Lauren Figueroa
Feb 282 min
Have you ever walked into a room and felt instantly at ease, where every element seems to fall perfectly into place? Or perhaps you've encountered spaces that feel awkward, despite being beautifully decorated.
The difference often lies in one crucial design principle—scale.
Scale, the relationship between the size of various elements in a room, is a game-changer in interior design. It can mean the difference between a room that feels harmonious and one that feels disjointed.
Today I'm sharing a golden nugget of design wisdom: The Rule of Thirds.
It's a simple guideline that ensures the proportions in your space are pleasing to the eye. When pairing items together, like a piece of art above a sofa or a lamp on a side table, the smaller item should be roughly two-thirds the size of the larger item. This rule provides an easy way to achieve balance without the guesswork.
It's rare to see an oversized painting or mirror that overwhelms a room. More commonly, accessories are chosen too small, leading to a sense of imbalance. A larger rug or piece of wall decor anchors the space, giving it a more luxurious and intentional feel.
When applying this principle, think of your larger piece as the canvas, and your smaller piece as the accent. For instance:
If you have a 9-foot sofa, the artwork above should be around 6 feet wide, or fill about that amount of space.
For a coffee table in front of a sofa, if the sofa is 9 foot long, aim for a coffee table about 5-6 feet in length.
Choosing a rug? For an 8-foot sofa, a rug around 12 feet wide maintains the aesthetic proportion.
This approach isn't just for furniture and decor. It applies to lighting, textiles, and even architectural features. Consistency with this rule can pull a design together, making your space look cohesive and feel 'just right.'
Remember, good design is all about creating a sense of harmony, and with the Rule of Thirds in your design toolkit, you're well on your way to creating spaces that not only look great but feel perfectly put together.
And if you're looking for some other great design tips on sofas, my friends at Couch.com have some pointers for how to make a L-shaped sofa look fantastic. Take a look!
LFID is an interior design firm serving clients throughout West and Southeast Michigan, from Detroit to Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor to Lansing, Holland to Traverse City, and anywhere in between. My goal is to create bespoke, people-centered spaces—because after all, people are what this life is all about!
Have your own renovation or remodel project you'd like to tackle? Or maybe you have a room or two to furnish? I've got your back: