Balance

Balance in a room relates to the placement of items in the space and their relation to each other. Balance creates a harmonious and relaxing feel. When a room does not have balance it can appear disjointed or be uncomfortable.

There are three common room layouts to follow for achieving a good sense of balance:  symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial.

Symmetrical
Symmetrical balance is placing items of equal weight along a central axis in a room.

For example, placing two love seats facing each other with a coffee table between them.


One thing to note, is that to create symmetrical balance in a room does not mean that the items on each side of the axis have to be mirrored. One side of the axis may have a sofas and the other side may have two chairs. If the sofa and the two chairs have an equal weight, meaning their proportion and scale are similar, a sense of balance can still be achieved.

Asymmetrical
Asymmetrical balance is placing items of different proportion and scale along the axis.

It is difficult to achieve a sense of harmony with this type of layout. When two different items along the access have different weights it is necessary to use accessories such as lamps or sculptures to balance the feel and create a relaxing environment.

Radial
The third type of balance is radial. This layout has items arranged around a central axis such as a dining room table.

Radial balance does not mean the central axis point has to be round. It can be used in a large room to create a serene feel. For example, a sense of balance can be created in a living room by placing a central coffee table with the seating pieces arranged around it.