DESIGN ELEMENTS AND AESTHETICS: Arts and decorative elements

Arts Elements
 LINES
- A line is defined as a mark with length and direction, created by a point that moves across a
surface. A line can vary in length, width, direction, curvature, and color.
- This is a very important element in planning and furnishing. It is the most basic design element. the
architect and the interior decorator must organize and combine lines before they can create beauty
in a building or in an interior design.
TYPES OF LINES
o Vertical lines
o Horizontal lines
o Diagonal lines
o Curved lines

 COLOR
- the aspect of any object that may be described in terms of hue, lightness, and saturation. In
physics, colour is associated specifically with electromagnetic radiation of a certain range of
wavelengths visible to the human eye.
WARM COLOR
o Colors that are often described as being higher in temperature
o Reds, oranges, yellows
o Associated with fire and sun
o Optically, appear to advance
o Stimulating and passionate

COOL COLOR
o Colors that are often described as being lower in temperature
o Greens, Blues, and Violet
o Associated with water, sky, and spring
o Optically, they appear to recede
o Calming and depressing

 FORM AND SHAPE

- Form: The shape and structure of something as distinguished from its substance or materials.
- Shape: The two dimensional contour that characterizes an object or area.
 SPACE
 - Space is the empty or open area between, around, above, below, or within objects. Shapes and
forms are made by the space around and within them. Space is often called three-dimensional or
two- dimensional.
- Positive space is filled by a shape or form. Negative space surrounds a shape or form.

TYPES
o open, uncluttered spaces
o a cramped, busy spaces
o unused vs good use of space

SPACE/DEPTH
o May be created by overlapping, change in scale, perspective placement, color theory, or
projection toward the viewer.

 TEXTURE
- The surface look or feel of something. Actual texture can be felt while simulated textures are
implied by the way the artist renders the surface area
SMOOTH SURFACE - reflects more light and therefore is a more intense color.
ROUGH SURFACE - absorbs more light and therefore appears darker.

 VALUE
- The relative lightness or darkness. An element of art that refers to luminance or luminosity – the
lightness or darkness of a color.
METHODS
o Shade – Degree of darkness of a color.
o Tint – A pale or faint variation of a color .

DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
FUNCTIONAL AND DECORATIVE
- LAMPS:
They should provide adequate lightning where it is needed. Well chosen lamps and lighting fixtures are
extremely important in determining the characteristics of a room because they play a major role in
lighting a room.
- MIRRORS:
Mirrors produce a feeling of spaciousness in a room. In some areas such as bed rooms and dressing
rooms. Mirrors are essentials.
- CLOCKS:
Must keep time and have faces that are easy to read.
- BOOKS:
Although books in open shelves are among the most interesting and decorative of all accessories.

- ASHTRAYS:
Adds considerably to the décor scheme of the room.

-SMALL SCULPTURES:
Small figures in stone, wood, metals, ivory (white stone), pottery (anything made from sand or clay) ,
porcelain or glassware suitable for room decoration, and can be placed in pairs. It must be compact in
design.

- FLOWER ARRANGEMENT:
Plants, leaves, flowers provide effective and economical accessories for any type of decorative scheme,
when used with taste and discretion they add a warm livable quality to almost any room.