From the Floors Up

Principles of Interior Design: Harmony and Unity

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The last principle of this series helps bring everything full circle! We need to ensure that our design is unified and has harmony. These principles will make sure that everything in your room has a visual relationship with each other. Nothing should feel out of place or forced. Everything in our design should have a purpose. This can be challenging when we design rooms and do not want to get rid of elements that do not belong. Perhaps you have a favorite painting or an antique couch you inherited. They may not belong in the design of your new modern style living room, but this does not mean you need to get rid of them. You just need to see where and what belongs in the room.

Harmony and Unity 

One way to find unity in a new design before starting is by creating a mood board. You can make a mood board digitally or physically.  Find fabrics, pictures of furniture, floor samples, different wood floor patterns, paint swatches, and collect them all together. You can see if anything does not agree or contrasts with one another. Finding unity is the key to success. Your design should have a clear set vision with harmony throughout it. This visually satisfying effect is the assurance that all your elements in your design will agree. When this is achieved properly, your design will be complete. 

Make sure your design does not create confusion. If you are mimicking a Modern Rustic Design, make sure every element is easily recognizable to help enhance the look. For instance, ebony flooring would look jarring in a modern rustic design. Likewise, if you choose a more Scandinavian style design, you should be able to recognize if anything does not belong. This can be challenging at first, but when mastered, will help you create a beautiful living space. 

Look at your home design. Take it through the checklist of the interior design principles. Do you have any elements that feel “forced”? Do you feel that your home has properly achieved balance, unity, rhythm, scale, and emphasis? Being able to recognize these principles takes time, but we assure you it is worth the time invested. For more insight on how to improve your design theme and home improvement, make sure to subscribe! 

How To Use the Elements and Principles Of Design To Decorate Like An Interior Designer Part 16

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Part 16 Unity

The concept of unity is a critical principle of interior design. By definition, it suggests oneness and uniformity. Successfully using it requires you to have broad concept of how all the elements in a room are related to each other.  Whereas other design principles can be individually considered to some extent, this simply is the case with unity. So, how does one pull it off like a pro? By creating a simple list of decorating priorities!

Decide ahead of time the most important features of your room. This could include color, style, architectural elements, etc. We suggest no more than three. Once you have your list, use it every single time you make a design decision for the room.  

Let’s use this photo of a dining room as an example. The style of the room is minimalist. For the most part everything in the room has an aesthetic of simplicity. Yet, the space is visually interesting due to the liberal use of shapes.  All of the architectural elements are characterized by obvious angular shape references – square or rectangular. Color is also a very important aspect of this room. It is a monochromatic color scheme, which means various tints and shades of the same color, in this case, brown. So, let’s relate these three distinct elements to the concept of unity. A modern, minimalist design is supported by the use of clean lines. The architectural features in the room are clearly the most important. To deter distraction from them, a subtle color palette is incorporated. The room is unified because everything in it adheres to these three guiding elements.

Another way to understand how to do this well would be to imagine that you are going shopping for items to include in this room.  Would you buy something red? Would you incorporate a fancy, detailed, baroque chair? Would you incorporate a rug with a pattern of circles? No, no, and no. Remember, you’re not deciding based on your tastes. You’re deciding based on the three top priorities of the room. Red, baroque, and circles just don’t jive.

Enjoy your new decision making tool and watch as your rooms come together beautifully!

Next read Part 17 – Variety

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 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

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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