Decorating
How to Use Symmetry to Make an Impact
Mirroring the built-in features, furniture, artwork, lighting or accessories in a room can’t help but get it noticed
It’s human nature to look for symmetry – and to delight in finding it. Its simplicity is appealing and its elegance unmistakable. Given these benefits, it’s no surprise that it’s in the nature of interior designers to make use of it. Employ symmetry and a room scheme is guaranteed to get attention.
Living rooms and bedrooms seem the obvious stages for the mirror effect, but there’s no need to confine its attributes to these rooms. Take a look…
Living rooms and bedrooms seem the obvious stages for the mirror effect, but there’s no need to confine its attributes to these rooms. Take a look…
Take wing
The classic ‘facing sofas’ living room layout is often formal, but this room is simply sociable. This time, it’s the open fire that’s in the centre, as well as a coffee and side table. The geometric rug is a further symmetrical element in itself.
For a living room scheme that extends a warm welcome, adopt this room’s approach: the design of the Butterfly chairs that complete the seating arrangement ensures views through the room are kept as open as possible; picture the solidity of the back of a sofa or armchair as a comparison.
The classic ‘facing sofas’ living room layout is often formal, but this room is simply sociable. This time, it’s the open fire that’s in the centre, as well as a coffee and side table. The geometric rug is a further symmetrical element in itself.
For a living room scheme that extends a warm welcome, adopt this room’s approach: the design of the Butterfly chairs that complete the seating arrangement ensures views through the room are kept as open as possible; picture the solidity of the back of a sofa or armchair as a comparison.
Make time to dine
It’s easy to create symmetry with a dining table and chairs, but this room earns its design stripes by working harder than that. The added elements? A wall-hung rug (in an intricate geometric pattern to boot), a pair of mirrors, and floor lamps that delicately curve inwards to draw the eye to the middle of the picture.
The table centre plays its part, too, and the benefits of the red berries go further: like the table itself, they add warmth in contrast to the cool, classic Tolix A chairs.
Browse dining chairs in the Houzz Shop
It’s easy to create symmetry with a dining table and chairs, but this room earns its design stripes by working harder than that. The added elements? A wall-hung rug (in an intricate geometric pattern to boot), a pair of mirrors, and floor lamps that delicately curve inwards to draw the eye to the middle of the picture.
The table centre plays its part, too, and the benefits of the red berries go further: like the table itself, they add warmth in contrast to the cool, classic Tolix A chairs.
Browse dining chairs in the Houzz Shop
Share space
Most bathrooms don’t lend themselves to overall symmetry, but an en suite that makes simultaneous toothbrushing easy with twin basins provides the opportunity.
Here, freestanding basins have a sculptural quality, while storage niches and mirrors above finish the picture. Even the mirror lights add to the symmetrical arrangement.
One other point to note: a dark wall makes the elegant basin pairing stand out further.
Most bathrooms don’t lend themselves to overall symmetry, but an en suite that makes simultaneous toothbrushing easy with twin basins provides the opportunity.
Here, freestanding basins have a sculptural quality, while storage niches and mirrors above finish the picture. Even the mirror lights add to the symmetrical arrangement.
One other point to note: a dark wall makes the elegant basin pairing stand out further.
Stay simple
A mirroring approach doesn’t have to involve lots of elements. In this bedroom, artwork, lamps and bedside tables do the job teamed with a double bed. They may be few, but the bold colours make these pieces unmissable.
Try this in a small bedroom where concentrating on a handful of key items will help keep it uncluttered and airy.
A mirroring approach doesn’t have to involve lots of elements. In this bedroom, artwork, lamps and bedside tables do the job teamed with a double bed. They may be few, but the bold colours make these pieces unmissable.
Try this in a small bedroom where concentrating on a handful of key items will help keep it uncluttered and airy.
Think sink
Here’s another kitchen that works symmetry – but on a smaller scale. A two-bowl butler sink with shelving above is surrounded by base and wall cabinets that mirror each other. One of symmetry’s appeals is the way it creates order – a quality most of us value in a cooking space.
The effect here may be more subtle than in other schemes, but an additional strength of this one is the focus it puts on a sink style many of us hanker after.
14 butler sinks you’re going to love
Here’s another kitchen that works symmetry – but on a smaller scale. A two-bowl butler sink with shelving above is surrounded by base and wall cabinets that mirror each other. One of symmetry’s appeals is the way it creates order – a quality most of us value in a cooking space.
The effect here may be more subtle than in other schemes, but an additional strength of this one is the focus it puts on a sink style many of us hanker after.
14 butler sinks you’re going to love
Climb high
The glass atrium in this hallway is, of course, a symmetrical structure, and situating the staircase centrally contributes to the overall image.
Placing a staircase like this is space-hungry, but swapping to an open-plan layout can make it achievable. If views are paramount, open treads will allow sightlines through a hallway. (Be aware: Building Regulations are very specific on such staircases.)
Discover how a reconfigured staircase can unlock your interior
The glass atrium in this hallway is, of course, a symmetrical structure, and situating the staircase centrally contributes to the overall image.
Placing a staircase like this is space-hungry, but swapping to an open-plan layout can make it achievable. If views are paramount, open treads will allow sightlines through a hallway. (Be aware: Building Regulations are very specific on such staircases.)
Discover how a reconfigured staircase can unlock your interior
Invite guests
Here’s the classic – and elegant – symmetrical entertaining arrangement: sofas opposite each other and a coffee table in-between. The architecture is typical of many period homes, too: central chimney breast with alcoves fitted with cupboards and shelving.
The symmetry extends to the way the sofas are styled with throws and cushions, and even to the accessories. Take a look, though, at the way the perfection is slightly disrupted on the middle shelf on either side. It’s a trick worth adopting in your own arrangements, because it makes for visual interest.
Here’s the classic – and elegant – symmetrical entertaining arrangement: sofas opposite each other and a coffee table in-between. The architecture is typical of many period homes, too: central chimney breast with alcoves fitted with cupboards and shelving.
The symmetry extends to the way the sofas are styled with throws and cushions, and even to the accessories. Take a look, though, at the way the perfection is slightly disrupted on the middle shelf on either side. It’s a trick worth adopting in your own arrangements, because it makes for visual interest.
Ring the changes
This room is a standard bearer for symmetry that’s not quite perfect, too. It’s more relaxed than the ‘facing sofas’ room above, but the pairing of side tables, lamps and artwork orders the scheme. Even the piles of books on the coffee table balance each other.
Fine imbalances that relax the scheme occur in the prints and cushions, as well as the displays on the side tables. The lesson? The more gentle tweaks you make from full symmetry, the more casual you can make the look.
This room is a standard bearer for symmetry that’s not quite perfect, too. It’s more relaxed than the ‘facing sofas’ room above, but the pairing of side tables, lamps and artwork orders the scheme. Even the piles of books on the coffee table balance each other.
Fine imbalances that relax the scheme occur in the prints and cushions, as well as the displays on the side tables. The lesson? The more gentle tweaks you make from full symmetry, the more casual you can make the look.
Try both directions
This scheme shows symmetry both along the room towards the TV, and across from the armchairs to the fireplace. The upholstered cubes mark the centre of both arrangements.
If you have the benefit of a large room, try this gambit so you can swap focus from the TV to the fireplace as required, rather than leaving them to fight it out as competing elements.
How have you used symmetry in your rooms? Share your tips and photos in the Comments section.
This scheme shows symmetry both along the room towards the TV, and across from the armchairs to the fireplace. The upholstered cubes mark the centre of both arrangements.
If you have the benefit of a large room, try this gambit so you can swap focus from the TV to the fireplace as required, rather than leaving them to fight it out as competing elements.
How have you used symmetry in your rooms? Share your tips and photos in the Comments section.
This kitchen-diner proves that creating symmetry is possible even in complex, hard-working areas of a home. A wine fridge is at the centre of the pattern on the far wall, with built-in appliances at either side and the cabinetry arrangement appearing as a mirror image. A central island and table with matching upholstered chairs continue the pattern.
The layout’s not totally symmetrical, of course, as functionality has to be foremost, but it’s this arrangement that makes the room striking.
The other element that clearly breaks the pattern is the granite that clads the table – but doesn’t its position in the centre make it even more of a draw?