Get a Rhythm

Rhythm is number 7 on the principles of design list.  We define rhythm as being “created when one or more elements of design are used repeatedly to create a feeling of organized movement.  Variety is essential to keep rhythm exciting and active, and it creates a mood like music or dancing.”  Now, the elements of design are the tools – lines, shapes, forms, space, colors, and textures.  We have put them to use in our previous principles.  And now it is time to dance. 

One way to offer up a rhythm vibe in a room is to layer textures.  Silky bed coverings paired with embellished accent pillows and crisp, white linen shams keep a welcoming bed from being a one-note wonder.  A smooth leather ottoman atop a fuzzy, thick area rug next to an upholstered sofa brings variation to your seating area and visual appeal to your space.  An ornate lighting fixture hanging in an entryway that is greeted with the sleek lines of a modern foyer table and the repeating pattern of a rug flush with the front door threshold provides those spice notes that meets your guests with swooning applause.   

Using color to hit all the right notes also adds that rhythmic element to your home.  Rhythm obviously joins with Movement to bring layers of design into a space.  Repeat your chosen colors in interesting ways to generate that beat.  Pick up a soft tone from your fabrics in a living area or bedroom and paint your ceiling that pale shade in lieu of the standard white.  Take an accent shade from a rug and use it again in printed pillows, drapery panels, wall canvases, and accessories on shelves.  Paint your walls the color of your sofa or other seating, and then let the smaller pieces be more muted while the big elements pop.    

March to the beat of your own drummer and find the rhythm that works for the space you reside in.  And for you Johnny Cash fans – you know I had to go there – you can get a rhythm so you don’t get the blues.       

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 27th.

        

Proportion: Sizing You Up

Number six on the list of design principles is Proportion, which says it is “the feeling of unity created when all parts – sizes, amounts, or number – relate well with each other.”  This principle of design draws on some old staple rules of home decorating that still ring true today.        

When hanging pictures or other artwork, odd numbers look more cohesive, with three and five being the most popular collection numbers.  Occasional seating chairs usually come in twos, providing a nice balance alongside a sofa or fireplace.  What is hung over a fireplace mantel is usually large, such as a sizeable mirror or portrait, as it compliments the size and opening of the fireplace itself.  A lighting fixture over a dining table will likely be larger than other lights in the home because it is in proportion to the size of the table arrangement.  On the other hand, lights over a kitchen bar can be slender pendant styles to coordinate with the individual bar chairs.  What you hang above a bed’s headboard should not be too small, as the bed’s size would overpower it.  Instead, a large mirror or framed art, or a series of small to medium-sized framed or canvas pieces together works with the largest item in the room instead.    

Tabletop and shelf decorations need proportion as well to look pulled together.  You would not place a floral arrangement alongside a lamp if they were the same overall height and size.  But a short, compact vase of flowers beside a taller lamp with a broad shade would couple well together.  A tiny coffee table in front of a large couch is going to look too off balance, but pair a substantial table or upholstered ottoman with your sofa, and it adds to the warmth and inviting feeling of your setup.  Consider a similar plan for pillows on your seating arrangement.  The mixing of shapes and heights of throw pillows can fill in and add more dimension to any sofa. 

Vary the size and number of items in a furniture arrangement or decor display for a cohesive appearance.  It is how you compile pieces together that gives a space a unity that builds the right proportions with visually appealing elements.  With the goal of creating rooms that look polished with a professional touch, focusing on proportion can give you a sizeable advantage in the design department.    

 DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 20th.

Pattern and Repetition: Play It Again and Again and Again

Pattern and Repetition make up the forth and fifth principles of design that we can apply to the look and layout of our homes.  Because they go hand-in-hand, we’ll cover them together.  Pattern “is the repeating of an object or symbol all over,” while repetition “works with pattern to make the artwork seem active.  The repetition of elements of design creates unity.” 

A little secret: these two design principles can be pretty easy to pull off, because they can come home with you rather ready-made.  Consider some fresh ways to integrate a little pattern and repetition into the rooms of your home.  An Oriental rug is traditional, but you can take a 5’x7’ floor space and kick it up a notch by rolling out a chevron, zebra, lattice, houndstooth, or paisley printed rug instead.  The repeating pattern of each can make an art statement all by itself.  Pick up a similar or complimentary pattern in a fabric selection in your seating, lamp shades, and wall art to create that activity element and repeat a pattern in another spot in the room. 

Wallpaper is the time-honored use of pattern and repetition.  Except now, it is used as more of a bold focal point than a muted backdrop to a room.  Wallpaper in stripes, a lattice pattern, or a repeating geometric print can accent a hall bathroom, dining room, entryway, or one standout wall behind a headboard in a bedroom.  Repetition can also play out on your walls in the way you hang mirrors with unique borders or a series of similarly framed pictures or even swatches of fabric or sheets of printed paper.  It is the collection and arrangement of simple items that make them a unified work of art that brings a liveliness into a space. 

Take simple items that display patterns and prints that you like, and put them together to create attractive displays in your home.  It can be as easy as selecting a new rug, some pillows or drapery panels, a lamp shade, blanket, or framed pieces.  Take it a step further by adding in a weekend DIY project, like hanging some wallpaper or making your own custom art.  Ultimately, if you’re looking for a fuss-free way to incorporate more design into your rooms, playing on pattern and repetition is a no-sweat, high-reward route to take that plays on and on.

Happy Mother’s Day! 

Next week: Proportion 

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 13th.     

Movement: On a Roll

Movement is the third design principle.  When it comes to art in particular, movement is defined as “the path the viewer’s eye takes through the artwork, often to focal areas.  Such movement can be directed along lines, edges, shape, and color.”  So this week, we’re not just focusing on what we emphasize in our home decor, but how we ensure that others look from area to area in a flattering fashion.

Think up, down, and across.  No, not crossword puzzle directions.  But rather, examine the visual flow in each room in your home.  What causes us to look from spot to spot?  Let’s start with “up.”  Stairs come to mind first.  If you have a second story or just a few steps up to your front door, consider different colors or surface materials for steps versus risers.  Some paint their stairs, using one color for the steps and a different color for the risers, such as espresso and white.  Stair steps can be covered in carpet, while risers remain a painted or stained wooden surface.  The eye catches the variation differently than a solid block of color or single material, causing that visual tick up. 

You can hang floating shelves in clusters to display framed photos, artwork, or some decorative items like pottery, vases, shells, or metals.  When the edges of the shelves are in contrast to the wall color behind them, you can create movement from line to line in your collection, whether they are one lined up on top the other or hung in a staggered pattern. 

Another popular design today is a chevron pattern, the repeated pattern of zigzag lines, alternating usually between white and a bold or bright color.  A large chevron area rug can create movement in a seating arrangement or under a dining table, as if to welcome you into that space. 

Round décor, whether wall art, frames, or a collection of mirrors or old ceiling tiles, can be hung together to create a whimsical flow that draws the eye through a space with fluid movement.  A grouping without rigid edges remains loose and visually flowing from piece to piece. 

Incorporating movement into your living space is all about adding or rearranging elements that help the eye keep traveling through the space.  What makes you look across your walls, through your displays, and around your furniture?  Keep the ball rolling by having precisely positioned pieces that keep the eye moving.  Now you’re on a roll.

Next week: Pattern and Repetition

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 6th.