What’s Your Line?

Understanding what constitutes good design is essential if your home decorating project is going to be successful. The purpose of spending time, thought, effort and money decorating your home is to make it attractive and functional. Comfort is easier to define. Good design is harder to achieve, but it is good design that pleases the eye and what ultimately evokes incredible feelings in people when they walk in a room. Line is the beginning of all design, because it establishes shape or form.

While we’re all somewhat aware of lines, have you ever considered how lines influence mood? You can set the theme of a room by your choice of lines. This is because the human eye involuntarily travels the length of a line, and different lines give different impressions. Here are some thoughts about lines to help you with your design projects:

Horizontal lines are restful. They create a feeling of relaxation and informality, perhaps because a horizontal position is associated with sleeping. Contemporary styles in furniture are often based on horizontal lines.

Vertical lines are formal. They create a feeling of strength and regularity, especially when repeated. They’re undoubtedly associated in our minds with an upright position, thus signifying alertness and conventionality. Think about many of the architectural forms with columns and the formal feeling they give off.

Circles and Squares are static. The eye recognizes these shapes at a glance. Stars and flowers patterns that fit into circles and squares are also static.

Rectangles and ovals give an impression of motion. This is because the eye involuntarily travels around them due to their less regular shape.

Controlled curved lines are happy and romantic and almost always have a lighthearted look. If you want a light and romantic look in your new room, use furniture designed around controlled curves.

Free form curves reflect the flowing lines of nature. These irregular forms are considered contemporary. Just as controlled curves have a fanciful effect, free-form curves create a casual, free and easy mood.

Diagonal lines usually create a disturbing element, unless supported by opposing diagonals or by verticals to give them strength. A variety of diagonal lines used together produce a very busy look, which is often unsettling.

So, next time you are designing, think about your use of lines and how they influence the feeling you want to evoke in the room.