7 Ways NYC Event Designers Are Using Scale Instead of More Decor
Your stomach drops, and the cold sweats kick in. You’re at the venue doing a planning meeting. The client comments, “The space feels empty”. Suddenly, you're scrambling to add more florals, more decor, and more furniture. The result is a cluttered and scattered-looking venue. Join top NYC event planners and walk away from this panic. Here’s how scale is quietly replacing “more.”
1. One Giant “Thing” Instead of Decor Confetti
You know the difference between a room with a focal point and a room that looks like a craft table exploded? Scale.
Designers are dropping in one oversized statement piece and letting it do the talking. Massive sculptural florals. A big art installation. Something dramatic enough that guests walk in and immediately clock it.
That clarity is powerful. People don’t have to work to understand the room. Their brain goes, “Ah, that’s the thing.” Done. No scavenger hunt of little decorative moments hidden in corners.
And the room weirdly feels more expensive even though there’s technically less in it. Because intention reads louder than quantity.
2. Branding So Big It’s Basically Architecture
A bunch of tiny logos everywhere can feel smothering. It’s like event guests are being bombarded and chased by the client’s branding. That isn’t pleasant for event guests.
Take a different approach with large and bold branding. Place them in one, two, or three strategic locations. That’s It. Use three-dimensional displays. Display custom designs on digital scenic walls. Lay out sprawling floor graphics.
The oversized approach looks less like traditional signage and more like decor. They become statement pieces that contribute to the environment.
3. Going Up Instead of Out
Floor space square footage is precious in NYC. If you’re filling it with decor, you are taking away space for guests. The venue ends up feeling cramped and uncomfortable.
Creative NYC event planners know this. So instead of floor decor, they go up. Suspending decor from the walls and ceiling draws the eye up. It makes the space feel larger and more immersive.
It keeps the floor clear, so people can move about. It also adds scale without adding clutter.
4. Lighting That Does the Work of Ten Decor Pieces
The right lighting can transform a space. It’s the best-kept secret of top NYC event planners. The right lighting can make a full and boring venue seem larger and more dynamic. It sets the mood for the space.
Use bold washes of color across the walls. Project large-scale patterns and images. Strategically place strong uplighting to highlight the venue’s architecture. Congratulations, you’ve turned plain walls into something that feels intentional and dramatic.
When you work with a NYC lighting vendor, your options are limitless. Change the lighting throughout the event. It creates a dynamic experience without adding any physical stuff to the space.
5. Fewer Lounge Areas, But Make Them Actually Worth Sitting In
It’s popular right now to have multiple small seating areas throughout the venue. This is fine in a large, sprawling venue that has the space for it. However, this approach doesn’t work for all venues.
Combine them into a few larger lounge zones. It encourages more guest interactions and cleans up the venue layout. The traffic walkways are clearer, and the space feels more organized.
6. Let the Stage Be the Star So the Room Can Chill
Stop forgetting about the stage. When the stage area looks plain and boring, it’s tempting to overcompensate in the rest of the room. Redshift your focus. Add a scenic backdrop. Design dimensional lighting. Give the stage visual presence and weight.
Also, from a content standpoint, a strong stage backdrop carries every photo and video. It’s an efficient design. One big investment, lots of payoff.
7. Empty Space on Purpose (Yes, Really)
One of the boldest design moves right now is… not filling the room.
Negative space is doing a lot of heavy lifting. When designers resist the urge to cover every surface, the scaled elements that are there feel bigger. More important. More intentional.
Open space lets people move. Lets sightlines work. Let the big pieces breathe. And it makes the event feel less like you’re navigating a maze of decor decisions.
In a city where venues can feel visually busy by default, restraint reads as luxury. It feels like someone knew when to stop.
Learn More About Using Scale at The Event Planner Expo
Stop trying to overcompensate with more decor. Large venue spaces don’t need to be filled with more. Instead, use scale to your advantage with larger decor rather than more small decor. Pouring resources into fewer, larger-impact elements can create a stronger impression than spreading the same money across dozens of tiny details nobody remembers.
If you want to see how other designers are playing with scale in real life, not just in mood boards, The Event Planner Expo is one of the spots where those builds show up in person.
Own your space at The Event Planner Expo. Book your booth today.
