How to bring curves into your home

From arched doorways and contoured walls to curved furniture and spherical light fittings, curves have emerged as one of the top home décor trends of 2020.

After more than a decade of straight lines dominating interior design, the curve has made its way back into interiors as part of a wider resurgence of Art Deco and mid-century style. But Rawson Homes’ interior design manager Julia Johnston says curves are also sign that we’re prioritising warmth and comfort in our homes.

Why curves work in your interiors

“Look at the floorplan of a typical home and all you will see is straight lines,” Julia says.

“Circles and curves balance out all that sharpness and structure, adding a sense of flexibility and luxury, and softening those spaces that have lots of heavy and hard materials.

“They work particularly well with mid-century interiors, but also as a contrast in contemporary or industrial-style home designs.”

Aside from softening all the hard edges in your home, Julia says that curves can also draw the eye to a focal point, improve the flow of a room and even make it seem bigger, with the added bonus of fewer hard edges to bump into.

“Swap a rectangular dining table for an oval shape and see how much more spacious it feels,” she suggests.

Here are five other ways to introduce curves into your home décor:

Kitchen bench  

The kitchen is the heart of the home, but it’s also full of horizontal lines and hard surfaces. “We wanted to embrace mid-century modern style in the kitchen of our Ellwood home design, so we decided to create a really showstopping curved island bench,” Julia says. “The shape of the benchtop contrasts with the hardness of the stone, and the timber joinery underneath adds a natural warmth.”

Pendant lighting

Pendant lights are another great way to bring curves into the kitchen and put your island bench in the spotlight. There are plenty of cylindrical shapes to suit any style of décor, from classic Hamptons to modern and minimal. “We chose a subtle industrial-style globe for the kitchen in our Corrima home design, which works with the circular window to offset the horizontal lines in the space,” Julia says.

Curved furniture

Ever sat down on a sofa and felt like you couldn’t move for fear of bruising your shins on the coffee table? “We’ve definitely seen a move away from bulky rectangular shapes in the living room to smaller circular coffee tables and side tables, sometimes in clusters of two or three,” Julia says. If your living room is particularly angular, dial up the curves by layering your coffee table with some round platters or a nest of vases as seen here in the Newlyn home design. Or invest in a beautifully curved armchair, like this one from Fenton & Fenton.

Round mirrors

Circular mirrors are the perfect example of using shape to soften a hard surface, particularly in the bathroom, where the combination of stone, tiles and porcelain can leave you feeling cold. “They’re also great for making a room feel bigger because they bounce light around the space,” Julia says. Pair with a curved basin, as seen in the Oxford home design, to create a warm and welcoming sanctuary.

Outdoors

Curved lines work hand in hand with the natural landscape, so consider introducing some into your outdoor spaces by way of curved garden walls, decking, or even a cluster of pot plants. “The rounded edges of the pool and decking in our Oxford home design on display at Marsden Park add depth and create a more relaxed vibe for the backyard,” Julia says.

For more styling inspiration, visit Rawson Homes’ Design Tips & Trends page.