Less Is Best: Why Negative Design Space Is Important
One of the hardest design “rules” (and I put quotes around this because a lot of times I ignore the rules) for me to follow is keeping negative space in our home. What is that you might ask? It’s keeping spaces empty. Balancing decor with no decor is tremendously important when it comes to design. You never want to over-style your home because then it becomes stressful (I’ll expand more on that later). Going with the “less is best” rule is the key to designing a great space. When working for a client, I can absolutely keep this rule in check, but my own home? It is SO hard. If I let myself, I would decorate my family right out of our home, and we would be bursting with decor in every corner because I love it ALL. I have a hard time storing anything away that looks pretty. Sound familiar? If so, keep reading to learn some tips on how to stop this madness!
Keep odd numbers in mind because that allows for some negative space. I really love styling in threes and fives because I know I will have some empty space left over, and it won’t look too cluttered. This picture has three pieces-floral arrangement, candle, and a lamp.
This could be considered over-styled. There is very little negative space, and there are three or more pieces on each shelf. Remember that everything doesn’t have to line up perfectly-less is more, or less is best. Keep scrolling to see an example with more negative space.
On these shelves there sits some empty space. I intentionally left space here and there, and I made sure the decor didn’t line up from one shelf to another because then it gets to be too much matching and perfection. This may not seem like a huge change, but when there is decor clutter everywhere, it has the opposite effect that you want and feels overwhelming.
How do I know if I have over decorated? Take a look at this checklist:
Do you feel cramped when sitting in a space?
Are there so many layers of different material that you find yourself distracted?
Is your decor completely mismatched?
Are you unwilling to part with old (out of date) decor (even if it just means storing it away for now)?
Is it physically difficult to move in your space?
Do you buy decor every time you go shopping?
Is it difficult to find a focal point in a room?
When you have guests over do they easily knock decor over?
If you answered yes to the above checklist, then help is on the way, so keep reading!
It’s important to regularly declutter-remember the one in, one out rule? You should do the same with decor (unless it’s an heirloom, or something very sentimental).
Embrace minimalism, and remember that your home should be a place of comfort. It should feel light and airy to you mentally-a place you can relax and unwind. Negative space naturally creates this for us.
Take everything off of a shelf, coffee table, credenza, dust it, and start over. Start with a group of three pieces of decor (preferably your most beloved items), and put the rest away.
Take everything out of a room, and only use one place for decor (maybe your coffee table). This trains your brain to enjoy empty space, and you begin to see just how freeing it is (trust me on this!).
Ultimately, your home is yours, and you should feel comfortable and at ease there. Sometimes too much stuff can make us feel crazy and stressed, so assess your home, and get to decluttering (you will thank me later!).
Love,
