Principles Of Design
Jessica Kelly
Balance
Balance is arranging designs in ways that create a feeling or rest and equilibrium. There are two types of balance called Formal balanced (Symmetrical) which is the same on each side of the focal point and Informal Balance (Asymmetrical) design, is the still balanced, but is different on the sides of the focal point.
Symmetrical Balance/ Formal Balance.
This picture is a great example of Formal balance because everything is perfectly structured around the focal point/ center piece. The candles are perfectly mirrored with each other on each side of the picture as well as the dinner table and chandeliers. The designer probably wanted to create a very neat, organized, structured room, because this room is very proper and balanced.
Website: HGTV.com
Asymmetrical Balance/ Informal Balance
This setting justifies Informal Balance because the room flows nicely with the matching pillows and colors from the couch, table and chair. However its unbalanced because both sides of the focal point/ circular table are different; one side has the long couch and the other has a different colored chair. I think the designer did this because they wanted to create a nice, but more relaxed room than a formal balance would give.
Website: HGTV.com
Rhythm
Rhythm is where movements that leads the eye smoothly and easily from one part of the design to another and provides a sense of order and a quality of gracefulness. It gives the illusion of motion, and lets the eye moves easily throughout the design.
Repetition
I think this picture shows repetition very strongly because it is reverberating throughout the whole room. It is the very center piece, it is the most common pattern that is repeating, the horizontal strips in the middle and on the paintings on both pictures. I think the designer wanted to have a theme to go in this room and the best way to do that was out a rhythm of repetition, hence the stripes.
Gradation
This picture is a great example of gradation, because one the left side of the room, it starts out as a bright pink, but as the eye continues to move across the room the colors turn to a purple and and eventually blue. I think the designer was trying to create an atmosphere where it feels relaxed but still vibrant. For example, if you want to relax, follow the transition to the darker colors and vise versa.
Transistion
At first you glance at the downstairs but by default, your eyes immediately travel to the spiral staircase and they go up making you look at the upstairs. The designer wanted to give people something to focus on and a way of noticing the upstairs as well as the downstairs so i think putting two spirals cases gives a very nice transition from the bottom to top
Radiation
In this picture a central point would be the colored ceiling with the chandelier and the mini rectangular lights going outward all around, showing radiation. I think the designer was trying to create an open or expanding atmosphere through radiation because it opens up the room.
Emphasis
Emphasis is the "Center of Interest" and the "Focal Point", "Dominant Idea". Its the center of attention on the most important item in an arrangement and allows rhythm to carry the eye from this point to another area of interest. This picture shows emphasis very nicely because this room is clearly focused around the fireplace. All of the furniture is spaced around it and everything is light colored but the fireplace is a very dark color which makes it stand out. I think the designer wanted people to give this fireplace special attention as they walk into the room. It is a place for the eyes to come back to and rest on.
Scale
The law of proportion, when applied to size relationship of objects used together. This picture fantastically represents scale because in relation to size, this living room is almost equal. The couches, TV stand, middle table are all low to the ground and near the same size in width. This picture has very strong horizontal lines. which evens the scale between all of the furniture.
Proportion
Proportion is the relationship of parts to each other and to the design as a whole. This setting has proportion everywhere the four couches are all equal distances and sizes are perfectly centered around the coffee table. All of the furniture make up more than 2/3 of the room and fit in it nicely.
Adult Scale
This picture is a good example of an adult scale because all the furniture in this room accommodates an adult body along with the sophisticated dark colors that usually pairs with a mature use. The designer wanted this room to specifically be for adults
Child Scale
This room is very clearly meant for children and built on a child scale. Only a small child can fit in the chairs and the twin bed that would make this room based on a child scale. The designer clearly made this room for a child to be in and spend time in.
Harmony
Harmony is a combination of unity and variety to overall create a pleasing, whole design. This picture is tying the unity through the furniture and color scheme, making the room look pleasing and whole, but shedding some variety in the different types of furniture. Some furniture had dark wood, but the table has the same color and design as the chandelier. White, yellow, brown and gold are all displayed in different ways but comes together as a whole