Elements & Principles Of Design

Objectives To identify elements and principles of design To apply elements and principles of design to interiors

Elements & Principles Elements Line Form Texture Color Principles Rhythm Emphasis Balance Proportion/Scale

Elements of Design color line texture form

Elements Color First decision made when decorating Color reflects certain moods or feelings Main characteristics hue (name) value (how light or dark) intensity (how bright or dull)

Elements Color WARM colors: red—orange—yellow active, exciting, aggressive COOL colors: blue—violet—green calming, restful, passive

Moods Created by Color Red exciting, powerful, dangerous Orange lively, friendly, energetic Yellow cheerful, sympathetic, wise Green natural, envious, lucky Blue calm, serious, dignified Violet royal, mysterious, dramatic Black sophisticated, mournful, desperate White fresh, innocent, peaceful

Guidelines for Using Color Colors should express the tastes of all family members Choose a dominant color for decorating then smaller amounts of other colors for accents A sharp contrast can emphasize an object Light colors make items & rooms look larger Dark colors make items & rooms look smaller For interest use a variety of color values in unequal amounts

Guidelines for Using Color Using warm colors, shades, and high intensity colors make room appear smaller Using cool colors, tints and low intensity colors make room appear larger Warm colors suggest informality Cool colors suggest formality

Elements Color Wheel warm cool

Elements Color primary secondary intermediate

Elements Monochromatic color scheme – using different values of the same hue Analogous color scheme – combining adjacent colors on the color wheel Complementary color scheme – combining two colors directly across from each other on the color wheel

Elements Line A mark that is greater in length than in width Indicates direction Many different types of lines straight curved horizontal vertical diagonal

Elements Line Vertical Horizontal Dignity, discipline, strength Emphasize height in a room Make people appear more slender when used in apparel Horizontal Sense of rest, relaxation Counteract vertical lines Too many can make a room seem dull Can make a person appear heavier

Elements Line Diagonal Curved Break monotony of vertical and horizontal Help move eye around room More interesting More difficult to use Curved Suggest activity or relaxation depending on degree of curve Soft -restful, graceful Tight -livelier

Elements Texture Surface quality of textile or finish Can be apparent (visual) or tactile (touch) Kinds of texture rough smooth dull shiny soft

Elements Rough textures and bold patterns make room appear smaller Uneven surfaces absorb light making colors seem deeper and objects larger and heavier Shiny, smooth textures reflect light and make room appear brighter and lighter

Elements Form Three-dimensional (length, width, depth) Function How they will be used

Principles of Design proportion rhythm balance emphasis

Principles Proportion/Scale Relationship of parts to each other and to design as a whole Size, amount, & number relate well with each other Unequal proportions are more pleasing to the eye

Is this area well-proportioned Compare the size and scale Principles Is this area well-proportioned or disproportioned? Compare the size and scale of the objects in the room to one another

Principles Rhythm Repetition of one or more design elements Creates a feeling of organized movement, sense of order Used to guide eye through design, provide direction

Principles 5 types of Rhythm Repetition - repeating color, line, form or texture in design Opposition - lines meeting at right angles Gradation - created by a gradual change Radiation - lines extend outward from central point Transition - created by curved lines

Principles Balance Distribution of visual weight Creates a sense of rest and equilibrium Equality between opposite elements Two types formal balance - exactly same on both sides informal balance - balanced, but each side is different

Principles What type of balance does this room have? Where is the rhythm in this room?

Principles Emphasis “Center of interest,” “focal point,” catches the viewers’ attention Element that has been exaggerated or centralized to draw viewers’ eye Example: fire place, vase of flowers, artwork piece of jewelry, scarf, hair clip

What area of this room is Why do you think this has Principles What area of this room is your eye drawn to? Why do you think this has become the focal point?