HomeTriangle Guides: Design Lesson - Decorating Odd-Shaped Rooms

Any room which is not a square or a rectangle is considered irregular and odd-shaped. The shape does not give you the symmetry to furnish the room in a balanced manner, and it can become a serious challenge even for professional interior decorators. The good news is that is possible to create a beautiful interiors even in unusually-shaped rooms. You can apply these general guidelines to decorate your own oddly shaped room.

Divide

Break down the room into different living areas. Identifyyour living needs. If the room is big enough for separate leisure and workspaces, arrange furniture accordingly. You can place your computer tableand bookshelves in one part of the room and your T.V. in another. Corners andangled spaces can be camouflaged by placing round furniture to take thefocus off odd angles. You can also place easels, flower vases, or a chair incorners as a decor accent.

Focal point

It’s a great idea to arrange your furniture and accessoriesaround the main concept of the room. For example, in your bedroom, let thebed dominate the decor; if it is your living room, it could be the T.V. orsofa; for the kitchen, the cooking range! Then decorate the rest ofthe space around it. By doing so, you concentrate on the main living aspects,which gives you a much needed reference point for situating the remainingfurniture and accessories.

Utilize Floor Space Creatively

Use free-standing book shelves and other tallfurniture to act as effective room dividers. Partitioning an odd shaped room itselfis a great way to organize the flow of movement in the room. For e.g. afour-sided book stand can be accessed from all sides. This entails a lesserscope for wall-backed sofas and chairs. Apart from creating balance in anasymmetrical room, you can move free-standing furniture at will and not be restrained by a wall. It's also be a good idea to put a rug in the center of the floor to draw attention to the middle of the room ratherthan the angles.

Maintain Consistency In Decor

Repeating design elements throughout the interior help make the room seem more balanced. It is important to have matched window coverings. Furniture should be matched and the wall trims should also be consistent. Thismeans that you cannot have a theme wall with a decor style in conflict with thegeneral design elements of the room unless you want that wall to be the focalpoint of the room.

Use Color Intelligently

Choosing the right colors is a crucial component inoffsetting an odd shaped room. Bold colors are a no-no, because they will highlight the room’s shape. Theright color can make your walls blend together, and keep them in thebackground. In case your walls are sloped, paint them a vibrant white, whichopens up the room. And use complimentary colors for the rest of the designelements; remember the consistency we talked about?

It is interesting to note that an oddly shaped room canbe the highlight in a home if it is decorated wisely. You can translate the oddness of the room to your advantage by interpreting it as a new decorating template, making the shape of the room look like your choice rather than an unattractive and unavoidable element to work around!