5 Ways to Style Your Living Room Alcoves Asymmetrically
Discover designers’ tricks for playing about with the spaces either side of a chimney breast
A chimney breast with alcoves either side is a familiar example of architectural symmetry in many of our living rooms. No doubt you’ll also have seen plenty of them on Houzz flanked by equally symmetrical decor – matching shelves, twinned cabinets, paired table lamps… But while that can look beautiful, it’s not the only way to approach this feature.
In fact, a bit of asymmetry can be an exciting way to refresh your space. From extending shelves into a knocked-through room to furnishing with ‘same-but-different’ pieces and playing with height, there are lots of ways to achieve an aesthetic equilibrium in your living room alcoves, as these stylish rooms illustrate.
In fact, a bit of asymmetry can be an exciting way to refresh your space. From extending shelves into a knocked-through room to furnishing with ‘same-but-different’ pieces and playing with height, there are lots of ways to achieve an aesthetic equilibrium in your living room alcoves, as these stylish rooms illustrate.
2. Focus on the small details
There may be little symmetry at first glance in this elegant room by Kudos Design & Build, but that magical sense of balance either side of the chimney breast is evident. How have they done it?
Look more closely and you’ll notice echoes emerging: the cylindrical shapes on the top of the tall cabinet find a friend in the circular artwork on the opposite side. The dark-toned wooden furniture, too, helps to settle the scales, and even the subtle horizontal lines on each piece work harmoniously.
There may be little symmetry at first glance in this elegant room by Kudos Design & Build, but that magical sense of balance either side of the chimney breast is evident. How have they done it?
Look more closely and you’ll notice echoes emerging: the cylindrical shapes on the top of the tall cabinet find a friend in the circular artwork on the opposite side. The dark-toned wooden furniture, too, helps to settle the scales, and even the subtle horizontal lines on each piece work harmoniously.
3. Pair your paint finishes
The shelves here are at different heights; one alcove has a built-in cupboard, the other doesn’t, and there’s no obvious link between the accessories displayed either side of the chimney breast. But, in this inviting living room designed by Studio Dean, symmetry lies in the two-tone paintwork.
Even though the alcove treatments differ at the bottom, that strong line of paler colour on and above the picture rail pulls the sides together, particularly as the chimney breast in the centre is solid inky blue to the ceiling.
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The shelves here are at different heights; one alcove has a built-in cupboard, the other doesn’t, and there’s no obvious link between the accessories displayed either side of the chimney breast. But, in this inviting living room designed by Studio Dean, symmetry lies in the two-tone paintwork.
Even though the alcove treatments differ at the bottom, that strong line of paler colour on and above the picture rail pulls the sides together, particularly as the chimney breast in the centre is solid inky blue to the ceiling.
Find an interior designer near you.
4. Do the same – but different
This crisp, all-white arrangement by Ola Jachymiak Studio features almost identical joinery in each alcove, and yet it’s different enough to rock the symmetry. One side simply has a section of closed storage – perfect for hiding a television – and a slight variation in the shelve space directly above it.
Again, repetition of shapes in the accessories help to balance the space, with spheres featuring on both sides.
This crisp, all-white arrangement by Ola Jachymiak Studio features almost identical joinery in each alcove, and yet it’s different enough to rock the symmetry. One side simply has a section of closed storage – perfect for hiding a television – and a slight variation in the shelve space directly above it.
Again, repetition of shapes in the accessories help to balance the space, with spheres featuring on both sides.
5. Marry with mirror
The standout symmetry here is that both alcoves are backed, floor-to-ceiling, with mirror. This strong, trompe l’oeil feature either side of the focal point fireplace pulls this ecelctic space together.
It’s a clever idea in a small, busy space, as it really expands the room, creating depth and bringing light to stop things feeling cluttered.
Tell us…
Which wall would you most like to live with? Let us know in the Comments.
The standout symmetry here is that both alcoves are backed, floor-to-ceiling, with mirror. This strong, trompe l’oeil feature either side of the focal point fireplace pulls this ecelctic space together.
It’s a clever idea in a small, busy space, as it really expands the room, creating depth and bringing light to stop things feeling cluttered.
Tell us…
Which wall would you most like to live with? Let us know in the Comments.
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If you’ve knocked through the wall between two rooms, as here, there may be a positive invitation to break with the ‘matching cabinets and shelves either side’ idea, since one alcove may have changed shape.
The scheme, by Portland Projects, is a great example of how to achieve balance without slavish symmetry. One one side, there’s a mirrored wall cabinet; on the other, shelves that extend out of the former alcove. What links the two niches, though, is that lovely low cabinetry, at the same height and in the same style and colour, but of different lengths, either side. Extending the unit on the left visually stretches the room into its neighbouring space as it goes.