From the Floors Up

How To Combine Color, Energy, and Nature To Create a Happy Home

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Part 1 – Introduction

Humans are sensitive beings that are easily influenced by their surroundings. Our ability to reason and feel emotion makes us susceptible to an infinite number of influences that affect the way we experience the world. It’s safe to say that our primary drive in life is to be happy, so anything we can do to that end is a highly beneficial activity.

Although it’s estimated that we spend far more time at work than anywhere else, it’s a safe bet to assume that the second most frequented place is the home. While you can’t necessarily control your work environment or that of the rest of the world, you can certainly be the boss of the amount of happiness you get to enjoy at home. To that end we highly recommend spending time and energy on making your home your happy place.

Without a doubt that are myriad ways to accomplish this goal, but we are going to focus on three of the most effective techniques. They are: color, Feng Shui, and plant life. Focusing on these three methods in every room in your house will transform it into a very happy home. We’re going to break it down with room by room suggestions so you have a starting point in each space.

But first, the basic definitions of the influential factors:

Color – Color is proven to have a significant effect on the way we experience a space. Certain colors are well suited to specific rooms, whereas other colors would be ill advised choices in particular spaces.

Feng Shui – An ancient Chinese method for controlling intangible energies. In home design it dictates that the energies of house must be balanced in order to promote good health and fortune for its inhabitants. More specifically it has a psychological effect on our sense of ease and well being in a room.

Nature – It’s been proven that nature has an exceptional influence on the human experience. Perhaps because we are mammals we are inclined to feel most whole and content when aspects of nature surround us. At a minimum plant life has been show to decrease stress and promote good health.

Next read Part 2 – The Bedroom and Office

How To Use the Elements and Principles Of Design To Decorate Like An Interior Designer, Part 15

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Part 15 Scale

Simply put, the element of scale in interior design refers to size. The scale of something is often directly correlated to its visual weight. When used properly it is very effective for setting the tone of a room, as well as ensuring that your room “makes sense” aesthetically.

For example it can be used to influence the level of grandeur in a room. You may have noticed that luxury homes often incorporate features that are big in scale, such as a very large chandelier. Not only does this create intense emphasis on an impressive architectural element and light source, it also sets the tone for the purpose and comfort level of a room. Chandeliers say decadence and indulgence so you know at a glance how you’ll likely function in such a room.

Conversely, let’s say your space is intimate and cozy. Maybe even in the style of a quaint vignette. In that case large scale features would overwhelm it and seem incongruous in the room. It would be best to focus on small scale furnishings and accessories that compliment that style.   

To further clarify ways to use scale let’s take a look at the room in the photo. It’s easy to discern the large scale of both the bathtub and the concrete wall behind it. You might initially think that the most important feature with regard to size is the concrete wall because it out-sizes the bathtub. However, notice how it actually serves as an excellent backdrop for the more important large scale feature which is the impressive bathtub. Without the wall framing it, it might seem like it’s just sitting in the room, awkwardly large and overbearing. The concrete wall softens that effect and transforms the bathtub into a well placed focal point. Furthermore, the medium scale, exposed brick wall that surrounds both reduces the overall visual weight and draws the eye to the left and right side of the room. The small scale accessories on the either side provide much needed detail and a place for the eye to focus more closely.

Next read Part 16 – Unity

Don’t forget to go back and start by reading Part 1

How To Use the Elements and Principles Of Design To Decorate Like An Interior Designer, Part 14

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Part 14 Proportion

Proportion, as it applies to home design, is the size of something measured against other elements in a room, or against some mental norm or standard. It can be used to create balance, emphasis, harmony, etc. Typically we show you the ‘how to’ rather than the ‘how not to,’ but in this case we’ll illustrate how it influences a room with an example that exaggerates the way it looks when it’s misused.

In our mind’s eye we are accustomed to the norm of a bedside lamp being smaller scale than the bed next to it or the table it stands on. However, the lamp in the photo is much bigger than that norm. It is clearly too large for the nightstand, and it looks odd standing taller than the top of the headboard because it is so top-heavy. In other words, it’s disproportionate to the rest of the décor. If your goal is a room that is harmonious and grounded be sure to compare the size relationships between all of the elements in the room.

With that said, skewed proportion is also a very effective way to achieve emphasis. Have you ever walked into a room with gargantuan fireplace and impossibly high ceilings? The effect is stark and immediate. No matter what else is going on in the space, the fireplace and open air above your head will be foremost in your mind. Another great way to use this technique is to showcase artwork. If it’s bigger than all that surrounds it, it’s sure to be the star of the show in your room.

Proportion is also an important consideration if you are upsizing your home. Let’s say you just moved into your dream home and it has an enormous great-room. There’s a good chance the furniture from your previous home will feel out of place because it looks so much smaller in the new space. The furniture is disproportionate to the room. Your first order of business in that case would be to purchase new furniture to the scale of the room.

Next read Part 15 – Scale

Don’t forget to go back and start by reading reading Part 1

How To Use the Elements and Principals Of Design To Decorate Like An Interior Designer, Part 4

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Part 4 — Form

In parts 1-3 of this series we covered the idea of space, as well as how to use line to guide guest’s eyes and/or set the tone of a room. Moving along, let’s now discuss the idea of form.

Form transform space into a back drop and it gives line a purpose. With regard to decorating your home, form is anything that has solid mass and can theoretically be viewed from any angle. If the form is especially impressive or remarkable, it is also defined as having a sculptural quality. 

This baroque inspired table is a fantastic representation of form. From every angle it draws your attention, and if you like it, your admiration. As you can see, a design element with a sculptural quality is ideal for making a statement. It’s the sort of thing that makes you say “Wow, look at THAT!”

You can use this to your advantage in two different ways. If you want the room to feel well designed yet refined, opt to use only a few objects with exceptional form. If you want the room to feel decadent throughout, go wild with form and fill the room with it! A point of reference might be the home of a historically royal family. In that case, don’t forget to serve cake!  

Another way to employ form to influence the design of your room is to utilize it as means of controlling visual weight. We’ll cover the concept of balance in a later post in this series, but let’s also consider it here. As mentioned, form has mass, and the brain recognizes mass by automatically assigning it a visual weight.

Imagine instead ornate yet light chairs. They have a beautiful sculptural form that encourages the viewer to linger awhile and take in all of the nuances. But, they register in the mind as still light and airy. As opposed to the table example – it reads very heavy. Thus, form also influences the feel of a room and whether or not it’s formal or cozy.

Next time you’re shopping for furnishings, keep form in mind and choose those that meet your decorating goals. Delicate forms are typically for admiring, whereas solid forms convey stability and comfort.

Next read Part 5 – Shape

Don’t forget to go back and read Parts 1 – 4 

Through the Doorways

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When you decorate your home, it’s almost as important to consider how each room works together as how the rooms themselves work.

These photos show a home where the transition from room to room is critically important. With French doors set to allow visitors to see four rooms at once, the challenge is to balance variety between the rooms with enough consistency that you know that it’s the same home with the same design aesthetic.  Let’s see what this homeowner did to address this.

First, the homeowner chose mid-tone wood flooring for the entire first floor living area. This eliminates the threshold impact as you move from room to room and creates a cohesive design approach. The next step was adding a number of Oriental rugs. For each red is the primary color, but the amount of red, the size of each rug and the designs vary throughout the rooms. This balance of different and yet the same keeps the décor interesting.

Another choice was to alternate light and dark walls from room to room. The dining room shown in the second photo is a rich red. The entryway is painted white, contrasting with the dark wood paneling in the living room. On the other side of that room, the warm cream tones of the sunroom continue the contrasting design approach.

Finally, furniture and accessories grab colors and bring them across this selection of rooms. The red of the dining room shows up again in the red cabinet that graces the entryway. Once again red comes into view with the chair in the sunroom.

Think alike and yet different as you consider your room transitions and you will add interest and variety to your home.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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