The Power of Shapes: How Forms Affect the Feel of a Space 🔺🔵
Why Your Home’s Shapes Matter Just As Much As Colour
We often talk about how colour can influence how a space feels. But there’s another design element that’s just as powerful—often silently shaping your mood and energy without you even realising it. Have you ever stepped into a room and instantly felt calmer… or more energised… or just a little off without knowing why 🤔?
Chances are, shapes had something to do with it. From the roundness of a mirror to the zigzag on a throw pillow, shapes play a massive role in how we feel in a space. And when used intentionally, they can completely transform the atmosphere of a room. Shapes carry emotional weight. They guide our eyes, ground our energy, and can either spark creativity or invite us to rest. And the best part? You don’t need to be a designer to start using them with intention.
I dive deep into this in Module 3 of my online course, Colour Your Home Happy, but if you’re curious to get a little taster... read on 👇
🛋️ Shapes Have Feelings Too
We all respond to shapes in a space, whether consciously or not. That soft curve on a chair? Instantly soothing. A sharp triangle pattern above a desk? Invigorating. It’s emotional design in action.
Curves & arches create calm, comfort, and flow. That’s why I love using them for beds, reading corners, or even painted nooks.
Squares & rectangles bring a sense of order. Ideal for storage, work zones, or anywhere you want things to feel grounded and structured.
Triangles & angled forms suggest movement and transformation. I love using them when I want to introduce energy and focus—especially in creative or functional spaces.
Organic, wavy shapes feel playful and free—perfect when you want your home to feel creative, quirky, or a bit rebellious (yes, please!).
Once you start noticing shapes, it’s hard to unsee them. And better yet, you can start to use them with intention.
🎨 Patterns = Personality
Patterns are just shapes that decided to party 🎉. And depending on their vibe — stripes, florals, waves, or zigzags — they can totally transform the mood of a space.
Patterns bring rhythm and movement. A stripe might stretch a room visually. A grid might calm it down. Layering them (like a checkered rug + curvy wallpaper) adds depth and tells a story.
Start small: patterned cushions, art, or painted wall details can go a long way.
Patterns are simply shapes with rhythm. And they have just as much emotional weight.
🎯 Zoning Your Room with Shape
One of the most practical ways I use shape in design is to define different zones within a single room—especially in multifunctional spaces. Shapes can act like invisible walls, creating distinct areas without breaking flow.
In a toddler’s room I designed, I used different shapes to break up the space by function:
A deep blue painted alcove wrapped around the sleeping zone, making it feel like a safe cocoon.
A sun ray motif defined the play area—bright, joyful, and full of energy.
Rainbow stripes in the reading nook guided the eye up, making it feel vibrant and magical.
A green sunburst above the desk brought focus and energy to the study zone.
Bonus tip:
Your ceiling is the fifth wall. Use it! Paint shapes that continue upward—like I did with rainbow stripes in the reading corner—to make the room feel taller and more immersive.
Shapes can literally map out your room’s function. They’re great tools to define zones—especially in multifunctional spaces. They can help you say: this corner is for creativity, this spot is for calm, this part is just for me.
🎨 Highlight What Matters
Another trick I swear by? Using shape to spotlight features.
Have a feature you love? Shapes can help you shout about it.
In The Big Interiors Battle, I used shapes to direct attention and tell visual stories:
In the bedroom, I hand-painted curves around irregular mirrors, turning them into art pieces and softening the entire space.
In the kitchen, I outlined a spice shelf with triangles to draw focus and make something practical feel joyful.
In the bathroom, layered arches brought harmony to the vanity area, echoing the round mirrors and creating a sense of calm.
You don’t need fancy furniture to do this. Even a lick of paint, a taped outline, or vinyl decals can highlight a piece and elevate your space.
In my own home, I even created a hand-painted ceiling mural—a bold, playful surprise that lifted my mood every morning. Was it extra? Absolutely. Was it worth it? 1000%. It gives me a burst of motivation every time I look up.
🌀 Create Optical Magic
Shapes can do more than highlight zones—they can change how we perceive the room entirely. Want a ceiling to feel higher? Extend your shape from wall to ceiling. Want a corner to feel warmer? Use a soft, rounded shape to “hug” the space. Want more movement? Use angles and directional patterns to draw the eye. These are tiny design tricks with big emotional impact.
In one design, I used painted checkerboard stripes to lead the eye through a narrow hallway—it created a sense of momentum and made the space feel more expansive than it actually was.
You can even play with perspective: try lying on the floor and looking at your space from a different angle. You’ll see your shapes shift and stretch in fascinating ways. That’s the joy of shape—it moves.
Need actionable tips to help you play with perspective? Check my blog post Playing with Perception: How Paint Alters Room Size !
✨ The Magic Is in the Mix
Now here’s the real sweet spot: mixing shapes intentionally.
A space that’s all curves might feel overly soft and lack structure. All sharp lines? Too rigid. But blend the two—like a circular rug under a square coffee table, or an arched shape next to a grid of artwork—and boom: balance, depth, and energy.
Layering patterns can also add texture and depth—but also feeling.
Want a quick mood boost?
Try mixing a structured stripe with an organic floral. Or go tone-on-tone if you want calm with visual interest.
You can also play with symmetry vs. asymmetry. There’s something undeniably satisfying about a symmetrical room. Balance. Order. Calm. But lean too far into perfection, and things can get… boring. That’s where asymmetry comes in — a bit of tension, surprise, and dynamic flow. Think off-centre mirrors, a gallery wall that “breaks the grid,” or a bold rug that disrupts all those right angles. Design is a dance — and playing with symmetry keeps it from becoming a snooze fest.
🛠️ Want to Try This at Home?
🌈 I’ve packed a whole module of my course, Colour Your Home Happy, with exercises and step-by-step videos to help you experiment with shape—no experience required.
🌈 Through six comprehensive modules, you’ll learn:
How to use shape to create zones, highlight areas, or add personality
How to balance curves with angles
How to sketch out (or tape out!) your own shape-based makeover
👉 The first video and workbook are completely free to try. If you’re even a tiny bit curious about how your space could feel better—this is your sign ✨!
💬 Let’s Keep the Colourful Conversation Going
Have you used shape intentionally in your space before? Have you tried painting a mural, zoning your rooms, or adding curves to break up the lines?
If not, maybe it’s time to give it a go. I’d love to see what you come up with—tag me on Instagram @rainbow.shaker or DM me your experiments 💌
And if you want to turn your curiosity into action, head over to the course. You might just fall in love with your home again, one curve at a time.