What To Learn From High End Design: Scale Is Everything

Whether the style of this picture (as seen in the December 2014 issue of Elle Decor) is for you or not, there is an important lesson to be drawn from this room. If you count the number of objects in the space, there are really just 11 elements in the entire room: a mirror, a ceiling fixture, end tables, table lamps, a sofa, a pair of chairs, a coffee table, a large piece of art, a rug, a vase of flowers, and a stack of books. Yet it reads as a fully decorated, done space. Why is that? Because each of the elements is large enough and interesting enough to do the work of decorating the space. When you have 11 strong elements, you don’t need any more stuff to make the room feel finished. 

Credit: Elle Decor

It can be scary to spend up for the larger rug or the more interesting lamp with a chunky, textural base but, if done with care, it can actually save you money because you need fewer things in the room to make it feel “done.”

Now, your level of “done” will vary, and you might prefer a more traditional room or more numerous artful objects in your space, but the next time you are deciding on things to bring in to your space, ask yourself - is this item really doing its job?

Have courage, and here’s to being happy at home!