Elements of Design

Brian Vieira

The Elements of Design

◄Line►

◄ Form ►

◄ Color ►

◄ Texture ►

Lines

Curved Lines Horizontal Lines Vertical Lines Diagonal Lines

Provides direction in design of structures, and relates it to the site and natural surroundings. Lines can be curved, horizontal, vertical or diagonal, in order to accent or distinguish features.

Curved Lines

Provide soft feeling, can be found in arches, curved walls, round windows and doorways.

ExamplesCurved lines in exterior arch ways are a

great way to break up a manmade structure and soften it to blend better

with its surroundings.

Examples

Curved arches in a house serve to soften entry and exit ways leading to a much more pleasing transition between

spaces.

ExamplesCurved lines are perfect for a garden because their soft and unstructured forms mirror their

gentle and whimsical surroundings.

Examples

Arched bridges remove the

formality of a normal structured bridge and add a homely feeling.

Examples

Curved walls not only give a building style and make it

stand out, but they make it

more aesthetically

pleasing to look at.

Examples

Curved or rounded windows add style to a house but also soften up a wall and extenuate the view from

them

Horizontal Lines

Horizontal lines are used in order to maximize width and size, while at the same time minimize height. Great examples of this are roofs, floors, balconies, and siding patterns.

Examples

Horizontal roof lines make a structure seem

longer and larger

Examples

Horizontal siding maximizes size and makes structures

seem longer.

Examples

Balconies are a great way to

extenuate a wall and make it stand out as

more important.

Examples

Hardwood flooring makes a

room seem longer and

larger.

Vertical Lines

Vertical lines create the illusion of height, lead the eye upward, give sense of strength and stability. Used in columns, windows, trim and siding.

Examples

Columns make a space seem massive and much taller.

Examples

Large vertical windows create a outstanding view

bringing the outside in and

making any room seem larger.

Examples

Vertical wallpaper or beadbord

make the room appear slightly

taller.

Examples

Vertical siding

makes a house

seem as though it is taller than it actually is.

Diagonal Lines

Diagonal lines are used to create a sense of transition, used most often in rooflines and siding.

Examples

Diagonal roof lines are the

best way to transition the siding to the roof.

Examples

Diagonal siding or flooring is a great way to transition

from one space to another.

Form

Rectangles Squares Circles Ovals

Form is common shapes found in the design of a house. They are usually three-dimensional. The proportions between them is important to create the proper function or look of the design.

Rectangles

A rectangle is an enclosed shape that is characterized by having four sides and four right (90°) angles.

Examples

Multi sized rectangles can

create an unified yet unrestricted

structural design.

Squares

A square is an enclosed shape that is characterized by four equal sides and four right angles.

ExamplesA single square can create a feeling of symmetry while multiple squares create a uniform

look.

Circles

A circle is a line forming a closed loop, in which every point on which is a fixed distance from a center point.

Examples

Circles can crate a symmetrical look, but unlike squares, they also

create a soft look.

Ovals

Oval is a Latin derived word meaning egg, therefore it is an egg shape that differs from a circle because its radii can vary.

Examples

Ovals allow a designer to make a large space seem soft and informal.

Color

Hue Value Intensity

Color is an intricate part of design. It distinguishes exterior materials and accents, creates a pleasing bled that dramatically effects the final look.

Hue

Hue represents what is typically thought of as the color. There are primary colors (red, blue, and yellow), secondary colors (orange, green, and violet), and tertiary colors (a mix of primary and secondary).

Examples

A mix of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors can create

and interesting look.

Value

Value is the darkening (adding black), lightening (adding white), or tinting (adding hue), to a base color

Examples

Wood cabinets in a kitchen can often feature two or more different values of stain which creates an interesting look.

Intensity

Is the brightness of a specific color. Colors can softened by adding the opposite color on the color wheel to it. Warm colors, bold colors, and neutral colors all drastically change the appearance of a house.

Examples

Reds and oranges are warm colors that tend to

make objects appear larger

of closer.

Examples

Blues, greens, and violets are bold colors and tend to make things appear farther away or smaller.

ExamplesNeutral colors form a major part of a

house and allow accents such as trim and furniture to dictate the appearance.

Texture

Rough Surfaces Smooth Surfaces

Texture is the roughness or smoothness of an object. This is very important in material selection.

Examples

Rough materials such as concrete or brick create a

sense of strength and security.

Examples

Rough sawn wood creates a sense of

strength and gives an outdoors felling.

Examples Smooth textures, such

as resawn wood and

glass, create a sense of luxury

making the space seem larger and

making colors seem brighter.

Examples

Metal surfaces are great for kitchens because they reflect a lot of light making

the space brighter.