This Benjamin Moore room instantly evokes a sense of order and calm. There are many elements at work here that produce this visual and mental tranquility. Sometimes it's hard to put your finger on just what makes a room tick so I think we'll break it down and look at the components of a serene space.
Clutter
You've heard it before; constant clutter can create visual and mental havoc in the home. Your visual senses are always at work deciphering all of the 'stuff' in the room that can be exhausting. It takes more work to try to keep a cluttered home organized and clean so do yourself a favour and pare down your space. Our feature room has clean surfaces with only a few purposeful and well-placed accessories. There are no tabletops with a cache of family photographs in a mishmash of different frames, no magazines and newspapers scattered about, no fuss no muss. While this style might not be realistic in common areas of your home it can be achieved in a personal space like your bedroom. The bedroom is the last place that you want to have distractions so take a cue from some of the tips below for any room you want to transform.
Pattern
Pattern is great in many situations. It adds depth and interest to a space but it can also be visually stimulating. In a serene décor you'll want to use pattern sparingly if at all. Our feature room creates interest through colour blocking and symmetry rather than pattern. The furniture is all in solid colours, which is calming to the visual palette. Even the area rug is one solid colour. It does the job of grounding and separating the seating area but does not draw attention to itself with loud colours, busy pattern, fringe or sculpted surface.
Symmetry
Speaking of symmetry, the furniture and sofa cushions are placed to create visual harmony. The three bar stools are a matching set and are placed in an orderly fashion tucked under the island overhang. An even number of bar stools in different colours or styles would not be as balanced or as pleasing to the eye. The two cube ottomans in the same lovely green as the focal wall are again a matching set strategically placed in an orderly way. They aren't strewn about the room without thought. Even the sofa cushions are placed in a balanced way and not just tossed on the sofa willy-nilly. You'll notice that the sofa, cushions, ottomans, various cabinets, coffee table, lampshade and even the backs of the bar stools are all either square or rectangle.
Colour
The wall colours are also calming aspects of this room. Benjamin Moore Pale Avocado in the background is a brighter colour but is used as an accent in a small area so it doesn't overpower the senses. It does, however, keep the space from seeming too bland or boring. A colour called Sea Haze, which is a pale gray/green, is found in the main living area and Timid White is used on the ceiling. Greens and blues are calming colours. Keep this in mind when you're updating your serene space.
Accoutrements
There are no trappings in this room that you might find in a more traditional space. The sofa is plain, not tufted or trimmed, there are no draperies in the space to add frills to the room, there are no hanging light fixtures or wall sconces, no cornices or crown molding, just the bare necessities of comfort with a little style thrown in for visual and visceral pleasure. There is no television, media centre or stereo present either. I think that a television is the last item you want in a Zen room. It's just one more thing to busy the mind when the mind should be at rest.
A room without a bunch of trimmings and accessories; what could be simpler? It's actually harder than you think to decorate a room sparsely yes effectively. Mostly because we hate getting rid of our stuff and if we do we then can't get used to living without all of the clutter. Take time to get used to the calm and visual tranquility. Add only a few purposeful items back into the room after a few weeks have passed. There's enough clutter and chaos in our everyday lives. We deserve a little peace and tranquillity at home. You'll find you'll appreciate the extra time you'll have because you don't have to dust and straighten knick-knacks every week. You may even have time to read that good book you've put aside for another day or maybe time just to sit and be. Wouldn't that be a treat...
Connieoliver@shaw.ca
