Scale is a principle of design that evaluates the size and visual weight of objects and the way they relate to each other.  Scale may be small (child’s room), medium, large (average American home) or grand (think public places, like a museum or hotel lobby).  I used the picture above because I think it is a good example of scale (sorry about the quality, this was taken with my old phone).   I love that a queen sized bed was used.  It fills the width of the room just right.  I also like the size of the headboard.  It fills the height of the room just right. Everything else relates to everything else. Nothing overpowers anything else, they all support each other. I know most of us do not have a blank slate or an unlimited budget to work with.  But you can play around with what is already in your home.

Here is a good example of playing around with scale.  The flowers are huge but they work on this table because they fill the visual void between the table and the light.  They help everything in this dining area relate to each other. I think that is the big take-away for me, don’t leave glaring voids and make sure that this relates and supports that (whatever your this and that may be).  Which brings me to why I am doing this “Design Elements” series, I want to share (and review for myself) the lessons I’ve learned in design school.  I really hope I don’t sound preachy or like a know-it-all.  I started this blog with a sincere desire to share tips and tricks I’ve learned the hard way (or had to pay someone a lot of money to gain).  My hope is to empower and inspire you to create your perfect home.