Do you want to know about positive and negative space in interior design? This article will give you a general view of two types of these spaces in interior design.
Positive and negative space in interior design
In interior design, positive space is an area or space that is occupied by objects (furniture, decor element, tools, equipment….). Sometimes, paint color or light is also the component creating the positive space. Negative space is an area or space that is blank or empty around and among the objects. Negative space will combine with positive space to create space in interior design. If positive space dominates your room space, it will make you feel your room is cluttered (this is the feeling, the reality that your room was not). If negative space takes the majority of the room space, it will make the room look empty and boring. So, designers usually figure out the balance between positive and negative space in interior design.
Tips for using positive space in interior design.
Use different colors to create positive space
Color is an important thing in interior design. With successful color coordination, you can create many amazing things including building a positive space in interior design. For instance, you can use a contrastive paint color to create some positive area in a wall or you can also use that method to highlight columns or ceilings in your house so that they become more “positive space”. Furniture with different colors is a good selection for making the positive space created by them outstanding. However, 3-4 main colors are recommended, do not make your house become a cluttered color box.
Build positive space with picture
Picture is also a smart choice to create positive space in interior design, you can hang a picture on some empty areas on the wall. But the way you choose the picture is also important, you have to choose a suitable picture with the area on which the picture is hung. For example, you can hang a picture on the area above a long couch to create positive space, but do not pick a picture which is too small or too big. For me, a 2×3 picture with a length equal to 2/3 the length of the couch is enough and the main color of that picture has to be outstanding with the wall paint color.
Set up the light for positive space in interior design
Positive space in interior design, created by lighting, are the areas having different brightness or color of the light compared with the room light. Using light to make positive space is very effective when the sun goes down. You can use different brightness or color light to highlight the ceiling or some areas in a wall. You can set up the LED strip light to run along with the edges to create depth for the ceiling. You can also light up the wall area behind the desktop screen to make your working space more brilliant. Setting the LED strip light along with the edge between the stair and the wall is also a smart choice. It’s not only making your stair more beautiful but also creating safety when you move on that stairs.
Note the arrangement among objects
Building positive space in interior design does not mean that you put many things (furniture, decorations, artwork…) into a room. You have to control the quantity of stuff and have a wise arrangement. You have to find a suitable quantity of objects in your room based on the space of that room and the object size. The object arrangement is also important, you are not only creating positive space but also creating negative space. In other words, negative space in the interior is also the space among objects in your room, so you have to consider a suitable space among them. Furthermore, let’s ensure that the function of the object is not affected by your object arrangement. For instance, you should not put a flower vase too close to the television, because it may cover a part of the television screen.
Tips for using negative space in interior design
Hide items to create negative space
Sometimes, you try to eliminate stuff to balance negative and positive space in your room, but you face difficulty because there are a lot of things you cannot remove. The kitchen, for example, has many things supporting your cooking such as dishes, bowls, pots, pans, and spices…, so you should store them in the kitchen cabinet or a cupboard with non-transferred doors. Let’s stay away from the glass kitchen cabinet door if it is not necessary, because it will show all of the things inside that cupboard or kitchen cabinet, and your hiding-item purpose will fail.
The wire is also a problem you have to handle perfectly. There are many tools which can help to have good cable management such as cable organizers, clips, sleeves, ties, raceway, and on-wall cord covers…. You can try using those things to hide wires behind the TV/PC screen, TV stand or under desk, so that your room will be neater and you will eliminate the unnecessary positive space.
Ensure the walking path is negative space
In your furniture arrangement, you have to make sure that the walking path is always negative space. It’s really silly when you put some furniture in front of the door or on the walking path. They will become obstacles which make your movement in your house more difficult or uncomfortable, especially when you are in a rush. Therefore, you should note down the negative space for walking space in Floor Plan, so that you can avoid those negative spaces.
Let the natural light come into your room with negative space
Along with the walking path, the areas in front of the windows should be also dominated by negative spaces. You should not put many things in those areas, because they may block the natural light going into your room. For another function, you can move easily near the window for closing, opening, or cleaning that window.
Highlight your stuff by negative space
It’s really easy to understand that the positive space will be outstanding, if that positive space is surrounded by negative space. You can apply this rule to show off the stuff which you are interested in or proud of. For instance, if you want to show off your beautiful armchair, let’s try to erase the positive space around it and that armchair will catch the eye of visitors