Harmony in Design
Harmony in home design means that each element in the space is connected to the larger whole, forming a cohesive look. It's achieved through balance and the repetition of design elements such as color, form, line, shape, space, and texture to create a smooth flow throughout the entire space.
For instance, groupings and vignettes placed on floating shelves, coffee tables, and individual spaces can blend seamlessly into the rest of the room, creating a unified feel. Just like the Police’s album title, “Synchronicity,†homes too can achieve this kind of perfect alignment.
Balance
Just as a well-balanced life is essential, so is balance in home design. Visual harmony is achieved through balance, which involves an even distribution of design elements such as weight and color in a room. A room with heavy items or excessive color on one side and little or none on the other will feel unbalanced.
To fix this, symmetry can be used by mirroring similar colors, shapes, and sizes in decor items. In traditional design, two matching sofas facing each other are a classic example. In modern settings, side chairs of the same size and color on either side of a rug can also create a balanced look. For a symmetrical arrangement, consider placing two bookends on a shelf or two tall objects of similar weight on a credenza or floating shelves.
Negative Space
Negative space, also known as empty or white space, refers to the amount of space around each object in a design composition. When decorative items are too close together, they can appear cluttered and chaotic. Conversely, too much empty space can make a room feel bare and uninviting.
How To Create Harmony With Floating Shelves
Beyond being a stylish storage solution, floating shelves are excellent for pulling a space together and creating harmony (and peace of mind) in a room. This article will focus on the rooms where we spend the most time: the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom.
Fill In The Gaps on an Empty Wall
In the Kitchen:
A blank wall on one side of the kitchen looks empty and bare. The weight of the room feels off-balance with too many items on one side and nothing on the other. An easy fix is to install a few floating shelves along the length of the gap on the empty wall. Choose a shelf wood tone that matches the lower cabinets and the legs of the barstools around an island to create harmony with your kitchen’s design.
In the Living Room:
If you have a fireplace without a mantel, you can create one using a long floating shelf. Fill it with seasonal decorations such as ornaments and stockings during the holidays, and switch them out for different looks in other seasons. If you lack a home office but have an alcove off the living room that's not being used, consider converting it into one. Mount a few shelves above a desk, use a divider screen for privacy, and you're all set.
In the Bedroom:
Whether it's a primary bedroom or a child's room, you can create harmony by mounting wall shelves on a blank wall that needs some attention. Choose a wood tone like white oak that matches a white oak headboard or a color that complements the wall paint in your child's room. You can also pick a color that matches the furniture or a craft table.
In the Bathroom:
If you have a wall in a corner or by the closet in your bathroom that looks empty compared to the other walls, give it some personality with a wall of plants. A short wall is ideal for displaying plants that don’t need direct light. Another option is a faux plant wall. Some silk plants look very real. For an asymmetrical or zigzagged look, vary your shelf lengths.
Open Up a Crowded Wall
In the Kitchen:
If you have wall-to-wall kitchen cabinets, they offer good storage but may lack aesthetic appeal. Too many square cabinets can make everything feel boxy and closed in. To open the space and make it less overwhelming, consider removing a couple of cabinets and replacing them with floating shelves. Not only will this open the space, but you'll also have a place to display plants, decorative objects, cookbooks, and your favorite pottery and dishes.
In the Bedroom:
If your long dresser, full-length mirror, cat’s litter box, and monster-sized bookcase take up your floor space, consider swapping out your bookcase for floating shelves. Place them on both sides of your dresser and even above the litter box to open up the room.
In the Bathroom:
Isn't it time to get rid of that over-the-toilet shelving unit that's crammed with stuff? We say yes. Replace it with wall shelves. Choose a color or wood tone that coordinates with your vanity. For a camouflage look, choose a color in a powder-coated metal finish that matches the paint color on your walls. Shelfology has more than 30 colors to choose from. Make sure to hang the bottom shelf with enough room to open the toilet tank when you need to replace plumbing parts or change the deodorizer.
Add Warmth
In the Kitchen:
An all-gray kitchen with gray or white walls and a subway tile backsplash is a cool modern look but can appear cold and sterile. You can add warmth, texture, and character to your kitchen with wooden floating shelves. Texture is that special element that makes a space warm and cozy, and feel like a home. Texture can be achieved with wood, especially if the wood has a lot of grain as well as organic fabrics such as jute or sisal area rugs. To create a cohesive look, choose a shelf style that matches the floor or a wood tone in the living room if you have an open-concept kitchen living space.
In the Living Room:
White walls in a living room make a great blank canvas, but when the walls are all painted white, it can lack warmth. To add some texture which also adds warmth, consider a statement wall on a large empathy wall or above the sofa. Style your shelves with decorative items that have texture such as handmade pottery and artwork.
In the Bedroom:
A good way to add texture in a bedroom is with a couple of toss pillows and a throw blanket in an organic fabric on the bed. But you can also add warmth to the bedroom with wooden shelving. Choose a dark color for contrast in a light room and don’t forget to add plants.
In the Bathroom:
If your bathroom lacks warmth and texture, the solution is baskets. You can use baskets on the floor to place towels. To tie in the look, hang a floating shelf on a wall with baskets to conceal toiletries. Choose a few baskets that coordinate with other basket styles, although they don’t need to match.
Achieve Balance With Symmetry
In the Kitchen:
You can balance a room by installing floating shelves on both sides of the stove. Make sure to distribute the weight evenly on both sides whether you’re displaying mixing bowls and cookbooks, or spices that you can sprinkle right into the pan to stir into your secret sauce. For an attractive display, label spices, sugar, and flour in clear glass jars with tops that coordinate with your stainless steel appliances or wooden cabinets, or kitchen island.
In the Living Room:
A fireplace makes a lovely focal point in a living room. But if you have walls on both sides of a fireplace with nothing on them, the space can look dull. Consider framing your fireplace with floating shelves to balance both sides. You can showcase your books, art, and decorative objects. For art, you can select picture frames that match the furniture’s arms and legs. For decorative accessories, choose a finish that coordinates with the finish on your living room light fixtures to create harmony in your space.
In the Bedroom:
If your bed is pushed into a corner or you only have one nightstand, you can elevate your bedroom by installing two floating nightstands and moving your bed to the center of the wall. With two floating nightstands, you’ll not only add symmetry to your bedroom, but you’ll also take back your floor space.
In the Bathroom:
If you have a vanity with double sinks, you likely have some empty space on the wall. This area is the perfect space to create a stylish display with floating shelves. Place white towels on shelves that tie into nearly any decor theme, from modern to a spa feel, from farmhouse to rustic, and more. Putting items like shaving cream and combs in decorative containers on shelves will help keep your counter area clean and decluttered.
With a few home decor touches and interior design principles, you can design and decorate a home that achieves balance, harmony, and peace of mind, and a space you love living in.
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