Background and Ornament Contrasts 101

There are different elements or principles in interior design. Each has to be studied in detail so that the designer will be able to make a coherent suggestion to his clients.

Background and ornaments are parts of the bigger picture called interior design. The tones for each is declared to be no more than 50 degrees apart. What is meant by this?

Using Dissimilarity to Achieve Beauty 

To further explain the relationship of backgrounds to ornaments, it is best to give a simple example. White, for instance, highlights the value of gray. Woodwork in cream white provides the perfect setting for tans walls. This ends up with light gray luminosity. The use of contrasting colors, on the other hand, say 50 degrees off on the scale, results in a forceful look that may not be considered beautiful.

Combining black and white is pretty difficult but when used effectively, they can make a room stand out. This is why the combination of these colors are not commonly used. White and black are normally separated by intermediate tones so there isn’t a stark likeness.

The governing principle for secondary contrasts such as in line, hue and form is increase the intensity of contrasts must be relative to the animation of the ornaments used.

Just observe how the shaper tones give contrast in a room as it also increases the animation to that place. As the contrast sharpens further, the unity of effect gets lost and the movement deteriorates into chaos.

The interior designer is there to arrange the light and dark colors in an orderly manner. He goes from top to bottom, he can experiment by going as far as he can, he can also group the room furnishings according to lightness or dark hues.

A room can only become distinct and charming with the degree of tones used as well as the day or night degree of illumination. Here, one can perceive a painted picture as the room is divided into low and high illumination areas. This must be achieved under natural lighting through the careful study of curtain arrangement, choice of hangings and different shades.

Principality should be greatly considered by any professional interior designer. This means that there should not be two or more areas that share equal illumination intensity. One area must be brightly-lighted than the rest, else, the room becomes monotonous or an eye sore.

Color arrangement in areas with low illumination should be carefully planned. Here, the role of the interior designer is greatly emphasized – he will guide the home or business owner to give character to the room and to make sure that the hues do not lose their character in the process.

Red, for example, is such a powerful color that it is not advisable to use it in full light. Gray is a bland color when used solely; on the color spectrum, it is the color blue that can retain its character the longest.

Even with the use of modern electric lamps, there is a sizeable difference between artificial and natural light. Colors that are used at night must be chosen with care since these colors will be given off by artificial lighting fixtures.

The sole safe method to have a fabric color tested is to have it under the lights of the room. But take note that general lighting guide dictates colored objects to be appear black when lighted by any color that they do not possess.

The light of candles has much yellow to offer while giving off very little of blue. Yellow and orange surfaces when lighted this yellowish glow will but slightly change while blue tends to appear blackish or greenish depending on the shade of violet or green in it. There are more rules along the way. As you practice, you will soon learn that you have already acquired an eye for what works and what does not. If you are still clueless, you can always call an interior designer to help you.