Valleyview, Living Room
Using Bold Colour and Sculptural Elements to Refresh your Space
Introducing colour and sculptural pieces can bring new life and character into your space. We believe the right accent pieces can tie a space together by using pops of colour, interesting materials and unique shapes.
Here are some of our tips and guiding concepts to help you make a statement in your home!
Set the Backdrop
We understand not everyone is daring to use bold colours on large furniture. When planning your space, consider using neutral tones/materials for furniture like couches, chairs, tables or consoles. They act as anchor points throughout the space providing you with the opportunity to fill in the rest with colour and interesting elements.
Lincoln, Living Room
Neutral does not have to mean boring.
Look for larger pieces that incorporate multiple materials like wood, metal or fabric as this is a great way to create an interesting backdrop for your accent pieces to play off. It is possible that some of your existing pieces are already bold and colourful and this is okay too as they can be a jumping off point for the rest of your space.
If you need an extra boost of inspiration to get started, Pinterest is great for some ideas.
Let the Shapes Speak to you
Sculptural pieces can be divided into two categories, figurative and abstract. Figurative pieces are representational, depicting human forms, animals or other common objects. Abstract pieces do not depict the likeness of anything and are non-representational. Using sculptural pieces from these categories can change the look and feel of your space and makes it fun to mix in organic and geometric elements.
As a rule of
thumb, use both figurative and abstract pieces.
Valleyview, Den
Adding bold geometric shapes can create moments of excitement in your space, especially when using an accent colour within your established colour scheme. Experimenting with solids and voids helps to add variety within the room and greatly impacts the overall look and feel.
Objects that are larger with smooth surfaces can have a visual weight that helps a space feel grounded while objects with thin lines or transparent elements add a light and airy feel.
Establish a Colour Scheme
Colour is an easy and effective way to put a personal touch on a space, from bright and fresh to dark and moody and everything in between. The right colour scheme helps to tie a space together by creating impactful visual moments that express your unique personality.
Choosing colours can at times feel daunting or overwhelming which is why we recommend starting simple, thinking big picture and refining your scheme until it feels just right. When figuring out your colour scheme, think about the entire space as one big painting, each piece within it should feel connected but not “matchy-matchy”.
Church, Home Office
Try to come up
with one base colour and two to three accent colours that all work together.
These colours can be warm or cool and can be scattered throughout your space in the form of small objects on tables, accent cushions, or other decor—the possibilities are endless.
In our Church project, blue was the colour predominantly used with pink and orange accents sprinkled throughout to creative cohesiveness and balance.
Materials Matter
When looking for interesting sculptural pieces to add into your space consider what materials these new pieces are made of, and how they will relate to the other pieces around them. As a rule of thumb, silver metals and mirror finishes can often create a cooler feel, while most woods and brass or gold metals can evoke a warmer tone. Adding different materials to your space can be a great way to tie it all together, look at the colour story in your space and try adding materials that complement the other pieces.
Play around with texture as well.
King Penthouse, Living Room
Smooth, glossy objects can playfully contrast rough and textured surfaces. When considering materials, it is also helpful to think about the shapes and forms of your accent objects. When grouping objects of the same material, use different shapes and sizes to create unity and variety within your space.
Function over Form first
Sculptural pieces tend to be imagined as standalone objects that are not engaging with their surroundings, like at a museum in a display case. These pieces are typically well suited for specific places like mansions but are overlooked in small to medium homes. If you lack space, select pieces that can also be functional (to a certain degree). One of our favourite go-to’s is using a sculptural piece as a bookend or paperweight.
Let your Space Tell your Story
Incorporating personal or sentimental items helps your space reflect your unique personality. Stacking a special keepsake on a bookcase or coffee table can be the perfect way to complete your space, especially if the colour, shape or materials match the overall aesthetic. Having small personal touches grouped together with other objects helps your space tell your own individual story.
Santi, Living Room
Design is in
the details.
If you can, match the stories behind your personal objects with the function of each space you will place them in. Vacation keepsakes can be kept in the living room whereas heirloom dishware can go in the kitchen or dining space and mementos from school or work can go in your den.
Bring Balance to your Space
Adding sculptural accent pieces can be a great way to bring balance to your space, drawing attention to certain features while creating an overall sense of unity. Creating a balanced room can be broken down into two categories; Symmetrical balance and asymmetrical balance. That said, a balanced space does not always mean a symmetrical space. Symmetrical balance involves repeating the same elements throughout like a mirror image, and this creates a sense of order and formality.
Asymmetry is contemporary
whereas symmetry is traditional.
Aurora, Living Room
Asymmetrical balance consists of dissimilar elements working together throughout the space to create balance. These elements may look different but can be grouped in a way that creates the same visual feel throughout the space, without both sides looking completely identical.
Group objects in odd numbers and vary the heights within the groupings. Playing with asymmetrical balance using sculptural pieces will definitely give a unique look and feel to your space.
Wrapping Up
Adding colour and sculptural elements brings your space to the next level while expressing your personal style. We hope this blog has inspired you to bring new life to any room you choose and also understand that taking on an interior design project is no small feat. If you need a hand with your project, we would be happy to chat with you about your ideas.
