Designers often talk about having their eyes bounce around the room. However, a room stuffed with tons of details will have the eyes bouncing around too much. While you want to create visual interest that makes the eyes dance, you don’t want so much interest that you can’t register individual features. This is where negative space comes in. The absence of a décor detail allows for a main feature to be at the forefront, whether that’s a piece of artwork or a unique architectural component.
Negative space can also be functional, as it can direct the flow of traffic through a room or to other rooms in the house. Use your furniture placement not only to guide traffic through the space but also to feature statement pieces. The layout can draw attention to a colored sofa or vintage side chairs. Or you can place the furniture to feature other aspects of the room, such as a wall of windows or a fireplace.
Source: housedigest.com