Basic Interior Design Principles

Every well-designed space starts with an understanding of some basic design principles: Scale and Proportion, Balance, Rhythm, Emphasis, and Unity.

Scale and Proportion
In decorating, scale and proportion go hand-in-hand and directly affect the overall feel of a room. When a room lacks proper scale and proportion it can feel unsettling but when used correctly, these elements can give a room a feeling of harmony and cohesiveness.

Scale refers to the size of something as it relates to the space. For example, if you are furnishing a small living room, the sofa you choose should be a smaller scale sofa so it does not overwhelm your space.

Proportion refers to the size of various elements and how they relate to each other. A good example of proportion would be the relationship of a table lamp and it’s shade…if the lamp shade is too big or too small it will look out of proportion.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with scale and proportion. Sometimes one over-scaled piece can become a focal point and can have a dynamic effect on a space.

Balance
Balance refers to the arrangement of objects and the visual equilibrium they create in a room. When placing objects in a space it is important to consider their visual weight. For instance, a well balanced room would have larger, heavier furniture pieces distributed evenly throughout rather than placed on one side of the room.

There are two kinds of balance – formal and informal. Formal balance places objects symmetrically which creates a kind of mirrored effect. An example of this type of arrangement would be a console table with two identical lamps placed on either end. Informal balance is still balanced but without the mirrored effect. To create informal balance on a console table, place a lamp on one end and a grouping of objects such as vases or candlesticks of similar proportion and scale on the other end of the table.

Rhythm
Rhythm in a room is created through the repetition of elements such as line, shape, color and texture. Rhythm helps the eye move smoothly around the room from one object to another creating a sense of harmony.

Emphasis
In every room there should be a place of emphasis or a focal point. The focal point is a design feature that the eye is drawn to and creates impact in a space. Typically in a living room the fireplace is the focal point. In a room without a fireplace, the emphasis could be put on artwork, a bay window, or a special piece of furniture such as an armoire.

Unity
Unity encompasses all of the basic design principles and gives a room a sense of order and harmony by balancing different elements, colors, sizes and shapes throughout a room. But it’s essential to have a little variety as well. Too much of one thing can be boring so it’s important to add a little bit of the unexpected to keep things interesting.