You hear all the time about the importance of scale and proportion in design — making sure the elements of a room are harmonious and work according to established and unassailable principles of design, such as the Golden Ratio. Coffee tables, as the familiar story goes, should be two-thirds the size of the sofa and yada yada yada.
What pleases the eye, of course, is subjective, and not everyone likes a pat solution to life's sticky problems, or an overtly happy ending. Instead, choosing one large scale item creates drama within a room and plays interesting tricks on the eye. In the photo above (from Design*Sponge), just look at how this blue behemoth of a lamp towers over the moss green chairs. Some will recoil in fear at the idea, while others find the play on size refreshing. (Okay, and the colors are pretty badass too.)
So this post is for all you rule breakers out there. The wicked witches of the design world. Or simply those who want to experiment with something new on their own.
The following items work well in large scale and, done well, can poison peoples' minds for the expected.
1. Lighting
As seen on Design Sponge.
2. Pattern
Wallpaper by Minakani Lab .
Room by Jill Crawford.
3. Mirrors
Design by Melanie Turner Interiors.
Space by Brick Interiors.
4. Artwork
As seen in Lonny Magazine.
Artwork by Morgan Howell.
5. Textiles
Styling by Deb McLean.
Knits by Melanie Porter.
What do you think? Do you find oversized pieces alarming? Or do you love the unexpected?
MORE ON SCALE AND PROPORTION FROM APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Mega Watts: Fun & Functional Super-sized Floor Lamps
• Large Art in Small Spaces
• Using Large-Scale Art to Anchor a Room
(Images: as credited above)
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I'm kind of dying over this post!! I LOVE it all so much!
The oversized elements look surreal. Loving EVERYTHING about this!
Loved all of it! Where did you get the blue light?
Oversized mirrors are just Awesome!
I can't decide which I like best. Great post AT!!!
The only oversize items I find alarming are tv screens. I'm not one of the dreaded anti-tv people since I do have one and it's on more times than I'm willing to admit, but those 40+ inch screens kind of scare me.
I hereby admit that I am the person with the oversize coffee table - a 3-foot square black tufted ottoman that I made myself following the instructions on Little Green Notebook.
I really dislike the oversized-mirror-on-the-floor thing. I thought that was over a while ago. The other items are great especially the pendant lights.
Rouquinne, my massive coffee table is nearly as long as my sofa, but I've had it about 20 years and it's staying put.
I have an oversized mirror like the black-framed one, left by the former renter, in my bedroom. I would have never thought of getting one in the first place, but I like it. Pretty useful when I dress up or when I sew. I just made sure I can't see my self in it while in bed...
I like the concept, but with any of these, I would feel like I was living in a doll's house.
I love it! Makes me want to knit some large fishing rope or something. Love it all!
Love it! I have an orange giant desktop lamp on my living room, and everybody has to do with it!
I love it all too. I agree that these are the places to let your creative wild side shine through.
That shot is from an Abigail Ahern room. The lamp is here: http://www.atelierabigailahern.com/products.asp?pid=anglepoiselamp
This is a wonderful post. Saved!
I love that cable sweater-esque comforter, would totally buy it if priced reasonably.
As for big, beautiful, framed mirrors on the floor leaning against a wall being "over," I really don't understand how something so utilitarian can even be considered a trend. How else would you get full length views of outfits if you (like me) refuse to have those hideously cheap looking door mirrors we had in college?
agreed! mirrors are freaky at night...
Good work. Post like this are too few.
Oh My God! These are some of the eye-popping ideas I've ever seen. I love the lamp in ble and that pendant lamp the most, simply stunning! Those textiles can be a DIY idea indeed. Love it! Thanks for such an interesting design.
Brillant ....
Yep...pretty badass!
This post activated my imagination so much today! Thank you, thank you.
Loving this. So so much!
I love the mirrors, seems to add space to the rooms. But Oh My the textiles. If I could afford to Id wallpaper the house with textiles.
Last pic; get that knitting off! I really want to se that chair! Would like something other than a mirror if I'm going to super size something for a room.
I agree with artwork and textiles. Those light fixtures belong in a Tim Burton movie.
Jess13, Ha! I just moved about two months ago and I am looking for a nice mirror. In the meantime, the "cheap looking door mirror" is leaning against the wall. I can't bear to hang it.
Rules are made to be broken.
Absolutely love this post! The nursery and textiles are my favorites.
I love most of the pictures.
Definitely love the oversized desk lamp. The rest of the lighting looks ridiculous. Art, Textiles, and Mirrors are great. But don't oversize a chair.
I've always loved dramatically oversized textiles. But that's the yarn freak in me.
Love the chunky bedding. I HAVE to get that this winter. I hate how small scale my design items are, good inspiration!
A great post, sometimes when you live in a small space you buy everything small, but you don't always have to. This post is a great example of that.
I LOVE the nursery wallpaper! I have some huge gilt mirrors propped against the wall because they are too big to hang, but they look awkward in our modern house, and make me feel uneasy when kids are tearing around or playing ball games indoors.
pretty awesome and unusual! Some of it is a bit pee-wee's playhouse, some of it is kind of oppressive, but some of it is really awesome and exciting :)
Hate mirrors...the smaller the better.
Here is a US-based source for the big lamp and other big things
http://www.greatbigstuff.com/arclamp.html
The huge blue floor lamp is super fun and funny. Great post!
Where can I find that "textiles" blanket?????? I WANT IT.
Pics #1 and #3 are Abigail Ahern design http://abigailahern.wordpress.com/
Love her style.
an exercise in alternative placements: the blue lamp can be attached to the wall, the golden dome can become a firepit, the shingly chandelier can go to the porch, the wall detail can be on an outside wall, the peacock can border the door, the gilded mirror and the three-seater can exchange walls, the black-framed mirror can go in the ceiling, the silver grapes can hang on the door, the vinyl record can hang in the music room... very cool...thanks! feel free to reply:)