An important principle taught in art school is
called "negative space," the space that surrounds an object
in an image. Being incredible witty, we called it "formal
waste." But it is important in defining the boundaries around
images and brings balance to a composition.
Keep
this in mind if you want your room box to feel airy and spacious, or
as I like to put it, "think about the invisible." Create as
much unused space as possible in your miniature. This doesn't
necessarily mean less furniture, but being more selective in choices
available, in whatever time period you are working.
For
example instead of having a sofa that has a skirt all the way to the
floor, have one that has the legs visible, so that you can see
underneath. That's the "invisible" part. You don't see the
bottom of the sofa. You only see the seat and back, but your mind
knows there is probably empty space under there. Sure enough. Hold
the box at eye level and you can see all the way to the wall. This
gives the illusion of a small block of a space being used rather than
a large block.
The
same is true of tables, which should have relatively thin tops and
legs, They take up less visual space. Add a mirrored top, if
authentic, to reflect more space.
Sheer curtains allow the viewer
to see beyond, which adds up to more space. A single large piece of
art appears to take up less wall space than a grouping of pictures of
the same overall dimensions.
Keep
books and knick-knacks on flat surfaces to a minimum. Book cases with
open backs appear less bulky than enclosed ones. Instead of a solid
mass of books, use a clear vase, a stack of two or three books or a
picture frame on one of the shelves. It looks as though you can see
right through to the wall
Furniture spacing is another way you can give a miniature room a more spacious
feeling is furniture placement. These suggestions are relevant only
If your project emulates reality, not If you are recreating a memory,
which requires the use of as many meaningful objects as possible.
Make
sure you don't interfere with traffic flow. Don't block doorways, so
that a person would have to go around a chair or table. Traffic
should "flow" like a stream, unblocked by obstacles.
If
your room box can be viewed from the top through glass or a vinyl
sheet, be careful about putting a coffee table so close to the sofa
that in real life, a person would have to squeeze by to sit down. If
your miniature can only be viewed from the front, it's okay to cheat
a bit if you have to balance perspective.
Don't
block windows with furniture. And try to keep from having furniture
lined up against the walls. Rather, have a grouping of furniture for
people to sit close and have a conversation. And be surrounded by
negative space.
Rugs
should anchor furniture. Put the front legs of a sofa on the rug;
back legs on the flooring underneath. If angling furniture across a
corner, do it with more than one piece. Or angle the rug, too. The
idea is to arrange right angles for each object. One lonely piece
just looks like you've cut off the corner.
If
it's a modern dollhouse, don't have all of the furniture aimed at the
TV. The living or family rooms are for relating with people, not
staring at a boob tube. Unless you're making a statement about the
times in which we live.
The
picture is of a creation by miniaturist Mark Wu
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