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