Elements and principles of design
Understanding the basic elements and principles of design and how to apply them:
Elements:
Space is the area within a room and the dimensions you have to work with. There is positive space and negative space and they work together to create balance and harmony. The positive space includes your furniture, artwork and decorative items and the negative space is the empty or open space around these items. For example, placing a piece of artwork in the centre of a blank wall demonstrates relative proportion and the negative space around the artwork allows it to become the focal point in the room.
Lines create a sense of direction and define a space. Vertical lines allow a room to appear tall or make a wide space look narrow all by drawing the eye upwards. Horizontal lines bring the eye level back down by creating length, widening narrow spaces and giving the effect of lower ceiling heights. Diagonal lines create volume and can make a room appear larger by directing the eye upwards or downwards and curved lines provide a softening effect and will make a space flow.
Shape or form can relate to the overall shape of the room or the items within it such as the furniture and decor. Organic shapes can have a curvilinear appearance and are often found in natural materials as well as plants. Geometric shapes are referred to as man-made and come in the form of squares, circles or triangles. Shapes within a space can match or contrast depending on the overall design style.
Colour is what really brings a room to life. The colours we choose can say a lot about the way we want to feel in a room. A harmonious scheme refers to colours that work together are have common characteristics providing balance and calmness, wheres as adding interest with contrasting colours will also create balance but provides a more energetic feel.
Texture is not only a visual element, but also sensory. Textures add depth and will help to determine the style and level of formality. Adding texture through rugs, pillows, wall hangings and other decorative items to the room will create a ‘lived-in’ feel adding character to the home.
Light is essential to any space and it’s important to consider both natural and artificial lighting. Determine the availability of natural light and the orientation of windows. Artificial light comes in many forms. Task lighting provides clear and bright light whereas ambient lighting will create a soft and warm light. Choosing a variety of different lighting options will allow you to change the function of how a room works throughout different times of the day.
Pattern is all visual and can be used to create contrast and add interest. Introducing pattern into a space will bring together the other design elements such as line, shape and colour. The most obvious way to add pattern is through fabrics in furniture, bed linen and curtains but patterns can also be found in stone, wood, brick and tiles.
Principles:
Balance is achieved through the placement of objects within a space such as the positioning of windows and doors as well as how the other elements of shape, colour, texture rhythm, proportion are used to create harmony. The goal is visual balance through the form of symmetry, creating a feeling of formality and precision, or through asymmetrical design by providing equal weight but in different looks giving a more relaxed and causal feeling or radial design by creating a focus on the centre item like placing chairs around a table.
Rhythm suggests movement and can be achieved through the repetition of the design elements such as line, shape and colour or through alternation (alternating two or more elements in the same pattern) or by adding gradients of colour or items ascending in size known as progression. Each way will provide a different look and feel and determine the overall mood of the room.
Emphasis refers to the focus point and what your eye is drawn to as soon as you step into a room. An architectural focus point such as a fireplace can be emphasised by furniture placement or if it’s a focus point that is created such a pendant light, this can be emphasised by ensuring it is positioned at the correct hight and isn’t obstructed by other elements in the room. A focal point creates interest and should be used to leave a lasting impression.
Proportion and scale are how items fit together in a space and are both important in creating a successful design. Proportion refers to the relationship in size between objects and scale compares an item or space to something of known size. The 60/30/10 rule is a great guideline that can be applied to room proportions in which 60% of the room would be furniture, 30% walking space and the remaining 10% for decorative items. This will help to achieve cohesion and balance throughout the space.
Harmony is achieved when all of the elements of the design fit together through shape, colour, texture, size, similar materials, characteristics and decorative styles. A cohesive design can be created within a single room but also across the entire home.