Five Fundamentals of Good Design (that also apply to styling your home)

Design Play Book

Designing a space may feel like no small feat. But when you understand the basics — some of those brass-tack principles that designers use every day — planning a room or your entire house becomes exciting, doable, and a skill you can keep refining. And around McDowell & Associates, it’s a skill we love to share.

I’ve discussed our design methodology in a previous post, which is rooted in architect Christopher Alexander’s A Pattern Language renowned for providing simple, conveniently formatted, humanist solutions to complex design problems from urban planning to interior design. A Pattern Language is not actually about architecture, but about how specific design choices can help us build better relationships.

In this post, I will instead get more granular and explore five design fundamentals that directly influence our architectural design: scale, balance, contrast, and flow.

As I explore each design element, I’ll also provide a simple “try it” tip next to each example for you to put into practise when styling your home decor. This can help the concept sink in and make more sense: if you take it from page to room.

SCALE

Scale refers to the size of an object or person and how it compares to other objects in a room or to the room itself. Playing with scale can help create visual impact and how one experiences that space. Whether you want to create an intimate setting or a more opulent space for entertaining larger groups, scale is important. A small cave underneath a stair is a very inviting space for young children. Manipulating scale throughout a home creates interest and gives each space a unique feel.

Scale also relates to objects within the space. For example, one has to pay attention to the scale of a chandelier in the front foyer. A small light fixture, although it may be expensive and elegant, will feel insignificant in a two storey volume. At the same time, an oversized light fixture may seem forced and ostentatious. Finding the right scale with the help of a design professional will make the room will feel at ease.

TRY IT: Next time you tour a show home, think about how the size of each room makes you feel, or choose a room in your own home with one large element, but nothing else that echoes its size. Bring in something large, even if it’s temporary, and see what happens.

PROPORTION

Proportion refers to the relationship between each part of a composition and how it relates to the whole, like the of a height of a door in relation to the height of the room or the size of a window as it relates to the exterior of the building.

The Golden Proportion is a ratio of 1 to 1.6 or roughly 60:40 (length to height) and is considered the most beautiful system of proportion. This ratio is prevalent in almost every living thing like plants, trees, butterflies — you name it — the Golden Ratio is present. When a space is designed with this proportion it feels natural and comfortable because in nature, we are surrounded by it every day.

In the image to the left, each part of the building (including the windows) relate to the main body of the house. Although each part is a different size they are all the same shape.

In the image to the right, the painting is in direct proportion to the partition on which it’s been hung, welcoming a sense of calm and order to the eye.

TRY IT: Apply this ratio when furnishing a room — If 60 percent of your floor space is furniture and 40 percent if left open, this will allow the room to feel complete without appearing overcrowded.

BALANCE

Balance happens when there’s an even distribution of objects or colours across a space. When things are off balance, one side feels “heavy” or more crowded than the other — like furniture that’s weighing down half the room while the other half is sparse. Equalizing colour distribution is another balancing tool. For instance, if you have black near the floor, pull that colour higher with several other elements . This creates a pleasing visual balance with minimal effort. The house above is asymmetrical however the gable end roof on the right side of the image is balanced by the chimney on the left creating a balanced pleasing composition. The same applies to the kitchen below where the window is balanced by the stools at the counter.

TRY IT: Take something out of a room to create better balance whether its colour that’s throwing things off or an overstuffed chair that’s crowding a corner.

CONTRAST

While balance is spreading things equally across a space, contrast is creating intentional juxtaposition: using dark to offset light, polished to contrast weathered, linear to counter a room filled with curves. Contrast creates dimension and disrupts that matchy-matchy effect. It could look like a grouping of [light things] inside a dark [thing]. Contrasts create mood, depth, and visual delight.

TRY IT: Rearrange objects in your room solely to create contrast. Let the room sit for a few days as you adjust to the change, and see if you end up loving it.

FLOW

Flow refers to how elements in a room — or a certain vignette you’re creating — connect to each other across a space. Good flow happens when a material, finish, or colour (even if its a different shade) repeats itself within the same scene. This repetition could look like a plant on a shelf that ties to another plant in the same space — creating a connection between organic elements. With good flow, instead of a seemingly random effect, the room or vignette feels held together.

Try It: Sit in the middle of your room and do a quick assessment. An unexpected element here or there can add great visual interest — but it’s helpful to keep an eye on how thing connect to ensure a good flow.