7 Principles of Interior Design: Achieving a Harmonious Flow

Interior design is an art form that requires a deep understanding of the principles of balance, harmony, rhythm, proportion and scale, emphasis, contrast and detail. When applied correctly, these principles can create a cohesive flow throughout an open space plan. We wanted to share how we used one of our favorite principles, the repetition of rhythm, to subtly repeat a magnificent “X” shape throughout our main level. We balanced the obvious X-shape at the end of our island and in the upper cabinets with more subtle X-shapes on the chandelier (the small detail of sunlight), the angular supports of the chandelier, the base of Angie's office table and the woven pattern of the island's stools seats.

Above the sunray-shaped chandelier in our dining room, we created our biggest and most obvious “X”. We love that the scale and proportion of this shape are different, to offer contrast, emphasis and focus. The base of our side table has the same star-shaped X-shaped pattern as Angie's dining candlestick and office table. This balance makes us very, very happy.

We also couldn't resist taking the “X” outside as well. The repetition of these small details, scattered throughout our house, guarantees harmony and unity throughout our house. As you may have noticed, without realizing it, we managed to comply with all seven principles of interior design simply by deliberately applying one of our favorite design rules: repetition and rhythm. It's important to remember that in modern interior design, too much symmetry in a room can overwhelm space, be stiff, or even boring.

Asymmetric balance is a modern approach to interior design principles that offers more flexibility when decorating a room. Whether you're thinking of renovating a part of your home on your own or working with professionals to complete a full construction renovation, it is essential to understand the basic principles of interior design before beginning your dream project. The seven principles of interior design are balance, harmony, rhythm, proportion and scale, emphasis, contrast and detail. When applied correctly, these principles can create a unified flow throughout an open space plan. We wanted to share how we used one of our favorite principles - repetition and rhythm - to subtly repeat an eye-catching “X” shape throughout our main level. We balanced the obvious X-shape at the end of our island and in the upper cabinets with more subtle X-shapes on the chandelier (the small detail of sunlight), the angular supports of the chandelier, the base of Angie's office table and the woven pattern of the island's stools seats.

We love that the scale and proportion of this shape are different, to offer contrast, emphasis and focus. The base of our side table has the same star-shaped X-shaped pattern as Angie's dining candlestick and office table. This balance makes us very happy. We also couldn't resist taking the “X” outside as well. The repetition of these small details scattered throughout our house guarantees harmony and unity throughout our house. As you may have noticed without realizing it, we managed to comply with all seven principles of interior design simply by deliberately applying one of our favorite design rules: repetition and rhythm. It is important to remember that in modern interior design too much symmetry in a room can overwhelm space, be stiff or even boring.

Whether you're thinking of renovating a part of your home on your own or working with professionals to complete a full construction renovation, familiarizing yourself with these basic principles is essential for achieving your dream project.

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