ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: Value & Symmetrical Balance

Bring New Balance to Your Interior

This is a relatively easy method of styling any interior. You need to take decorative elements in different values of the same colour – see below for a detailed explanation – and arrange them in symmetrical order. It is a safe way to arrange any room.

Symmetrical Balance works great for Art Deco interiors, and any styles related to, and derived from Art Deco, such as Hollywood Glamor.

ELEMENT

Value refers to the darkness or a lightness of a colour. Adding white to a colour creates its tint, while adding dark to the colour creates a shade. In the above interior we notice a variety of values of golden yellow colours, from bright sofas, to lively chandelier, srtipey golden yellow backdrop of the room, lighter yellow tinted armchairs, lamp shades and pieces of decorative timber, to darker shades of old gold yellow panels at the front and in the rear, and elements of darker values in some armchairs.

PRINCIPLE

Symmetrical balance is the even distribution of the visual weight of objects, colours, texture, and space on both sides of the interior. In this room we see an almost ideal symmetry of all pieces of all items occupying the space.

OUTCOME

The use of a broad range of golden yellow values creates the atmosphere of rich luxury. Symmetrical balance creates the mood of formal space that is appropriate and well balanced towards very upmarket users.

Next page: How to Apply Interesting Forms in Repetitive Manner to Create Unique Interiors