THE ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

The elements of design

There are five main elements of design: Space Line Form Texture Colour

Space

Interior design considers two aspects of space: The size of the overall design space The arrangement of objects within that

space

Space

To make space that is small appear larger Limit the number of furnishings Select small furniture of a plain design,

patterns make a room seem smaller Install mirrors to visually enlarge the room Choose furniture that has a dual purpose

Space

To make space that is large appear smaller Divide up a room with permanent or

temporary room dividers or screens, or by arranging furniture in clusters

Use area rugs to visually divide a large room

Line

Line

Line

Line

Line

Line

Line

Line delineates space, outlines form, and conveys a sense of movement or direction Confusion can result when lines and shapes

aren’t used harmoniously Lines can also be used to unify or define

space Lines can be used to increase height and

width

Line

Lines can also express feelings a horizontal line might express rest A vertical line might express action Diagonal or zigzag lines convey excitement

and movement Curved lines have a natural, graceful effect

Form

http://video.about.com/furniture/Quick-Tip--The-Design-Principle-of-Harmony.htm

Form

Form describes the shape and structure of solid objects

We can use form to express: Stability, through the use of large, heavy

objects or through clustering objects

*A designer is more concerned with an objects “apparent weight” than its actual weight

Form

It is important that forms harmonize with one another

When designing a room, you should look for furnishings with similar visual “weights”

Texture

Texture is the appearance or feel of an object’s surface Tactile texture is what the object actually

feels like Visual texture is what the object looks like Ex. A wallpaper could look like it is rough,

but it could just be paper printed to look that way

Texture

Texture can influence the way people feel in a room Plush furniture or carpet can provide a

sense of comfort Rough materials express a feeling of

ruggedness and stability Smooth velvets suggest luxury Glass, metal and stone give a feeling of

coolness

Texture

Texture can also affect the appearance of the size of an object, a chair covered in rough fabric may seem larger than the same one covered in smooth fabric

Texture can also affect colour; smooth textures tend to appear lighter in colour than rough

As you can see, texture can be used to add variety and interest to a room