o Space
o Line
o Form
o Texture
o Color
o Space is the three-dimensional expanse that a designer is working with, as well as
the area around or between objects within that expanse.
o Different-sized spaces convey a range of feelings.
For example:
In small rooms with low ceilings, people
Large, open spaces give many people a can often feel confined or crowded.
feeling of freedom and sometimes luxury. However, well-designed small spaces
Too much empty space, on the other can make people feel snug and secure.
hand, can make people feel lonely and The feeling of these spaces is generally
uncomfortable. one of privacy or intimacy.
When a space is too large for its To make a small space appear larger,
purpose, it can be divided with keep as much space open as possible
permanent or temporary room dividers by limiting the number of furnishings.
or screens. You can also divide space Select relatively small furniture of a plain
by arranging furniture in small clusters, design. Avoid using lots of patterns.
almost as if each group were within You might install mirrors to visually
walls. enlarge the room. Another strategy is to
choose furniture that has a dual purpose.
o Line delineates space, outlines form, and conveys a sense of movement or
direction.
o Lines can be used to convey a sense of strength, serenity, gracefulness, or action.
Combining lines and placing them in a design in certain ways can create specific
effects and feelings.
The use of line can also have an effect on how space is perceived.
Another effect that line can create is
increased height. As you look at a tall
window or long draperies, your eye is
drawn in an up and down direction--
emphasizing the vertical space.
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Width can be emphasized too. Low sofas
and bookshelves draw your gaze around
the room and create the illusion of greater
width.
o By placing lines in certain combinations and directions, you can create restful feelings or
exciting ones.
A horizontal line may suggest rest Diagonal or zigzag lines convey A vertical line may suggest action
because people and animals sleep in excitement and movement. because humans are upright when
that position. they walk.
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o Form describes the shape and structure of solid objects.
o Form, like line, can be used to achieve certain effects. Large, heavy objects, such
as a piano or sofa, usually give a feeling of stability.
Another way to create stability in design is to place several small objects together.
Two chairs and a table placed close together, for example have a visual effect similar
to a large sofa.
o Weight is an interesting factor in considering form.
Sometimes the same form can appear lighter or heavier based on its color or texture.
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o An object’s texture is the appearance or feel of its surface.
o Your sense of touch reveals the tactile texture--the feeling of roughness or smoothness--of
the surface.
The surfaces that have a smooth tactile texture, but a rough visual texture, deceive the
perception of the eye.
o Texture is useful for adding variety and interest to a room.
Texture can also affect the apparent Texture can influence the way Another interesting aspect of texture
size of an object. people feel in a room although is the way if affects color.
responses to texture are personal
For instance, a chair covered in a and subjective. In general, smooth textures appear
rough, loosely woven fabric may lighter in color than rough textures.
seem larger than the same piece • Plush, deep-pile carpet and
covered in a smooth, satin-like furniture covered with soft fabric
fabric. provide a sense of comfort.
• Nubby, rough materials convey a
feeling of ruggedness and stability.
• Smooth velvets and heavy
brocades suggest luxury.
• Glass, metal and stone give a
feeling of coolness.
o Proportion
o Scale
o Balance
o Rhythm
o Emphasis
o Unity and Variety
Proportion: The relationship in size of objects or parts of objects to one another
and to the design as a whole.
The golden mean is the division of a line
anyplace between one-half and one-third of
its total length.
These curtains are tied back at the golden
mean for this window.
Scale: The proportion of an object or space to human beings and to other
objects or spaces in a design.
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Human scale should be taken into account when selecting furnishing for
home and non-residential environments that children use frequently.
Symmetrical Balance: A design
effect in which the arrangement of
forms on one side of an imaginary
central line is the mirror image of
the arrangement of forms on the
opposite side.
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identical night-stands, equipped with matching accessories.
Asymmetrical Balance: A design
effect in which elements on either
side of an imaginary central line are
unmatched but appear to be in
balance.
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Rhythm: The design principle that suggests connected movement between different
parts of a design by using colors, lines, forms, or textures; also referred to as continuity.
The repeating lines in the wallboard, and even the
starfish, develop a sense of rhythm in this colorful
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Emphasis: In design, the center of interest or focal point that first catches the
viewer’s attention.
In most settings a large floral arrangement is a
simple way to create a focal point.
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Unity: A principle of design that occurs when all the parts of a design are related
by one idea.
Eclectic: A style of decorating that involves mixing furnishing of different styles
and possibly from different periods.
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A Tuart of paint transformed these
four mismatched chairs into a
harmonious grouping.
