Part 18 Harmony
There’s a reason why harmony is number 18, last, in our series about mastering the fundamentals of home design. It relies on all of the principles that precede it in parts 1-17. If you haven’t yet had a chance, we recommend reading this entire series before tackling harmony. You’ll find a wealth of information about the fundamentals of decorating!
If you’re up to speed, let’s start with the definition of harmony as it applies to home interiors. It is the summation of the design elements, architecture, and furnishings into a pleasing or orderly whole. It’s also that moment when you walk into a room you’ve finally completed and your heart goes aflutter because it is perfect! You are standing there marveling at your creation because you managed to give consideration to every element of design that is imperative to decorating success. Let’s break down an example of how this can be accomplished.
Here is a list of some of the examples found in a photo of a sitting room:
- Space – a room with large windows , walls, a floor, and ceiling
- Line – combination of straight and curvilinear
- Form – table, chandelier, sofa
- Shape – mirrors, cabinets, table
- Texture – wood, upholstery, drapes, glass
- Pattern – wood floor
- Time – fireplace, widows
- Color – neutrals, metallic
- Light –widows, chandelier, lamps, fireplace
- Balance – cabinets and mirrors on either side of the fireplace with mirror above it
- Rhythm – crown molding
- Emphasis – fireplace, chandelier (the table appears to be emphasized but that is the result of the angle used by the photographer)
- Proportion – the room includes small, medium, and large furnishings and fixtures
- Scale – windows
- Unity – all elements of the room fit a traditional style, color palette
- Variety –numerous architectural elements, furniture and accessories that are very detailed and unique
As you can see, harmony is indeed the multitude of all the other elements combined. This might seem a bit daunting, but take a closer look and note how many of them cross over. Proportion and scale are related, emphasis and balance are related, and so forth. Take it one step at a time and before you know it you’ll have a spectacular space that you can enjoy and show off to your guests!
There’s nothing wrong with working backwards so we’re glad you found our post about harmony. But don’t forget to go back and start by reading Part 1 so you can master the art of designing the interior of your home!
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