Interior Design Elements of Design

Contrast

A large difference between two things: for example rough and smooth or white and black.

Movement

A way of combining visual elements to produce a sense of action- or implied motion.

Rhythm

A visual tempo or beat- often described as alternating, regular, flowing, progressive or jazzy.

Value

An element of art that refers to the lightness or darkness of a color.

Line

A mark with length and direction, created by a point that moves across a surface.

Space

The empty or open area between, around, above, below and within objects.

Unity

A feeling that all of the parts are working together as a team- the quality of wholeness.

Emphasis

Area in a work of art that catches and holds the the viewers attention.

Balance

principle of design referring to the way the elements are arranged to create a feeling of stability in a work- parts of equal visual weight.

Form

Any three dimensional object that can be measured by height, width and depth.

Texture

The element of art that refers to the surface quality or feel of an object- its smoothness, roughness.

Color

Element of art produced when a wavelength of light strikes an object and reflects back to the eyes.

Shape

A flat figure created when actual or implied lines surround a space- can be geometric or organic.

Analogous

Another name for relate colors- have one color in common. Colors that appear next to each other on the color wheel.

Complementary

Colors that are directly opposite of each other on the color wheel. When mixed together they make a neutral gray or brown.

Tertiary

Colors made by mixing a primary with a secondary color. Also called intermediate colors.

Variety

The use of different lines, shapes, textures, colors and other elements of design to create interest in a work of art.

Proportion

The relation of one object to another in size, amount, number or degree- scale.

Monochromatic

Make of only a single color or hue and its tints and shades.

Triad

Three colors evenly spaced on the color wheel. Example: red, yellow, and blue.

Hue

Common name for a color.

Neutrals

Black, gray, brown, and white.

Color spectrum

A band of colors produced when white light shines through a prism.

Primary colors

The three basic colors that cannot be made by mixing colors.

Secondary colors

Orange, green, and purple.