differences in each furniture piece’s arrangement. This is what makes the space appear more casual. The so-called lived-in appeal is apparent in every asymmetrically-designed space.

Mastering Informal Balance

The last step is to learn how to pull off this kind of design. There aren’t any hard-and-fast rules but there are a few tips that most designers agree with.

  • A huge asymmetrical element is almost always the focal point in a room. ‘Remember the fireplace in the living room? Build the rest of the theme around this one feature.
  • Informal balance can either be huge or small. At times, even a small desk chair angled correctly can be the focal piece.
  • Always use odd numbers.
  • Use similar lines, colors, and shapes.
  • Always trust your perception.

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Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Making Informal Balance (Asymmetry) Work

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