Maybe it’s cultural. But Filipino homes are not what you call minimalist. Even #teamputi is not minimalist either; their homes are white and ang daming stuff! Butingting there. Abubot here. Puro puti nga lang. We are the exuberant race with the maximalist heart.
Negative space? Ano iyan? Sayang naman, pwede pa akong maglagay ng something, like the rocking chair of Lola. For us, walls are meant to drip with art work, pictures, or memorabilia.
Negative Space
But do you know that if you want to make your treasured pieces shine, you need to plan negative spaces around them? Negative space allows the eye to rest and brings your treasured pieces into focus.
Do you have a stunning wallpaper that you want to showcase? You can steal the idea in the above image, and encase the wallpaper in an arch. Design a vignette for that space with most of the area taking the muted grays from the wallpaper and having one light sienna armchair to give the tiny space a tinge of zing.
Walls that color can be achieved through the Konstrukt Lunar Series smooth finishes like Kaiser or Kashmir.
Colors need space to breathe like this room with its colorful carpet, accessories, and quirky designer furniture. To follow feng shui principles, there are spaces in between the colorful objects for qi (or chi), or life force, to flow so that harmony and balance within a space could be achieved.
Not only that, having the negative space also easily allows the flow of foot traffic in between the different areas.
Boysen has many white paint colors. Check them out in this link The Quiet Elegance of White.
Wall Colors
People usually reach for white or light neutral colors for their wall paint, which are easy colors to pair existing furniture and home accessories with. Also, these colors can help brighten a room and give the place a feeling of spaciousness. In addition, these are classic colors that give any home a sense of timelessness and elegance. Tip: Clean your walls regularly with a damp rag, and these would look good for many years. This advice is for all colors of paint.
However, consider using dark colors because they can give your home a sense of drama. If you have treasured pieces that cry out for a more impactful way of displaying them, choose a dark color. See the way the peacock blue of the ottoman and throw pillows, as well as the burnt sienna of the sofa, gleam in this dark setting.
Here are some moody colors from Boysen Color Trend 2024-25.
A colorful art work can also stand out even more if you pick a dark color from it and make that the color of your wall. In the dining room below, the royal blue color is echoed on the wall and the seat upholstery. The deep, saturated color is allowed to breathe because it is paired with the light brown color of the wood furniture, the floor, and the pendant lamp.
Check out the color Marine Sanctuary | BCT21-7441S from Boysen Color Trend 2022-23 LIVE Palette.
If you don’t feel confident about choosing a palette, click on this link and read about color theory. Discover color schemes that are more complex. If you follow color theory, you will have a really great guide. You may enjoy the process of choosing hues to make a gorgeous color palette that deeply appeals to you.
Bring Your Treasured Pieces into Focus
When it comes to creating a negative space around your treasured pieces, I know it may require a lot of discipline. I know what it feels like to think that having empty spaces in the home feels like leaving a vacuum. Think of the empty space not as a lack but as a way to bring your treasured pieces into focus. It’s like highlighting important text in a book you’re reading. That space provides the function of leading your eye to rest on your treasure and to enjoy them in all its beauty.
The younger generation may have an even more difficult time if the Gen Z aesthetics are anything to go by. Also, the labubu craze still seems to be popular, so all I can say is do restrain yourselves. Start by investing in an art work that captures your imagination, instead of many little pieces of fluff.
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