Interior Design is no different to any other project you undertake in your life, from building a home, fixing a car or even creating a gourmet delight. It is the combination of elements and principles, when correctly mixed together create the desired outcome you are after. With interior design, it doesn't matter if you are working with a clean slate or if you are updating an existing project, you need to consider what elements and principles you are going to apply.
The Elements (your raw materials and tools) include:
- Colour
- Testure
- Form
- Line
- Space
The Principles of design (how you use your tools and raw materials) include:
- Balance
- Emphasis
- Rhythm
- Proportion and scale
- Harmony and unity
When used together correctly, the elements and principles of interior design will provide you with a sound platform in which you can go ahead and develop an interior design that is reflective of your personality and style.
Principle #1: Balance
Balance, otherwise known as 'Visual equilibrium in a room' gives a sense of tranquility and a feeling of completion. A well-balanced room gives careful consideration to how the contents of the room are placed - according to their visual weight and the amount of space in the room. A cluttered room can be saved from interior disaster by the removal of oversized or mis-matched items and balance the remaining objects to compliment the space in which they are housed.
Other forms of balancing can include symmetrical balance (formal balance) in which the designer is creating a mirror image effect. This very structured look and feel was used successfully in the 60's not only in room layouts but also with accessories such as prints.
Informal balance is more subtle and spontaneous. It give a warmer and more welcoming feel to a room using different objects of the same visual weight to create equilibrium in a room.
Principle #2: Emphasis
Emphasis is the focal point of the room. Immediately obvious as you enter the room, the focal point is the area to which your eye is immediately drawn. This can include artwork, a fireplace, feature wall, water feature or window furnishings that are framing a beautiful view. Whatever the central feature, it must be emphasised or strong enough so that everything else leads the eye towards the focal point. Elements such as line, form, colour and texture can assist a clever interior designer to create a focal point in a room regardless of whether it is man-made or natural.
Principle #3: Rhythm
Rhythm within a room is what encourages ones eye to move from one item or feature to another in a smooth and harmonic manner. It is can almost be described as the ribbon that links one piece to another in a way that is inconspiciously belonging. Rhythm is what tells the designer that everything belongs and nothing is out of place - everything has a right to be there - everything is unified - everything is whole. Rhythm is created through repetition of line, form, colour or texture.
Principle #4: Proportion and Scale
As simple as the math formula it can be equated to, the relationship of size in a room is defined by proportion and scale. Proportion refers to how the elements within an object correlate the whole object, whilst Scale relates to the size of an object when compared with the size of the space in which it is located.
Principle #5: Harmony and Unity
Harmony and Unity relate to the successful mix of all the elements and principles of design. In a well-designed room there is a consistency of size and shapes, a harmony of colour and pattern. Everything has come together as one. The ultimate goal of decorating is to create a room with unity and harmony and a sense of rhythm. Repetition of elements and the provision of balance provides the room with its own sense of uniqueness and personality. The trick is to get the balance right as, too much unity can be boring; just as too much variety can be considered busy or messy.
Whatever your taste in interior design, the sucessful mix of the elements and principles is the key to good interior design.