New England Home
What a week it has been! I meant to post earlier but life pulled me in other directions. Still, the house projects keep moving forward and I’m excited to share the progress and ideas as they happen.
I missed connecting with you. Now that I’m finally here, I’m wondering if anyone’s online — if you are, please say hello in the comments so I know you’re reading. If not, no worries; I’ll keep sharing anyway.
As I’ve been assembling the living and dining rooms, I’ve found myself focusing on the shapes in each space. You might not notice shapes consciously, but they affect how a room feels. The literal shapes of furniture, fixtures, and architectural elements shape the overall mood and balance of a room.
BHG
Curved or round shapes soften sharp lines. If your architecture or furnishings are predominantly angular, adding rounded elements can balance and warm the space. My fireplace is intentionally asymmetrical and angular; rather than remodel it, I opted to change its visual weight by adding a round mirror over the fireplace opening to create the illusion of a more centered focal point.
Introducing a circular element counters the angles and adds softness to that side of the room. We also repainted the fireplace to read as a different stone color (not white), and the change made the whole area feel more cohesive. I’ll share photos once everything is in place.
Montara Mirror
Shapes are guiding many of my dining room decisions as well. The light fixture I chose may feel bold to some, but I like it because it introduces an important shape to the space. In our dining room the plan is to pair a round table with a round pendant to reinforce circular forms while working with the room’s asymmetrical window and layout.
Around the room, angular pieces — like the cabinet with its window-pane doors and the rattan shelving with Chippendale-inspired details — create strong linear patterns. Layering round shapes into that mix provides contrast and visual relief. The curvy lamp shapes on the cabinet also help add softness.
Because dining rooms often have many hard surfaces, we sought upholstered Parsons chairs with floor-length slipcovers. Their shapes and fabric soften the overall look, making the space more inviting and calm. If we had chosen chairs with more ornate, angular detailing, the room would have felt busier than intended.
BHG
Every room benefits from a thoughtful look at shapes. Take a moment to notice the lines, curves, and forms throughout a room and decide whether they complement one another. If a space feels slightly off, it may be due to an imbalance of shapes.
Consider the coffee table: square, rectangular, or round will work differently depending on the seating arrangement. Light fixtures should be chosen not only for scale but for shape, so they enhance the room’s proportions rather than overpower them. Sofa arm shapes can either crowd or streamline a seating area.
Even finishes such as tile and grout create lines that influence a room’s visual rhythm. In a past kitchen remodel we used darker grout, which increased perceived lines and movement. Because the floor and backsplash already carried strong patterns, we simplified other surfaces like countertops and cabinetry and introduced round accents elsewhere to balance the look.
Paying attention to shapes is a simple, effective way to transform a space. Walk through your home and notice the dominant forms. Are they balanced so the room feels restful and cohesive?
Give it a try this weekend — it’s a fun little project that can make a big difference.