Decorating a new space is exciting! New furnishings, new artwork, new colour palettes, nothing feels better than walking into a clean slate knowing exactly how you’re going to transform it to make it truly yours.
But how do you know how to balance the excitement of decorating somewhere new with keeping your home cohesive? This is our guide to everything you need to know about finding the perfect balance when you’re decorating a new space. From utilising negative space to the 60-30-10 rule – this is absolutely everything you need to know.
First, The 60-30-10 Rule
Arguably one of the most critical things to keep in mind when you’re decorating a new space, the 60-30-10 rule is an interior design rule that helps keep your space balanced when decorating. The 60-30-10 rule is particularly helpful when working on a new colour palette for your home.
Essentially, what it is is using one main colour on 60% of your space, think feature walls and furniture, 30% on a secondary colour, like throws and curtains, and 10% as an accent colour to be used in artwork or on cushions.
When you implement the 60-30-10 rule, you can ensure your room doesn’t get overwhelmed by colour or that it comes across as too busy. The 60-30-10 rule is a design rule to live by if you’re looking for balance and cohesion, especially if you’re starting from scratch in a brand new space.
Next, Mix & Match Your Styles
In order to make sure your room feels cohesive throughout, you should be mixing and matching larger, ‘heavier’ pieces with smaller, ‘lighter’ ones. When you use a
combination of large and small artwork, especially in gallery wall art, you can prevent your room from feeling too weighed down.
Gallery walls in particular are an excellent way for you to maintain balance in your space while still being able to express your personality and your personal style. Using a combination of art prints, family photos and sentimental items or images can provide a sleek, chic feel whilst still remaining personal to you.
Use Different Textures
In order to provide balance to your room, using different textures can make a world of difference. When you combine different materials in your space, you make it feel intentional, balanced, and cohesive.
Choose textures that align best with your personal style. Think of combining plush rugs with natural wood or leather with lace detailed throws. The juxtaposition of different textures can help your space feel completely personal to you, whilst also keeping its balance.
Use Negative Space Wisely
When it comes to decorating, it can be easy to end up scared of negative or empty space, but instead of shying away from it, you should use it to your advantage. Instead of hopelessly trying to fill every gap you come across, leaving some spaces with intentional emptiness can help your room feel more balanced.
Offset more busy areas of your decor with empty space throughout your room. When you use negative space wisely, you can provide areas where the eyes can rest, making sure your room doesn’t feel overly cluttered.
Try To Find A Focal Point
When decorating your new space, aim to find a focal point that anchors the room. Whether it’s a feature wall, a large piece of furniture, a fireplace, a gallery wall or anything in between, finding something you can focus on immediately on entering the room can help the entire space feel more balanced.
If you can’t find a focal point, don’t be afraid to make one! From a curated gallery
wall to a large, plush sofa, focal points don’t have to be built into your space – you can craft them yourself.
Balance Is Everything
When it comes to decorating a new space, balance is everything. Follow our tips and tricks to ensure your room feels harmonious and cohesive, rather than cluttered and overly busy.
From mixing and matching prints to utilising negative space, our guide can help you create the room you’ve always dreamed of!
