Principles of Design

You need to use your notes and follow along. Answers are highlighted in blue.

3 hole punch your notes and keep them in you binder, we will use these

every class. Also, you will get points for completing and turning these in with

your portfolio

Rhythm

• If we would speak about music we would describe rhythms the beat of pulse of the music.

• In interior design, rhythm is all about visual pattern repetition.

• Rhythm is defined as continuity, recurrence or organized movement.

How do you find rhythm in interior design?

• To achieve these themes in a design, you need to think about repetition, progression, transition and contrast.

• Using these mechanisms will impart a sense of movement to your space, leading the eye from one design element to another.

• Rhythm in design doesn't come from strict adherence to color and style. It arises from the artful blending of intensity and hue.

• The eclectic mix of shape and size.• The almost invisible repetition of texture

and detail. All combine to create a pleasant visual tapestry and a source of well-being you can't quite put your finger on.

• Variations in color from contrasting palettes, both subtle and sharp, set the base rhythm of the room.

• As different instruments in music blend to please your ear, mixing shape, style and space in a room creates a visual symphony that pleases your eye and mind.

• Rhythm defines your connection to your room. When a room is in rhythm, you can almost feel its inviting call. Best of all, each room can have its own rhythm to complement your mood and lifestyle.

Proportion

• Scale and Proportion - These two design principles go hand in hand, since both relate to size and shape.

• Proportion has to do with the ratio of one design element to another, or one element to the whole.

• Scale concerns itself with the size of one object compared to another.

• Grandmother’s four poster bed is rich in sentiment and size.  Although the guest room may be small, an over-scaled piece is perfect when positioned with other furnishings in a room. 

• Proportion is not defined by size, but the intricate balance of space, shape and weight in each room of your home.

• Accents carefully placed, and in the right proportion, can dictate the feel of a particular space.

• The careful choice and placement of a particular piece creates a room’s focal point while keeping it in balance.

Balance

• Have you ever noticed how some rooms just feel good? And how others, no matter how tastefully decorated, seem lacking? More than likely, it’s a question of Balance.

• Each room in your home has a visual balance point, both horizontally and vertically.

• The right design finds that point and puts your room in equilibrium by orienting color, furniture and form around it.

• Balance can be symmetrical, asymmetrical or radial. In most rooms they are applied together. Here the lamps, pictures and even the throw pillows emphasize symmetry.

• Pattern, style and color are carefully blended around the dark woods of the bed frame to create a visual balance on the vertical axis.

• The separate placement of the easy chair and ottoman are an example of asymmetrical balance. By setting them apart, visual depth is created and radial balance is achieved.  

Emphasis

• Every room in your home has a visual center of its own.

• Finding that place, bringing it to the front with color, texture and pattern, is how it becomes your centered, comfortable place as well.

• Color, carefully blended from the same palette, draws your eye gently to its dominant splash above this room’s natural focal point, the hearth or fireplace.

• Subdued, complementary textures and patterns lead you to the secondary focus of this room – the bay window – to create balance and interest.

• Finally, delicate detail guides you to the warm, inviting center of the room, the place where friends and family can gather to reconnect with each other.

Harmony

• Harmony and Unity in design make your room feel complete.

• Here, variations of red in fabric, wood and floor covering generate a warm, inviting feel. From the other side of the spectrum, the greens and blues match the base pigments in the red. The effect is harmony. The result? A soothing, welcoming room for you and your family after a typical busy day.

• When your room is in harmony, every piece just seems to belong. Textures and patterns seem to blend and complement one another.

• The gentle repetition of curves throughout the room brings everything together. Your mind puts aside the jumble of daily living and relaxes in a positive environment.

• There are no set rules for creating harmony and unity in your rooms, but when scale, form, color, texture and patterns all align, the effect is something special.

Contrast

• What is the recipe for a successful dinner party? 

• As a blend of spices adds flavor and variety to the menu, the blend of contrasting elements and design in a room is food for the eye and brings freshness, vitality and richness in the mix of wood and fabric, crystal and porcelain.

• White on white, bowed fabric chair covers can add elegance to a rustic pine farm table.

• A certain period or style of furniture need not limit your options. Your old pieces take on new life with a contrasting approach to detail.

• Country charm becomes casual sophistication with the addition of an elegant chandelier or a luxurious wall treatment.