Believe it or not, designers don't go around creating rooms all willy nilly. There are concrete principles and elements of design that professionals utilize when working. Although most don't have a physical 'check-list' to make sure that they've satisfied every principle, rest assured that a mental one is used daily. When you understand what the principles/elements are and what they mean, it's easy to see what exactly it is that makes some designs work and others fail. If you have a space that you just can't seem to get right, chances are that one of your basic components is off.
Proportion/Scale
The term 'scale' in the design industry refers to how one or more elements within an object relate to each other. You could say that the ottoman pictured above is in scale because the feet are large enough to appear to support it without looking cartoon-ish. If you ever see an item that looks like a caricature or cartoon, it's scale is probably off. This is why it looks wrong when you put a tiny lampshade on a large lamp: the scale is wrong.
The term 'proportion' refers to how an element within a room relates to other elements within the same room. The large ottoman and mirror are in proportion to other objects and design elements in the room because of their size. A typical ottoman (one that's not the size of a small country) would look teeny in this room. Likewise, standard sized windows would make the space feel dark and cramped.
Knowing how to decode pictures that you find around the internet and in magazines makes it so much easier to apply design ideas you love at home. Look at the space you're working with. If it's a smaller room, chances are smaller pieces of furniture will work best. Likewise, a large room can't handle having dainty pieces unless they're set off by a larger one. Be sure to look at the items in the room on their own and within the space. One can't work without the other. The dining room above benefits from the smaller chandeliers (each of which are in scale...note the size of the shades) and the large painting. In fact, that room would be pretty boring without that painting.
But, that's emphasis...and a completely different topic.
Sources:
Contemporary Dining Room from December 2010 issue of Elle Decor. Find it here:
Contemporary Living Room from May 2011 issue of Elle Decor. Find it here:
http://lookbook.elledecor.com/Living-Room-Contemporary-Eclectic-Cool-in-Belgium/id15782
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