Repeat each motif at least once

Last week we discussed Lines of Sight & Focal points. Every room needs a focal point. It becomes the central part of your theme in each space.

But after specifying a focal point, what do you do?

This can get very complex very fast. It's my goal to make this as simple and actionable as possible.

A simple framework I've come up with is:

"Repeat each motif at least once"

So look at this living room:

It looks harmonious. But why?

Because everything contains a reference to something else. Each motif is repeated at least once.

Let us count the ways:

-Gold/Yellow: Burl wood coffee table, yellow chair, tapestry, wall sconce

-Series of curved lines: Rug, tapestry, sofa

-Single curved lines: Chair, wall ledge, sconce

-90 degree angles: coffee table, tapestry

-The color brown: sofa, jars on coffee table

-Horizontal plane: The seat of the sofa, the top of the coffee table, the foot rest of the chair all look to be the same height and create a uniform horizontal plane

-Light gray: concrete floor, rug

There are probably more, this is just what I came up with.

The easiest way to do this, that everybody understands, is to buy two of the same thing. Two end tables. Two accent chairs. Two sconces. This principle in action is why this approach is popular.

For most, this stuff exists at the subconscious level. They walk in, it feels great, they're happy.

But you, a designer, are becoming an intentional observer, who picks apart the equation of the space.

Try this at your home and have fun with it. Constraints are so helpful in all design projects.

Here's another room that does this exceedingly well, if you're inclined, try to pick out all the little repeats of motifs:

few things I've seen

Rugs by A Rum Fellow. Beautiful unique stuff

​I think this would like incredible in a formal garden/courtyard setting. Maybe two of them over a dining table.