Why Balance Is the Secret Behind Every Good Room
‘Looks balanced.’ ‘That living room is soooo well balanced.’ ‘Do you think it’s balanced?’
The unfortunate consequence of balance being the most important principle in interior design is how often the word gets thrown around. But to be clear: no matter how many times you, your friends, or designers you love refer to a room as ‘balanced,’ it a) still deserves the fanfare and b) unlike a throwaway term like ‘chic’ or a TikTok-ified design aesthetic, hasn’t actually lost its meaning.
Balance in interior design, after all, is about alignment – and we feel that instinctively, even physically. If your back (or your chair) is slightly off, everything else follows. There’s something almost spiritual about it. We’re wired to seek harmony. Balance is the quiet center of a room – no amount of adding or editing will land unless you’ve successfully touched down here.
Ahead, designers explain why it’s the most important concept any decorator can learn – plus, examples you’ve likely noticed without naming, and tangible ways to bring more balance into your own home.
Why Every Room Needs Balance
(Image credit: De Rosee Sa-designed home at 60 Curzon)
If other design principles like negative space, layering, or texture sit along the sides of a pyramid, balance belongs at the top. Everything in a room ultimately answers to it. The success of every other principle depends on whether balance has been achieved.
‘Balance in interior design is the harmony between scale, visual weight, color, texture, and negative space,’ notes Erica Yaw, lead designer at Rumor Designs. ‘It’s also a feeling – when a space feels grounded, intentional, and easy to inhabit. Balance transcends style and interior trends because it’s rooted in human perception, not aesthetics; our brains naturally seek proportion, rhythm, and calm, whether a space is traditional, modern, or eclectic.’
‘As a Libra, balance is not merely a concept for me, but it’s a lived experience,’ quips Nicole Roe, founder and designer at R. Nickson Interiors. She agrees it’s often felt before it’s articulated: ‘When things are out of alignment, I feel it viscerally.’
(Image credit: Kelly Wearstler)
That intuitive quality is why balance can feel elusive, and why it’s often easiest to understand through example. Both Erica Yaw and Nicole Roe point to Kelly Wearstler’s Santa Monica Proper Hotel as a clear case study.
‘Kelly Wearstler’s Santa Monica Proper Hotel is a strong example of balance in practice,’ notes Erica. ‘Bold patterns, sculptural furniture, and rich materials are layered with sun-washed neutrals, natural light, and generous negative space. Though individual elements are expressive, a cohesive palette, consistent scale, and repeated forms keep the spaces from feeling chaotic.’
(Image credit: Mood Authors. Design: Yana Molodykh)
‘Their common areas, pool decks, and guest rooms all showcase unexpected but practical storage, layered natural materials, thoughtful scent, and nuanced lighting,’ adds Nicole. ‘These environments allow the mind to settle even in high-design settings. You feel inspired by the aesthetic, yet comfortable enough to kick off your shoes and enjoy a drink. That is balance at its best.’
Nicole goes as far as to call balance a ‘functional luxury,’ which she defines as ‘the point at which beauty supports daily life rather than competing with it.’ ‘A stunning space that does not function becomes frustrating over time, and a purely functional space without personality loses its spark,’ she continues. ‘The equilibrium between the two is where long-term satisfaction lives.’
(Image credit: Dean Hearne. Design: OWN LONDON)
‘“Balance” certainly has been a circulating word amongst our clients and vendors recently,’ shares Claudia Roth, founder and principal designer at Claudia Allegra Interiors. ‘Ultimately, I believe a sensitivity to materiality and scale are key elements in creating a harmonious, balanced space.’
The New York–based designer points to one of the city’s most enduring interiors: the central courtyard of the Frick Museum. ‘The scale of the ceiling heights, the symmetry of the center fountain, the contrast of the cold glass ceiling to the lush plantings – a perfect combination of balance is reached.’
‘A well-balanced space creates a general sense of ease, comfort, and peace,’ Claudia continues. And it isn’t exclusive to Kelly Wearstler-level design chops or Frick-family budgets. ‘Anyone can create balance in their homes by utilizing various fabrics with different tones, textures, and patterns on upholstered goods.’
(Image credit: James McDonald | 8 Holland Street)
‘A well-balanced room feels instantly comfortable,’ notes Madelynn Hudson of M.H. Interiors. ‘You may not be able to articulate why, but you feel it.’
Even if balance still feels difficult to define, its absence is almost always obvious. ‘Imbalanced rooms, on the other hand, can feel chaotic, heavy, or incomplete, even if everything in them is beautiful,’ Madelynn continues. That’s usually the cue to start adjusting.
(Image credit: Kelly Wearstler)
Tinker at your leisure, but for a faster route, Madelynn suggests starting with scale. ‘Play with scale,’ she says. ‘Pair larger pieces with more delicate ones so the eye has places to rest.’ Height matters, too – variation creates relief. ‘Distribute visual weight,’ she continues. ‘If one side of the room holds a heavy sofa or built-in, offset it with substantial art, a tall plant, or a sculptural piece on the opposite side.’
And don’t forget the breathing room: ‘Not every corner needs to be filled. Empty space is a design tool, and it creates calm,’ she says.
Balance is equal parts art and science. You don’t need to define it perfectly – you just need to notice when something feels off. Adjust, edit, and shift until the room looks… right. That instinctive calibration is usually the right one.
If there’s a feeling balance creates, it’s this: nothing’s missing. You could also call it satisfaction: not too much, not too little. Not overly restrained, not overworked. When a room hits that point, everything else starts to make sense. Lead with that instinct, and the rest tends to fall into place.
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