When it comes to decorating your home, you want to inject your personality into the space in a way that is pleasing to the eye, but also ensure that it remains functional as well. In order to achieve this balance,  it is important to consider the proportion and scale in your interior design.

Proportion refers to the balance of design elements used in a room, while scale refers to the size of the items in a room. You may have never considered applying these concepts to in your home, but with the right information, you can do so easily! Learn more about working with scale and proportion in your home design with these decorating tips:

• In a Living Room: The size of your living room décor should focus heavily on your seating. For instance, if you have a large living room, incorporate a plush sectional sofa paired with a proportionate coffee table. It’s easy for a small table to get lost in this type of setting, so it’s important to look for a piece that’s longer and has more structure, like a rectangular coffee table. On the contrary, if you have a small living area, pair a love seat with a decorative armchair so that the room isn’t overwhelmed with furniture. Play with small accessories, like a skinny end table or a low ottoman, to spruce up the appearance of your living room.
• In a Bedroom: Like the living room, how you decorate your bedroom should be strongly determined by a central element – the size of your bed. If you have a tall headboard, balance it with tall accessories. A slim lamp or a large wall hanging above your bed is optimal in a large bedroom setting. Similarly, you can scale a large bed with detailed window curtains or a bench with patterned upholstery. For smaller beds, steer clear of tall end tables that could cramp the space and make the bed appear tinier than it actually is. Instead, play with proportionate accessories like nightstands and desk lamps. When it comes to sheets and bedspreads, avoid prints with big patterns – instead, play with delicate, small patterns.
• In a Dining Area: The focal point of this room will be your table, so furnish the room proportionately around it. A large, heavy dining room table should be paired with chairs that have tall backs, while a small dining table should be paired with chairs that have short-to-medium sized backs. If your dining room is painted in a neutral color palette, you have more room to play with chair upholstery, according to the experts at North Raleigh painters.  Remember to play with pattern accordingly, and reserve bold patterns for larger dining spaces and more conservative patterns for those smaller dining rooms.

For more home design ideas and advice, contact Nashville interior designer Bohnne Jones.