From the Floors Up

How To Use the Elements and Principles Of Design To Decorate Like An Interior Designer, Part 8

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Part 8 Time

This particular principal of design may come as big surprise. However, it’s a critical component of decorating a room, because its effect is inevitable. Think about it. At any given time of day or year a room can transform and be quite different. Let’s examine.

You inhabit certain rooms in the house according to what time of day it is. Thus, light becomes an element of time in design. How does this effect decorating decisions? Many ways, but one of the most influenced factors is color.

Let’s say your bedroom is painted lavender. In the early morning it will have a softer tonality, diffused by the pristine, crisp morning light. By midday the light is perhaps a bit too harsh because bedrooms don’t generally feature excessive direct daylight, and this makes the lavender less appealing. You can control that element of time by installing sheers and possibly leaving them drawn through the rest of the afternoon!

Another way that time relates to a room is with regard to season. When designing you home it’s fun and effective to consider what a room will look like in any given season where you live. Maybe when it’s cold outside you just want to stay in bed, and so choose soft, warm furnishing. Perhaps when it’s warm you can’t wait to leap out of bed a go outside. Time to change the linens and textiles to something that feels cool and fresh! 

You should also consider long periods of time in your home such as months and years. Look at the photo above. One of the most beautiful attributes of real wood is that it gains character over the years. If you wish to preserve the original color as much as possible you can install drapes to completely protect it from the sun. But you’d be sitting in a dark room most of the time so it needs to be the right space for that. On the other hand, wood responds beautifully to natural light by slowly changing in color over time. Another time focused feature of the room is the fireplace. It’s merely a fixture when no fire is lit, but when there’s a fire burning it becomes a fabulous focal point. If it’s using during cold weather its role in the room is once again changed by time, because the fire is there for more than just beauty. It’s there to keep you warm!

Next read Part 9 – Color

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 7

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Part 7 Pattern

We know, we know! Pattern is one of the toughest elements to incorporate into decorating. There are so many choices that picking just one is a huge task. Forget mixing them! Who knows how to do that without creating a circus atmosphere? Well, actually, you! Simply follow these basic guidelines to get a grip on pattern.

As with our previous posts, let’s start once again with the definition of the word pattern. As it relates to interior decorating, pattern represents a change of shape or organized set of shapes wherein the parts of the series mimic the original in one or more attributes. Pattern is also predictable by nature, though it usually appears periodically in a room rather than throughout. When used properly it’s also proportionate to the other elements of design in the room.

So, what exactly does all of that mean? Let’s break it down. The fact that it mimics itself is obvious, but have you ever given thought to the fact that it evokes a sense of predictability? This is sometimes very effective for establishing a sense of continuity in a room. When complimentary elements of design like furnishings and textiles are combined, it creates a relationship between separate parts. When your surround it all with pattern, though, the room has a feeling of completeness because it’s as if it’s encased. The mind can settle into the oneness of the space by relying on the sense of predictability that causes us to feel as if all things important have been considered.

 For it to be executed expertly, however, pattern must be proportionate to everything else. One way to accomplish this is to use it periodically, for example, featuring a pattern on just three walls. Then, perpetuate the effect by incorporating additional patterns that coordinate. To do so you can use similar colors and/or smaller or larger versions related to the main pattern. This way they won’t compete with each other. Notice in the example photo that the three patterns are all a different scale. The floor is a large scale checker pattern, the wallpaper is a medium scale stripe pattern, and the pillows are a small scale geometrical patter. The harmony is completed by a consistent shade of green throughout!

Next read Part 8 – Time

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

How To Use the Elements and Principles Of Design To Decorate Like An Interior Designer, Part 5

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Part 5 — Shape

Now is a good time to move on to the concept of shape. While it is certainly a part of form, the topic of Part 3, it is still a specific and separate consideration. Shape, formally defined for design purposes, involves contour or outlines. It’s two dimensional. There five basic shapes: circle, cross, spiral, square, and triangle. These can be used in a literal two dimensional sense, wherein they are represented as outlines. Or, they are conveyed in combination with form.

More often than not, the shapes in a room will vary, but if you opt to use only one or two repeatedly they offer the opportunity to set the tone of a room. The example above highlights this effect. There are only two basic shapes – square and rectangle. (Setting aside for a moment the outline of the lamp.) Using just two basic shapes, especially angular ones, gives the room a feel of simplicity.

Due to the fact that squares and rectangles could be considered sensible and predictable, they convey the same idea. The result is a space that appears no-nonsense. This would work perfectly in a room that you inhabit when you need to decompress. This is why some people opt for minimalist bedrooms! 

 

Now let’s take a look at a room with multiple shapes, such as in the photo above. Included are rectangles (table, couch,) circles (lamps,) squares (window panes, pillows,) zig-zags (wallpaper,) and a hint at a cylinder (plate.) Two excellent effects are accomplished.

First, the room is very interesting visually, without being busy; a true feat in decorating because it’s rare that décor appears complex without the liberal use of detail. Second, the shapes play quite well to the features of the irregular forms in the room.

The contours of the chair, vases, and bottles are highlighted when juxtaposed with the simple shapes. There are myriad translations for using shape to enhance a room, but we recommend that it be strongly considered in spaces where the desired effect is whimsy, cute, or quirky!

How To Use the Elements and Principles of Design to Decorate Like an Interior Designer

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Part 1: Intro

The scene: You, standing inside a fabulous model home with your mouth agape. This particular home happens to be the third you’ve seen on a walking tour of some of the most beautiful homes in the region where you live. At the first house you found yourself innocently admiring everything. “Oh, isn’t this lovely!” At the second home you found yourself absorbing the immense creativity that was required. “Wow, this is really impressive. Like, really, really impressive!” By the time you reached the third house you’re in full blown wonderment, accompanied by a sense of dismay because you are certain you’d never be able to accomplish anything like it. “How do they do it,” you think. “HOW IN THE WORLD DO THESE DESIGNERS PULL THIS OFF? IT’S INCREDIBLE!”

Then you go home and wish for the lifestyle of the rich and famous just so you can hire an interior design magician! “Wouldn’t it be marvelous?” you say to yourself. “Positively dreamy!”  

While you may never be a professional interior designer, unless you go to school, there is hope. There exists a set of elements and principles of design that guide any skillful designer. Yet, they don’t necessarily rely on innate creativity, so even if you consider yourself a bit lean in the area of artistic inspiration, you can apply these fundamentals. They’re not terribly difficult to learn either. It may take you some time to master them as a whole, but little by little you could certainly create a knowledge base that would elevate you from, “My house looks like I just moved in and I’ve been here three years,” to “Gee, this looks pretty darn good if I do say so myself!”

If you’re tired of dreaming and ready to start doing, grab a pen and paper, get comfortable, and prepare to take notes! We aren’t going to turn you into and interior designer, but we’ll help you get by until you have an opportunity to work with one. Which we highly recommend! The depth and scope of their knowledge is marvelous.

Next read Part 2 – Space

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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