When selecting furniture for your home, first take a look at the scale of your home. If you have high ceilings and large spaces, consider large scale furnishings.
Also:
- Is there a lot of detailing in your woodwork, lighting, etc? If so, look for furnishings with a similar scale of detail. Do not mix bulky with refined.
- Furnishings should be of a similar scale.
- Take a look at the chair legs. Are they thin? Then most of your furnishings should have thin details.
- Are the lines straight or curved? Keep the lines consistent.
Make sure sofa arms are at least an inch above side tables or the tables will look too high. Coffee table height should be close to the seat height of the sofa or lounge chairs. The same rule goes for an ottoman used as a coffee table. Finishes should be a similar level of sheen; if most your finishes are rough or matte with little sheen, do not mix with pieces that are highly polished.
The same goes for level of distressing. You can easily mix painted pieces with stained if you keep to these rules.
Quality pieces tend to have the best proportions and scale.
Quick Recap:
- Scale of furnishing should work with the scale of the space
- Keep a similar scale of wood detailing, pattern, etc.
- Sofa arms should be an inch or more above side tables
- Keep seat heights similar
- Keep finishes similar – level of sheen, distressing, etc.
- Stay with similar lines - straight, turned, curved
Notice the similarity in scale, consistent sleek lines and consistent level of finish in this living area.
Anne Grice, ASID
Anne is the principal of
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