Scale is so important in a small room
Have you ever purchased a new piece of furniture that is completely wrong for your room? Not only is it frustrating and disappointing, but also a complete waste of money. Not far behind will likely be a good argument with a spouse or partner. Finally, your DIY confidence can be crushed.
We interior designers use a term called “scale” to determine size appropriateness of any individual piece of furniture in relationship to the space and to other objects. What you may be experiencing is a chair that is too large or a table that is far too small.
There is no polite way to say this: Never buy a costly piece of furniture without an overall plan. The reason folks hire designers by the hour is to produce things like a furniture layout and general color scheme. That way you can consider options on paper, before you spend money.
After you measure the ideal size for major pieces, such as a sofa or a dining table, write down the maximum dimensions. Do not fool yourself by pretending that a great deal will work even though the size is off. You will be throwing good money after bad. Discipline yourself and stick to your plan.
One of the keys to successful furniture arrangement is using the right size, but the other is getting the character of the piece perfect.
If you have a very small room, you may wish to stay away from dark finishes or huge pieces that might overpower a space. This is the Richardson Cabinet series sold through Gump's, the venerable store founded in San Francisco in 1861. The notable qualities from my perspective are the clear glass doors that lighten up the cabinet and the very shallow depth of 14½ inches.
When used as an assembly, this 35-inch wide center unit is flanked by side cabinets that are each 17-by-14-by-75 inches. This is an example of a versatile, long wall unit that retains an open feel in a cramped room.
You pass by the deeper china cabinets that might be 24-inches deep — and thereby crowd your tight dining space. Even though you grew up with a traditional china cabinet with a deeper lower section, keep yourself open to another way to view the way to arrange your own limited space.
I often joke that flexibility is my religion, but in all seriousness you must apply an open mind to furniture arrangements. Play the “what if” game: Ask yourself “what if” you change the shape? “What if” you just use a lower cabinet in your dining room instead of a tall unit? Remain open to new ideas about your old space.
If you have a small home, but also have high ceilings, remain aware that you can use tall pieces of furniture and in this way make the space feel cozier. On the other hand, if you have a low ceiling — such as in a rustic vacation cabin — be aware of keeping heights lower in order to avoid overpowering the room.
No matter what you like best or what your dream list on HOUZZ consists of, if it will not fit properly in your real space, it will be a mistake.
Merging the myriad ideas that you find on various websites with what exists in your actual rooms seems to be the challenge.
• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of “Small Space Living.” Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.
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