Asymmetrical Lighting Fixtures & More
While trends play their part when it comes to interior decor, there are certain elements that determine the fundamentals of design. Today, Color Cord Company wants to take you back to the basics of design and take a look at why asymmetrical lighting fixtures, furniture, and other accents are so important to creating a comfortable, well-designed space.
If you’re curious how asymmetrical lighting can transform your rooms, read on here to learn more from the experts at Color Cord Company today.
What Is Asymmetry?
At its most basic level, asymmetry is a type of balance that can be used in interior design, art, and landscaping. When people think of balance, they generally gravitate towards working with symmetry – a mirror image that looks the same on both sides. While symmetry is great and has its place in design, there are three distinct types of balance that you can explore when organizing your home.
Symmetry/Formal Balance
A symmetrical interior design style works when a designer splits the room in half to create mirrors of each side. This might mean a living room with two couches and a coffee table in the middle of a bedroom with pillows, footstools, and lighting fixtures that match on each side of the room.
Asymmetry/Informal Balance
With asymmetrical lighting fixtures and interior design, you’re looking at balancing a room through the repetition of matching lines, forms, and colors without exact duplication. You’re not creating a mirrored space – rather a playfully balanced one. For example, your living room might have a sofa and an end table on one side and an entertainment console with a wall sconce or floor lamp on the other.
Radial Balance
Not many designers choose to use radial balance because it can be the most complex. Instead of splitting a room in two to find balance, the designer uses a focal point around which they arrange matching elements. The simplest example of radial balance is a dining room with matching tables and chairs, as well as evenly interspersed light fixtures along the walls.
Why Choose Asymmetry?
There are many benefits to choosing asymmetrical interior design, including the fact that you can now create a unique and intriguing space that’s still casual and comfortable. Check out the benefits of asymmetry for your interior decor to decide if it’s the route you prefer.
Adds Visual Interest
Whether it’s asymmetrical lighting fixtures, furniture, or wall art, this style of interior design adds a lot of visual interest to a space. Instead of the monotony that comes with repetition or mirroring, you’re doing the unexpected and keeping visitors on their toes.
Because your brain processes information based on pattern recognition, a symmetrical design allows you to predict how everything will be laid out. Avoid the predictable with less obvious patterns, which makes them harder for your brain to process and, thus, even more interesting.
Your asymmetrical design elements don’t have to be sweeping, dramatic changes to your space. You can use them subtly, with asymmetrical lighting or centerpieces, to call out the showstoppers in your space. Instead of having a chandelier center your kitchen and force its symmetry, consider using a mixture of pendant lights, wall sconces, and flush-mounted fixtures for a balanced space that isn’t dull or boring.
Creates Casual Environments
In addition to making your space more interesting to explore, asymmetrical lighting fixtures, furniture, and design also make your rooms a little more casual and relaxed. There is a rigidity to symmetrical design that tends to make any space feel formal and stuffy. Asymmetrical balance allows a room to breathe a little more and makes it easier to add fun decor and accents.
Most people choose to highlight asymmetrical balance in spaces with the most foot traffic, like kitchens and living rooms.
How to Design with Asymmetry
While there are no hard rules on the choices you make, we have a few suggestions that can help you start exploring this style of design.
Choose A Natural Focal Point
Most rooms have a natural focal point ready-made for you to work off of. In the dining room, it’s the table, in the bedroom, it’s the bed, and in the living room, it could be the fireplace or the coffee table. Whatever room you’re in, consider the most natural focal point as your starting point. Build outwards from there adding, asymmetrical lighting fixtures and wall art to ensure a dynamic space.
Make it Big or Small
If you decide to move ahead with asymmetry, you don’t need it to make a huge statement in every space. Sometimes, just the angle of a chair or a single asymmetrical lighting decision – like a pendant light in the corner of your living room to highlight the reading nook – can be enough to add energy and movement to the space.
Opt for Odd
Many interior designers find balance by arranging accents and furniture in groupings. When you use odd numbers to create your design, you’re inherently utilizing asymmetry to develop the look and feel of your space.
Coordinate All Your Elements
Just because it’s asymmetrical doesn’t mean your design choices can’t be cohesive. If you’re going asymmetrical, it’s even more to have those little common threads that pull everything together. Maybe the cord color of your asymmetrical lighting fixtures matches the velvet hue of the couch and one of the shades of the patterned accent rug at its foot. You can repeat any coordinating colors, shapes, and lines to create a unified look.
Time to Dive In
With knowledge of a few foundational principles of design, you can dive right into developing a personalized, customized space. Whatever you choose to do, trust in your perception to detect if anything feels off to you. Be willing to play around with asymmetrical light fixtures, curtains, couches, rugs, and more to ensure the space looks just right.
Need help selecting the best light fixture accessories or fixtures for your space? Get in touch with our team today via live chat or by giving us a call!
