Top Five
The are guiding principles to all artistic endeavors. In becoming your own interior decorator, the first principles you need to know are the element of good interior design. The primary elements of are space, line, form, color, and texture. The proper use of these elements involves the principles of design which are balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, and harmony and unity.
Space is the one element that you probably don’t have to consider because it has already been defined for you by the size of the room where you are going to perform your interior decorating magic. The challenge in to work with the space that you do have.
Line is almost as important as color in creating the look you want in your room. Think of a high-ceilinged room with long narrow window. Now think of a low-ceilinged room with an arched entrance and windows with arched tops. You can sense the difference in the mood that each room invokes. You can either go with the lines of the room or find techniques to offset the impact of the natural lines in the room. As a guide, lines have moods as follows:
- Vertical lines create a dignified, formal feeling.
- Horizontal lines create a casual, informal feeling.
- Diagonal lines grab attention and can create an unsettling feeling unless there are also vertical lines or diagonal lines going in the opposite direction.
- Curved lines create a soft, feminine effect.
Form refers to the shapes created in the room. The most popular is the rectangle. Think of a dining room with the rectangle formed by the table and chairs around it or a living room with the sofa as the main item in a rectangular form in the room. Triangles and circles are also good.
Color is the most prominent element in a room. If your furniture is a bland color, you can use dramatic wall colors to give the room personality.
Texture is often overlooked in interior decorating done by the home owner. However, by repeating the type of texture found in the main items of furniture in the room, you can create a cohesive planned and comfortably attractive look.
