Balanced Decorating

By Lauri Ward

Have you ever worn a sandal on one foot and a boot on the other? No? Have you tried wearing a black leather glove on one hand with a red wool mitten on the other? Probably not. Since our bodies have lots of pairs we tend to feel most comfortable when we wear matching pieces of clothing or accessories. This gives our physical appearance the symmetry to which we all innately gravitate. The same concept applies to our homes. Every room looks better and feels more balanced if it is decorated with matching pairs.

One of the most common complaints I hear from my clients is, "My home needs help. Nothing feels pulled together!" The reason is simple: Most people aren't aware of the importance of balance when it comes to interior decorating. They may obsess about finding the perfect paint, the furniture style that truly represents their personality, or the fabric that will wear best on their sofas and chairs. And yet, it never occurs to them that adding pairs to their house or apartment will make the space feel less chaotic.

It is not just my clients who are seeking more tranquility. All across the country the trend toward creating a more balanced and peaceful environment has been gaining momentum. People are paring down their possessions in an attempt to create a more relaxing environment. They want to be able to roll out their exercise mat and stretch, and then sit down comfortably to relax and reflect without being distracted. They do not want to be distracted by the decorating dilemmas that make them uncomfortable in their own home.

If you think your rooms are not what you want but you haven't been able to figure out what is wrong with them, perhaps your décor is not balanced. Fortunately, there are many simple, inexpensive ways to fix this common mistake.

Start by reuniting any pairs you have separated. Just remember: couples belong together. If you have separated pairs of any kind -- for example, putting one in the living room and the other in the bedroom -- get them back together in the room where they will look their best and be most functional. And don't be afraid that if you add lots of pairs, your room will be boring. I have used up to twenty pairs in a very large room and they looked fabulous.

If, for example, you have one standing metal lamp next to the sofa in your living room and its mate is in the den, bring the pair of lamps together and place them at either end of your sofa. Or, if you have a pair of table lamps that have been separated, display them on matching end tables. This will make your room look and feel more balanced, improve the general lighting, and provide an additional place for someone to sit and read comfortably.

Keep in mind that any pair will help balance a room. If you don't happen to have any to work with, you can sometimes create a pair. For example, if you have two different brass lamps and you want them to look like a pair, simply add new, matching shades. The fresh shades will fool the eye into thinking they are a pair. And if one lamp is a bit shorter than the other just place a few large art books underneath the shorter one until the tops of both lamps are level with each other. Voilà, you have a pair!

Some other ways to add pairs: Flank a sofa with a pair of chairs to create a balanced and intimate U-shaped conversation area or place the chairs side by side across from the sofa to provide an easy, face-to-face place to chat. Display a pair of urns or a pair of vases on top of a fireplace mantle or add balance with a pair of prints, framed identically and hung side by side. Pairs of figurines, candlesticks, bookends -- you probably have lots of pairs around your house that you can use to add balance to your rooms.

Remember Noah, who was told by a higher authority to get two of every kind of animal for his ark? Well, take it from the top: Bring the pairs you already have together and you will quickly and easily make your house or apartment feel balanced and more restful without having to buy new furnishings.

Lauri Ward, the author of Home Therapy: Fast, Easy, Affordable Makeovers, is the founder of Use What You Have, Inc., and the Interior Refiners Network. She has appeared frequently on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Today, and ABC Evening News, among other programs, and on HGTV, the Discovery Channel, and Fox television. Ward, who has been featured in The New York Times, House Beautiful, Elle, Inspired House, and other magazines and newspapers, lives in New York City and Boca Raton, Florida. Visit her website at www.redecorate.com.