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Elements Of Interior Design
By Kathy Iven, Fri Dec 9th

Whether you are working with existing furnishings and fabrics or"starting from scratch" with an empty room, you should alwaysuse the elements and principles of as a guide in choosingeverything. The elements are your tools or raw materials, muchlike paints are the basics to a painter. The elements of designinclude space, line, form, color, and texture. The principles ofdesign relate to how you use these elements and are balance,emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, and harmony and unity.

Element #1: Space Space defines the boundaries and sets thelimits on the functional and decorative things you can do.Usually you will not determine the space; instead, you will befaced with the challenge of using the existing space effectively.

Element #2: Line The lines in a room are second only to color inimportance when it comes to setting the overall mood or feelingof a room. The lines of window fashions should support thedominant line of the room. In most situations, the dominant lineis straight (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) rather thancurved. Your choice of emphasizing the direction of lines willdetermine the mood you want to create. *Vertical lines addheight and dignity, creating a more formal atmosphere. Verticallines also balance the horizontal lines found in most furniture.*Horizontal lines tend to create a restful, informal feeling.They work well in casual rooms or as relief to the strongverticals of

formal rooms. *Diagonal lines attract attentionand lead the eye. They can be disturbing unless supported byverticals or opposing diagonals. *Curved lines add a softeningeffect and keep the room from becoming too stiff. Use curvedlines with some restraint to keep the room from becoming toosoft and overly feminine.

Element #3: Form Lines that join together produce the form, orshape, of an object, which in turn impacts the overall feelingof a room. Straight lines create rectangles, square andtriangles. Curved lines form circles and ovals. The rectangle isthe most popular form and is often the dominant shape in a room.Triangles provide stability and curved shapes soften thecontours of objects.

Element #4: Color More than any other element, color can make aroom beautiful. Color can set the mood. It can make a roomwarmer or cooler, larger or smaller. It can hide unsightlyfeatures or call attention to the center of interest. Even withthe simplest furnishings, the proper use of color can transforma room.

Element #5: Texture Texture is playing an increasingly importantrole in home decorating. Visual texture is a material's apparentsmoothness or roughness. To maintain and enhance a casualfeeling, use fabrics that are more heavily textured, nubby orrough visual texture. Smooth, shiny surfaces such as silk,moiré, chintz and silk-like looks support a more formal feelingin a room. Using several levels of complementary textures addsvariety and maintains interest. However, it is a good idea toavoid dramatic contrasts in texture.

About the author:Kathy Iven, Columbus, OH kathy@fabricfarms.com Kathy Iven is theowner of Fabric Farms Interiors, located in Hilliard, OH. FabricFarms Interiors specializes in home décor fabrics and trims.They also offer custom drapery, bedding and upholstery services.The company was founded in 1971 and is the largest home décorfabric store in Central Ohio. To learn more, visitwww.fabricfarms.com All rights reserved.