There is absolutely a time and place for a symmetrical layout in interior design but too much symmetry can come off as formal and impersonal. On the other hand, asymmetrical designs offer a warm, lived-in aesthetic full of unique, eye-catching moments that help you experience the place in its entirety.
Typically, when people consider balance as a concept, they stick to working with symmetry in their interiors. While that’s always a viable option, it’s far from the only one to choose. There are three distinct forms of balance you can incorporate as part of your design. They are as follows:
Asymmetry (my favorite):
This is a design that seeks out balance in more abstract terms.
The way to make the room coherent is by repetition of similar forms, lines and colours without exact duplication. For example, a living room would feature a sofa with an end table on one end and a floor lamp on the other.
Asymmetry adds visual interest, and there’s a psychological basis for why this occurs. It has to do with the way our brains process information. The motifs are less obvious, so it takes our brains longer to process them, making them more interesting.
Asymmetrical elements are a good tool to use when you want to call attention to a feature of your design.
Symmetrical/formal balance:
Symmetry is achieved by taking the room and splitting it into two halves that mirror each other. It could, for example, include a living room featuring two sofas with a coffee table between them.
The aim is to pick up on as many patterns and repetitions as possible, so the mirroring effect of symmetrical design makes those rooms very easy to figure out.
Radial balance:
Radial balance involves similar objects placed around a common centre point. It is most often seen in dining table arrangements where the same chair is used throughout.
For this industrial interior, we decided to go with the asymmetrical design aesthetic and hang the artwork to the left instead of in the centre, to create visual interest and draw attention to the featured art piece.
To view this artwork click here ☞ https://kleonikivanos.com/product/landscapes/william-turner/