design with an expert
WhyThesize matters: ImporTance of scale INSPIRATION |
by Trisha isabey • photos Trevor Cooper
I
n my professional opinion, a well-designed home must meet two key criteria: the home (and everything in it) must be practical and aesthetically pleasing. These are two areas that I focus on when kicking off a new design project for my clients. Now, you might be thinking, “Just two criteria?” Don’t be fooled by your perceived simplicity of a number. A lot of planning goes into achieving fashion and function. One of them is scale. The rules of scale apply to everything in the space, in relation to the space itself. Furniture, light fixtures, art and accessories all have to work within the proportions of a room to achieve
36
Renters Guide | Feb. 11–25, 2022
the perfect fit. When everything is scaled to the space, your home will feel like a well-tailored suit. Pieces that are too large or too small can create visual awkwardness and physical inefficiencies. Here are three common victims of measuring missteps.
Area Rugs
Area rugs don’t get the attention they deserve, and they’re certainly not a first focus for measureminded folks. Big mistake! Area rugs are important because they define “zones” and anchor everything in them. Oftentimes people will look at their space, complete with
furniture in place, and “estimate” the size of their rug requirements based on the empty area between the furnishings. The result is an ill-fitting rug that floats aimlessly between the sofa and chairs. When choosing the rightsized rug, the furnishings of your zone–be it a conversation area in the living room or a small reading nook in the bedroom–should be large enough to accommodate at least the front legs of the furniture of that “zone.” For example, in the sitting area this might include a sofa and some chairs, a coffee table, a side table and maybe an ottoman. Ensure the rug isn’t butting up against the walls, leaving a gap or a few inches to create a border.
