3. Soften a Boxy Room With Curves
Most rooms are full of straight lines. Walls meet at right angles. Sofas, cabinets, tables, rugs, windows, and shelves are usually rectangular. When every large object has hard corners, the room can start to feel stiff and overly structured. It may suddenly feel like a box within a box within a box...
An easy fix is to add a few curves. You do not need to replace your furniture. Try a round tray on a square coffee table, a curved lamp beside a straight sofa, an oval mirror above a cabinet, or a round cushion mixed with rectangular ones. Even a plant with soft leaves can break up a room dominated by sharp edges.
The trick is moderation. One or two curved shapes can soften it without making the room feel themed. For example, if your living room has a rectangular sofa, square side table, straight bookshelf, and television, add a round bowl and a circular lampshade. Those changes give your eyes a break from repeating angles. Look around your room and count the hard corners you can see. If almost everything is boxy, add one gentle curve.