Previously, I posted articles about Balance and Rhythm. For part III, I’ll cover scale and proportion.
Scale and Proportion
These two design principles go hand in hand, since both relate to size and shape. Proportion has to do with the ratio of one design element to another, or one element to the whole. Scale concerns itself with the size of one object compared to another.
Discerning the difference between these two terms can be difficult. Think about the pattern on wallpaper… it can be large or small, and in relation to where it will be installed, in or out of scale. A large room calls for a large scale pattern, while a small room would be overwhelmed. A small pattern would fit perfectly in a powder room, for example. But that same pattern would be lost in a large space.
The golden mean is the the classic example of proportion. “Classic” is used in a literal sense here, since this theory originated with the Greeks. As noted in “Inside Today’s Home”,
According to Greek design, a square is the least pleasing proportion for an enclosure while a rectangle, with its sides in a ratio of 2:3, is the most pleasing. … The golden section is the division of a line or form so that the smaller portion has the same ratio to the larger as the larger has to the whole.
So how do you apply all of this? Well, ultimately it is up to you. Just remember to keep these principles in mind, and follow your instincts.
In Part IV, I’ll talk about Emphasis, the art of creating a focal point in a room.
