geom organic interiors.qxp_Layout 1 27/01/2023 14:17 Page 1
CITY INTERIORS
Geometric vs organic
Whether you are a pattern fiend or obsessed with statement forms, how do you balance geometric and organic shapes, patterns and structures in your home interior without causing chaos? Take your lead from our local experts...
ABOVE LEFT: Origami, Rugby Geometric Collection by the Rug Society; rugsociety.eu ABOVE RIGHT Idyll Tree Duck Egg Wallpaper by Graham & Brown; grahambrown.com
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he ever-shifting trends in interior design can be perplexing. One season it’s bold stripes, zigzags, monochrome and angular patterns; the next it’s biophilic design and curvilinear shapes. What is a person living in an interior, with design standards to maintain, to do? Unless you decorate and refurnish your home annually – which would be ridiculous – you will not be slavishly following these trends. Like any vocabulary, these ideas about what’s ‘in’ are fluid suggestions about design statements and visual effects that can be adopted if you fancy, or ignored if you don’t. Here are some perspectives on the geometric and organic from a selection of our local designers and retailers.
On trend wall arches, scalloped tiles, circular fabric and wallpaper designs, sphereshaped lights, rounded stone bathrooms, curved sofas and furniture are now bringing a relaxed, easy look to our homes. After the pandemic, we are looking for our homes to be a cocooning, welcoming space that is an expression of ourselves.
Geometric shapes need not always consist of angular, intersecting lines; circles and crescents are just as core to geometry
Clair Strong
WOODHOUSE & LAW
After many years of geometric designs, curved designs are seeing a surge in popularity in the interior design world. Gentle curves bring an organic vibe to interiors and add interest to spaces which have a lot of straight lines. The resurgence of curves comes as the interior design world is moving from the more Minimalist aesthetic to a more freeflowing Maximalist look, where juxtaposing organic natural shapes with sharper geometric lines adds a layer of interest to your interior design. 66 TheBATHMagazine
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february 2023
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I love mixing geometric pieces of furniture like a low rectangular ottoman with another angular piece like a curved sofa. If you have a lot of straight lines in your house, an easy way to introduce a curved piece in your home is with accessories like a beautiful piece of ceramic or a large round bowl full of fruit. If you are feeling braver, a sculptural chair or curvy table will work well in a space full of more geometric hard-edged pieces. If you’re looking to subtly add curves to a space, mirrors or artwork with curved frames are the perfect way to add interest
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and create a focal point. Studies have found we respond to circular shapes more positively than more geometric shapes because we are conditioned to find sharp edges and corners harmful and round shapes friendly and approachable. Line is important in every room design to make a room well-balanced and aesthetically pleasing. In small spaces, curved furniture helps to soften the room and extend the eyeline. In larger rooms, bigger, more sweeping curves create flow and dynamism. In 2023 we are all embracing a more relaxed and less prescriptive design aesthetic juxtaposing organic, oval shapes with sharper geometric lines. clairstrong.co.uk
Woodhouse & Law Patterns give energy and pace to a space, completely changing how we feel. There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to mixing and matching forms, but a combination is often the best way to go. Lots of clashing pattern can heighten your senses and almost feel chaotic, so we often look for a hero fabric in an organic motif, pairing it with a geometric equivalent so that they don’t compete. When thinking of geometric shapes, designer David Hicks comes instantly to mind, particularly in those linear, tessellated designs that gained fame and admiration in