1. Elements & Principles
Of Design

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

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

4. Elements of Design
color
line
texture
form

5. 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)

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Elements
Color Wheel
warm
cool

11. Elements
Color
primary
secondary
intermediate

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

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

19. Principles of Design
proportion
rhythm
balance
emphasis

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

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

26. 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

27. 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?