ID Principles of Design

Creating a feeling of cohesiveness (coordination) in a room or between rooms, with just enough variety and interest to not be boring. Following a color scheme or design theme throughout a room or home.

• Contrast

• Emphasis

• Rhythm

• Details

• Harmony & Unity

Finishing touches and/or small personal additions that create a unique style and keep a room interesting.

• Contrast

• Emphasis

• Rhythm

• Details

• Harmony & Unity

Using opposite elements of design (color, texture, pattern and scale) to create a pleasing balance.

• Contrast

• Emphasis

• Rhythm

• Details

• Harmony & Unity

Distributing furniture and decorative items as evenly as possible so that things have the same actual or visual weight when looking at a room.

• Proportion & Scale

• Emphasis

• Rhythm

• Harmony & Unity

• Balance

A focal point that becomes the center of attention and becomes the first thing that draws a person's eye when entering a room.

• Proportion & Scale

• Emphasis

• Rhythm

• Harmony & Unity

• Balance

Visual repetition created by using color, line, form or textures to move your eyes from one area in a room to another.

• Proportion & Scale

• Emphasis

• Rhythm

• Harmony & Unity

• Balance

The relationship between two items and the way that one object's size relates to the space it is in.  For example:  a coffee table that is the correct size for a couch, or artwork that is the correct size for over a bed.

• Proportion & Scale

• Emphasis

• Rhythm

• Harmony & Unity

• Balance

When items are arranged around a central point.

• Radial Balance

• Symmetrical Balance

• Asymmetrical Balance

• Repetition

• Alternation

When matching objects are arranged (mirrored) on both sides of a center line.  This is a simple to achieve and has a more formal feeling.

• Radial Balance

• Symmetrical Balance

• Asymmetrical Balance

• Repetition

• Alternation

Informal balance where different objects on either side of a center point appear to have the same visual  weight, but are not matching items.

• Radial Balance

• Symmetrical Balance

• Asymmetrical Balance

• Repetition

• Alternation