| Imagine a boat where all of the weight was shifted | | | | Upholstered chairs, whether club style or slipper style, |
| to one side. What would happen to the balance of | | | | provide better visual balance to a sofa than a pair of |
| that boat? | | | | wooden chairs. |
| Balance in a room is the same thing. It's affected by | | | | But make sure that the height of the chairs is no |
| two things: | | | | more than 5 inches taller or shorter than the height |
| - The size of the furniture | | | | of the back of the couch/loveseat. |
| - The placement of the furnitureIf most of the | | | | 3. Add Tables: The next items to add to the seating |
| furniture is either very tall, very short, top heavy or | | | | arrangement are the end tables and cocktail table. |
| bottom heavy, the room will be off-balance vertically. | | | | End tables should be no more than 2 ½ to 3 inches |
| If most of the big (tall and/or wide) furniture is on | | | | higher or lower than the arms of the sofa or chairs |
| one side of the room, the room will be off-balance | | | | to provide balance. |
| horizontally. | | | | Also, if the couch has its legs exposed rather than |
| While balance in a room is also determined by and | | | | being skirted, then this visual lightness can be |
| affected by the color and style of the furniture, as | | | | balanced by an end table with small legs or one with |
| well as the use of and color and style of art and | | | | no legs, such as a cube, a small chest with drawers |
| decorative accessories, we will limit this discussion to | | | | or an end table with shelves. |
| furniture size and placement in a living room. | | | | A cocktail table should take up 2/3 to ¾ the width |
| 1. Start with the big pieces first. By this we mean | | | | of the couch. A sofa table behind the couch is |
| sofas and loveseats. Assuming you already have a | | | | optional, however it too should not exceed 2/3 to |
| sofa and/or loveseats, place these first in the room, | | | | ¾ of the width of the couch nor be higher than |
| near to the focal point so as to emphasize it and not | | | | the back of the couch. |
| block it. A focal point can be a fireplace, an | | | | 4. Tall bookcases, armoires, entertainment centers, |
| entertainment center, or a window with a view. | | | | wall units. These are the items that can have a |
| If you don't already have one, then a sofa and/or | | | | dramatic impact on the balance of the room, and |
| loveseat is the first item(s) to purchase since it will | | | | because of their height and mass, must be balanced |
| determine the style, color, and size of all of the other | | | | out. |
| pieces in the room. Also, take measurements of the | | | | For example, an armoire or single large bookcase, |
| sofa in case you intend on purchasing chairs, rugs, | | | | both of which are taller than they are wide, can be |
| artwork and cocktail, end and sofa tables. | | | | balanced out if there is a fireplace with a piece of art |
| You should also be aware that the style of the sofa | | | | or a mirror hung over the mantle on the opposite |
| loveseat will determine its visual weight. For example, | | | | side of the room. |
| a sleek modern sofa with straight lines, legs instead | | | | A tall and wide entertainment center or a bank of |
| of a skirt, and straight arms, will have less weight | | | | bookshelves can be balanced out on the other side |
| than a sofa with a curved back, rolled arms and a | | | | of the room by adding some vertical and horizontal |
| skirt along the bottom. | | | | weight to either side of the fireplace. This can be |
| 2. Add Chairs. The simplest way to achieve balance is | | | | accomplished by adding a chest and artwork hung |
| to add two matching or color-complementary chairs | | | | over it to both sides of the fireplace. |
| to the sofa or loveseat seating arrangement. | | | | |