Did you know that repeating a design element several times over can actually make your small home bigger? No, it won't give you that extra closet or another window, but the visual effects can be expansive:
With an element repeating over and over again, our eyes and brains sort of say "Yada, yada, yada, I got it." They fill in the blanks and we're suddenly tricked into believing the repetition continues even when it doesn't. Maybe the expansive capabilities of repetition are why we are so often drawn to:
Book Collections: Rows and rows of books make us feel like we're in an expansive library, even when it's only one (or two) shelves. Image 1 is of Jason Neufeld's Good Books Shelf.
Open Shelving: In image 2 from Desire to Inspire, hanging cups march on, and on, and on…
Hanging Art in Groups: Similar effect as the books: showing off wall hangings in a repetitive group creates a feeling of abundance. The example in image 3 is from Apartment Therapy's Home Hack, How To Hang Art in a Group That Can Grow.
Striped Rugs: Black and white striped rugs are getting a lot of attention lately. Is it because they make our small homes grow? This example is from Cottage Living, via Decor Pad.
Stripes, in General: The striped ceiling in this nursery has stuck in my head ever since seeing it on Ohdeedoh. Stripes on a ceiling have the same expansive quality as exposed beams.
Do you use repetition to expand your small home? How so? Please share in the comments below.
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The included examples do a good job of supporting the post's conclusions. Love the dark wall of #5 paired with light-colored stripes on the ceiling.
I still kind of sad that the Good book shelf lost the competition. I still love the design.
Wow, that book shelf is awesome!!
I really like that bookcase as well! repetition is a trick used in merchandising as well.
I drive my boyfriend crazy when we're furniture shopping. I never want to have one of something, i always feel like three in a row is better hehe
The concept makes sense once I saw it. Good post.
On a side note, are hanging cups really a good way of storing them? If you hang them right after washing, before drying, it still holds drops of water, which over time stain the cup at that spot. Maybe it's not a concern if you always dry and then hang.
Oh wow, that bookshelf IS genius!
Groovy book shelf! Love the undershelf for laying books flat!
I absolutely love that striped ceiling! I want to do it in all my bedrooms... but that would be crazy looking. Hmmm... to pick just one space will be hard.
www.mydesigndreams.com
Great book shelf! Love it.
For spaciousness, store everything away.
Bold designs crowd a room.