How do you use the golden ratio in interior design? An example would be using the rule of three, which I talked about recently and how this can be used in the home. But more than just creating interesting and eye-catching decor, the rule of three brings a harmony to the design which can be explained by the Fibonacci sequence. What is derived from the Fibonacci sequence are predictable patterns, otherwise known as the golden ratio, golden section, golden mean, divine proportion, or the Fibonacci spiral.

According to Britannica, “in mathematics, the irrational number (1 + Square root of√5)/2, often denoted by the Greek letter ϕ or τ, is approximately equal to 1.618.” Are you getting a brain freeze like me with all this math? Maybe watching this video can help.

Let’s talk about the beauty of the golden ratio and not delve into the math. There are many more resources in the internet if you want to dig deeper into it. But for this post, let’s focus on how this can be used in interior design.

The Golden Ratio

The Golden Ratio in Interior Design | MyBoysen

As owners of mobile phones, we all are photographers, professional or budding or just plain wannabe. Most of us may have seen the horizontal and vertical lines on our mobile phone cameras. This grid is a compositional tool that balances the image so we are able to place the points of interest on the intersecting lines.

The golden ratio, or ϕ (phi), is found so often in nature. It is the perfect proportion that we are exposed to but we are usually not aware of. All we know is we find it so aesthetically pleasing. Here are the three ways that it can be used in interior design.

1.  The Rule of Three

The rule of three is basically a simplification of this ratio.  When you use this in your home, either in the layout or in decorating, this gives a sense of harmony and balance. Click on this link and read the post to know more.

2.  60-30-10 Rule

Another way to use the golden ratio is the 60-30-10 rule. This just means to create a 3-color palette for the space—60% comes from a dominant wall color or big items like a sofa, 30% can be from small accent furniture, and 10% from home accessories.

3.  Negative Space

Negative space means there is nothing there. This space is important to let the energy in a room flow much better. That includes people. Negative space is necessary to create spaces for foot traffic, where people can go unhindered from one space to another in the home. If you have an object that you want to highlight, the best way to do that would be to let it stand alone.

Use the 60/40 formula when decorating your home. You would know that you have overdecorated if furniture and other objects fill up more than 60% of the floor space.

Key Takeaway

When designing your home, use the golden ratio to guide you when you choose the color palette, when you design the layout, when you choose your furniture, or when you decorate.

You don’t have to use a tape measure all the time. But it would help if you keep the golden ratio or the divine proportion in mind to create a space that is balanced and harmonious.

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Author

Annie is the Managing Editor of Let it B | MyBoysen Blog. An unrepentant workaholic, she runs this blog and her own company Talking Lions (https://talkinglions.com). She thrives on collaborating with people who are good at what they do, and working together with them to create something special. Annie learned interior styling while managing her own wholesale business in the Netherlands, importing high-end, handmade home furnishings to stock four outlets and a showroom in the country.

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