Learning to Love Negative Space
One of the things I love most about design is styling. Accessories are like jewelry for the home-the vases, books, trays, candles, and little details that bring a space to life. But if I’m being honest, I have a tendency to overdo it in my own home.
I’ll keep layering and layering until, almost without realizing it, every surface is filled. The coffee table is stacked, the shelves are brimming, the console table is dressed from end to end. And then one day, I’ll look around and suddenly feel claustrophobic. That’s usually the moment I stop, make myself a cup of coffee, turn on some music, and begin the process of editing.
Clearing away the excess is more than just design-it’s cathartic. With every book I remove, every extra vase I tuck away, and every candle I move back to storage, I feel lighter. It’s almost like the room exhales with me. The negative space opens up, and suddenly the room feels calmer, softer, and easier to live in.
That’s when I’m reminded of an important truth: negative space matters.
Negative space isn’t emptiness. It’s intention. It’s the pause in the conversation, the white space on the page, the rest in the music. In a home, it’s what allows your favorite pieces to shine. A console table with one striking vase feels more powerful than one crowded with objects. A clean coffee table with a single tray styled just so can feel more welcoming than one covered edge to edge. Even an open wall or a bare corner has value-it creates breathing room for the eye, for the home, and even for the people living there.
Over time, I’ve learned to pause and ask myself:
• Does this surface feel calm, or chaotic?
• If I remove one piece, does the room feel better?
• Am I letting this space tell one story, or too many?
For me, the act of decluttering and creating negative space is about more than aesthetics. It’s about energy. A room that’s layered with too much feels heavy. A room with balance feels light, inviting, and timeless. The process of clearing a surface isn’t just about design-it’s about creating space for your mind to rest, for your eye to relax, and for your home to breathe.
Notice the negative space behind the flower and vase? That took a lot of restraint for me to put nothing there. BUT, the flowers and vase (and other shelf decor) speaks for itself, so I let it shine, and it becomes the star of the show!
I still find myself tempted to over-accessorize (it’s part of my creative process), but I’ve learned to love the balance between layering and editing. That balance is where the magic happens.
In our Atlanta home, this room didn’t need a lot of fuss because the star of the show was…can you guess? The window! The height and beautiful arch plus painted trim makes it stunning. Any other decor would make it seem cluttered and compete with the beauty of that window.
At the end of the day, restraint doesn’t limit beauty-it enhances it. A home doesn’t need to be filled with things to feel complete. Sometimes, it’s the spaces we leave open that give the greatest sense of peace.
Feeling a bit claustrophobic in your home? Start creating room for negative space. You can do it and know that I am cheering you on!
Love,
Lindsay