Good interiors need balance, but that doesn’t mean everything has to sit perfectly still. Some of the most intriguing objects play with scale, weight and geometry, creating a little visual tension in the process. Taking a cue from Alexander Calder’s iconic cantilevered sculptures, these pieces look poised to tip, swing or float, bringing an unexpected sense of movement to otherwise static rooms.
You can see it in designer Colin King’s seesaw-like candle holder and Woud’s popular lacquered oak and brass shelving, which seems to hover against the wall rather than hang from it. Articulating lamps pull off a similar trick, stretching outward on slender arms and turning a practical source of light into a bit of architecture. Consider them an easy way to throw a room slightly off balance, in the best possible way.
