[Deco 101] The Principles of Unity Vol.2

We're already familiar with the importance of using all elements to achieve a feeling of unity, and it gives a room its unique characteristics. Now, we can play this rule better. A room with harmony can still have some variety-but it will be desirable variety, rather than unnecessary confusion.

Harmony may be attained through a combination of design elements that have something in common. The common factor may be in terms of line, form, scale, texture, value, and so on. Thus, harmony can be created in many ways. Below shows some typical examples:

Line Harmony: In the example, the curved lines of the window treatment are echoed in the curved lines of the back and arms of the love seat. And, the triangular table and the rectangular table are also harmonious in regard to line-both feature straight lines.

Form Harmony: Harmony of form can be established by combining identical shapes, such as those found in the nesting tables.

Scale Harmony: The two chairs are harmonious in size, or scale, even though the shapes of their backs are totally different.

Texture Harmony: The shapes of the lamps are different, but their bodies have texture harmony.

Value Harmony: Similar colour values are apparent in the differently shaped chairs.

To achieve harmony in a room, it must develop and preserve one dominant theme: richness, simplicity, formality, informality, strength (boldness), delicacy, nostalgia, or ultra-modernity. That dominant theme may be enriched by a subtle, subordinate theme. Mix and matching elements that slightly different flavours, but still share some common trait such as sleek table and contemporary upholstered chairs exude an atmosphere of sophisticated modernity, or curved mahogany table in the centre of a room with velvet sofas and drapery. As it mentioned last post, keep it somewhere between two extremes of discord and monotony is that middle ground, which is harmony.

Thank you for reading and if you have any questions or thoughts please leave it below :)

[Deco 101] The Principles of Unity Vol.1

Perhaps you've seen someone's hair, dress, shoes, and accessories seemed made for one another. They were all parts of a carefully designed and assembled composition. Or perhaps it was the performance of a song or an instrumental composition. All of the aspects of the performance seemed perfectly combined and in harmony with each other. In other words, the performance had unity.

The impression that different parts belong together is what the term unity refers to. Unity implies an orderly arrangement with no discord. Any instance of unity confirms hope for order in the world, and which pleases people.

To establish unity in interior decorating, a decorator must ensure that all parts of a room's decor appear to belong together. From the floor, walls, windows, fabrics, furniture, colours, lighting, and to accessories should all work together to achieve a unified whole. Here I brought the groups of wall hangings to show how the spaces between the pieces would create unity below:

The example on the left would be much appreciated and seems more comfortable look than the right as groupings of items properly spaced, and so it creates unity. To create a unified room, it needs to bring all elements of design-balance, scale, and emphasis-to achieve that seemingly effortless unity.


As my earlier post mentioned, The principles of Emphasis, contrast can create a focal point, it gives interest throughout a room, and maintain balance. The contrasts, however, should never be too strong or standing out of tune with the mood fot the rest of the room. Nor should all elements in a room be so similar to each other that the room becomes monotonous. Somewhere between these two extremes of discord and monotony is that middle ground, which is harmony. Harmony is what gives a feeling of oneness, or unity, to a room. A room with harmony can still have some variety-but it will be desirable variety, rather than unnecessary confusion.

More detail about Harmony to be continued in the next post.

Thank you for reading!


 

[DIY] Replacing with a Sunflower

      I got this $2 frame at a thrift store and

replace the old picture with a water colour sunflower

drawn by me.

I took the mat backing to measure a size of it and

drew a square on a paper for water colour.

And, started drawing a sunflower...

Oops. dropped a brush by accident...

Bring the water colour sunflower back in the place.

Done :)

Thanks for reading!