Jamela Bea M.

Mangapot
I BTLED-B

Elements and Principles of Interior Design

A great design often starts with the face of an established rules. To understand the basics of
an element and its principles you have to be able to recognize and analyse elusive concepts.
Understanding elements and principle will guide you on how, where, when to break or to
follow the rules in creating your own style.

Seven elements and principles of interior design you should keep in mind while designing
the interior

1.Space
Space is the foundation of an interior; we need to understand the concept of space. The
concept says “take all advantage of what is available to you”.
Given space in relation to your work cannot be changed. So, it
is better to plot your design according to the available space.
Space is one of the most important elements of any interior
design. It serves as a cornerstone on which any internal
structure plan depends. Available ‘space’ cannot be easily
changed. Meanwhile, most interior designers will not suggest
you make any changes to the available space. So, you have to work with what you have.

2. Lines
Lines provide visual guidance of interior space and
act as a space to define. They are basically divided
into three different categories: Horizontal, Vertical
and Dynamic lines. These lines help to shape a
room. The Horizontal line contains a table, chair,
and bed. Interior designers use horizontal lines to
make a room appear longer and wider. But be
careful, excess use of horizontal lines results in
boring and uninspired space. A vertical line, created by features such as doorways, windows,
and Almira. The vertical line gives the illusion that the room is taller. Dynamic Line also is
known as “angular lines” refer to diagonal, zigzag, or curved lines. It is useful in structuring
the staircase and adding a dramatic effect to the room.
3.Forms
Any three-dimensional object in your home is a
shape or a “Form”. We can easily create these
forms by combining two or more shapes. You can
easily highlight them with the help of other
elements like texture, patterns, and colors. There
are two types of form follow in this, one is
Geometric or” man-made” and the second one is
Natural or organic form. Geometric forms are
basically the hard lines and the square edges. Natural forms refer to those forms which are
created by nature.

4.Patterns
Patterns always tell a story and add interest and give
life to the interior design. It also adds the element of
continuity and smooth transition in a living space.
Patterns can be of any shape and also have a
repetitive design but most of them are attractive. A
droplet-shaped vegetable pattern design is
commonly in use nowadays. You can easily see this
kind of pattern on the walls and other decorative
surfaces. These Patterns give you the ability to bring
energy, interest, and contrast into your design. A beautiful pattern design helps to bring a
room together and give depth to your space.

5.Light
One of the most important elements of interior
design is light. Lights help to highlight the other
elements such as color, texture, patterns, forms, and
lines. Without light, either geometric or natural, the
texture and patterns don’t have any significance.
Nowadays, designers are using artificial lights on the
window as well as on doors. Artificial lighting is
mostly common in interior design. Artificial lighting is
categorized into three major types as Task Lighting,
Accent Lighting, and Mood Lighting. Task lighting is generally used for a well-defined
purpose. It includes light sources like table and bed lamps, these types of lighting are mostly
applicable for a specific task. Accent lights are used to highlight a particular thing or show
specific items like artworks, structures & so on. Mood lighting or ambient lighting is used for
the basic purpose to set the mood of the living space and illuminate the overall space.
6.Colors
Color is a science on its own and is another important
element that matters in interior design. It has the ability
to create mood, and alter the perception of how big or
small space is. Each color defines three characteristics:
Hue, Value, and Intensity. The interior designers have a
better idea about all these characteristics. They perform
various permutations and combinations with textures
and colors to provide a better look to your space. For
example, rеd is the best choice for the dining room and
green for the bedroom as it is the color of quality and health. Colors are broadly classified
into Primary and Secondary colors and they also include sub-categorized namely: Tertiary,
Complementary, Analogous & Monochromatic colors.

7.Texture
A Texture refers to the surface of the object. The texture
is often overlooked, but it has the ability to bring a
unique dimension to the room.
It usually comes in two different forms-
Visual Texture
Visual texture refers to the texture that can easily be seen
by our eyes. You can’t experience how these textures
actually feel.
Actual Texture
Actual or tactile textures have 3D characteristics that imply that you can easily see them and
feel them with your hands.
Generally, if something is missing in a room, then a good interior designer will be able to
identify that it will be due to a lack of texture. Texture plays an important part in every
object that is chosen for a room. They reflect the taste and environment of the place so they
should have to take care of full attention. The texture is one of the most important elements
of interior design, each and every interior designer keeps it in mind while doing any
implementation.
 Principles

1.Balance
Balance means the equal distribution of visual
weight in a room and it is of utmost importance for
the design of all interior spaces. It provides the
basic flow of the room while designing it. It can be
achieved by using, symmetrical, asymmetrical and
radial settings.

2. Emphasis and Focus

The principle of emphasis in interior design is the process of creating focus within a
designated space. This method is used not only to draw attention to a focal point in the
room but can also be used to divert the viewer from noticing a less desirable area of the
space as well.

3. Rhythm
Rhythm is all about repetition of design elements that help
to create movement within a space. Rhythm may be
applied in bold statements that make an obvious
suggestion about a path of travel, or more subtly applied
to move your eye about a space without you even
realizing the rhythm is there.

4. Proportion
Proportion is an understanding of the scale of
specific design elements on a single object; these
elements include size, shape, texture, and color.
Proportion is concerned with the relationship
between parts of a whole.
5. Harmony and Unity
Harmony and unity are two foundational, yet often
overlooked, principles of interior design. In reality,
they play a key role in giving the rooms of your home
a much-needed sense of calm and stability. They're
also the elements that set exceptional designs apart
from the crowd.