We might have been taught that symmetry is the secret to the most pleasing design schemes, but Chrissy Metz's living room gently eschews the rule, and we think it works so beautifully. While at first glance you might see an ordered and aesthetically pleasing space, look closer and you'll notice it's not quite a mirror image, which makes it feel like a small, yet satisfying rebellion against the norm.
So, are symmetrical living room layouts out of style? The interesting answer is no. 'Symmetry instantly supports the order already present in architectural elements like fireplaces, windows, and repeated arches,' explains Bruce Tucker, Co-Founder, Octane Seating.
'Symmetry also helps sculptural pieces look purposeful rather than scattered. After a stable base is set, one asymmetrical move – such as a single chaise, an offset accent chair, or a slightly different side table – keeps the room from feeling staged. This balance allows statement forms to be read as design decisions rather than visual noise.'
Below you'll find a selection of buys inspired by Chrissy Metz's living room layout, from the exact Ojai Lounge Chair by Lawson-Fenning (1st Dibs) that she uses to flank the fireplace, to the statement ikat ottoman (Target) that gently disrupts the symmetry, as well as more tips on recreating her sculptural look.
Shop Chrissy Metz's Sculptural Living Room Look
This is the exact chair from Chrissy Metz's living room. It feels sculpted yet comfortable and makes a real statement as part of a pair flanking a character feature such as a fireplace or window.
In soft velvet that changes appearance in different lights, this tufted sofa takes a traditional silhouette and gives it a modern update bringing in a linear shape with softly curved edges.
This distressed look wooden coffee table creates a nice contrast with the luxe velvet and leather seating seen in Chrissy Metz's living room, helping to ground and balance the look.
Chrissy Metz's kooky ottoman with feet features a bold print, similar to this Ikat one which draws the eye, whilst the curved shape reflects the natural arches of the doorway and windows in her living room.
Echoing the pattern of the hexagonal floor tiles and the sculptural chairs in Chrissy Metz's living room is a fabric ceiling light like this one. Keeping the color light draws the eye up to the dark beams and makes the ceiling appear higher.
Sculpted by a ceramic worker in Mexico, this decorative terracotta vase is made of local clay and picks up on the sculptural shapes and earthy tones from Chrissy Metz's living room. Fill with stems or leave empty as a stand-alone decor piece.
Ok, so we might not all have the benefit of the stunning architectural features that Chrissy Metz's living room boasts – see how that arched doorway perfectly frames her seating layout, echoed by the arched windows on either side of the character fireplace. But that doesn't mean we can't borrow some of her styling tips.
'Always match the room’s strongest lines with related furniture shapes and surface details so everything feels connected,' advises Bruce. 'Under an arched doorway or curved window, a curved sofa, a rounded chaise, or even a circular ottoman repeats that geometry without copying it exactly.'
Note how the matching taupe chairs in Chrissy Metz's living room are mirrored by one accent chair and an ottoman. 'A straightforward approach to using symmetry in interior design is a pair of lounge chairs that flank a fireplace or a matching pair of side tables that frame a main sofa, which makes the space feel calm and intentional,' says Bruce. Yet it's the subtle tweaks like this, and the slightly off-center vase of flowers that keep things interesting.
Playing with form is also a clever way to break up the hard edges in the room with more sculptural pieces that echo the existing curves in the space. 'Introduce curves and varied silhouettes so the eye stops travelling in straight lines. Rounded ottomans, a softly radiused arm, with a curved corner unit, all break up the grid without fighting the architecture,' explains Bruce.
If you look closely, you'll notice that the two sofas in Chrissy Metz's living room only match in color and texture, but not shape. One is boxy, the other curvaceous. Keeping to a consistent color scheme – in this case, taupes, tans, and gray-blues, and using luxe textures like velvet and leather another trick to ensure that the scheme feels chic and cohesive when the symmetry is slightly off.
Final touches, like reflecting the geometry of the floor tiling to the ceiling lights and adding sculptural stoneware to echo the furniture design, keep the space feeling grounded and intentional.
Chrissy Metz's living room is proof that perfect symmetry isn't always the answer to the most visually appealing space, but if you do choose to be a little rebellious, then you must consider the importance of balance through other elements like color, texture and architectural features.
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