There are many surfaces in our living room.
Built-in shelving around the window, large coffee table, and black side table. And that’s what you can see from this angle.
Things always seem to pile up when I’m on vacation, so I have to be intentional about re-evaluating every January. My goal is to achieve maximum style with minimum is to So the surface is never too empty or too full. Individually or as a whole we want it to look pretty.
Here are three rules I followed to simplify surfaces without sacrificing style.
Nailing that scale:
More small items are needed to fill the same space as one large item. Additionally, one large WOW item will always have more impact than three, four, or often five smaller WOW items. So I got rid of most of the small items and let the big pieces breathe… more style, less stuff.
Contrast is queen if you want to be seen:
The bookshelf is a medium color, which is nice because both dark and white things really stand out. I try not to use too many medium tone colors. The head on the top shelf he busts he wanted to use a planter but he didn’t get the attention he deserved due to his gray color Medium. So I strategically grouped and hung the black plates to highlight the bust outline.
crisscross:
Designers talk about how your eyes move through space. The idea is that different things grab your attention in a particular order that we find fun. The same applies to large white items that create cross motions in front of windows.? With all black items on the left shelf and all white items on the right shelf, one side feels stagnant and heavy.
Our coffee table has been resting for a while, so she has just one large plant in the center. I don’t think there is, but it felt like it was balanced.
If you’re prepping surfaces, my advice is to start. When you come across something you’re not happy with, consider these three tips and see if they help you solve the problem.
Want more surface styling tips?
i have a video just for you! In it, we share 4 truths and lies about surface styling, Click here to view.
