READERS' CHOICE, VOLUME 5

Oh my word! What would we do without you?!

You have taken the time to tell us what you really want to learn, and this month, we are here to give you just that!

You asked: How do you design different rooms in the home?

As you might imagine, this is a super loaded question, and it can be approached in a gazillion different ways. We are up for the challenge of making this easy for you to implement in your own space, no matter what it may look like!

Let’s walk you through the six principles of design and how they were used by one of our very own Uncommon Creatives, Sarah! Many of you know that Sarah (or Sal) is a professional commercial interior designer, working in the senior living industry. She has a ton of design know-how … That’s why her hair is so big. It’s full of secrets.

Sarah invited us to take a peek inside her living room so that you can see how to pull off a designer installation yourself.

Let’s check it out and let Sarah walk us through the process!

"Selecting, placing, and styling these items is an ongoing task - I still find myself shifting things around! To be honest, a lot of this process seems like it’s second-nature, but I know that there are specific practices at play, even when I’m not conscious of them!"

Before we dive into the nitty gritty, it’s important to take a quick step back. Why the heck do the principles of design even matter in the first place? In short, designers use these six principles to develop and organize our work while meeting the functional and aesthetic needs of a project.

So what are they exactly, and how are they used in this space?

1. Balance is the arrangement of elements in a composition to achieve visual equilibrium.

   1. This one is super simple in this space! The structure of this setup is symmetrical overall, meaning the entertainment center and the photos flanking either side create a symmetric visual composition.

2. Harmony is the agreement of the parts to each other and to the whole.

   1. Across this wall, there is a repetition of black frames, squared and rectangular shapes, and plant pots of similar sizes. Throughout the space, the end tables have a black square base, the sofa has a squared track arm, and I’ve repeated the green of the plants in the color of the throw pillows.

3. Rhythm is the repetition of elements in a regular pattern

1. I have placed three pairs of different objects in the center console. There are two small woven baskets over two picture frames over two wooden crates. It serves as a nice symmetric anchor for the wall.

4. Emphasis is used to define the hierarchy of a space, and it provides focus on the important features.

1. This entire wall is really the focus of our living room. It’s no surprise that we spend most of our time here watching TV … man, it’s just gotten so good, right?! Therefore, the TV is in the center of the wall, and the arrangement of the seating grouping is facing this wall, emphasizing it as an overall element.

5. Contrast is the juxtaposition of dissimilar elements.

1. You’ll notice a contrast between the geometric structure of elements like the wire home accessory with the organic plant inside of it.

2. You’ll also see things like the stack of soft, colorful blankets in a variety of patterns next to the stark white frame. PS: Katie made that incredible gift for our engagement!

6. Proportion is the relationship between one part of an object or composition and another part to the whole, or between one element and another

1. The proportions of the shelving unit itself work really well. You’ll notice that the vertical supports and the horizontal shelves are the same thickness. The only place that differs from this is the piece that sits directly below the TV. The TV is heavy, both physically and visually, so the thicker shelf makes sense here.

2. Additionally, the entertainment center on its own wasn’t enough to fill in this wall. After we got it into place, I added the stacked photos on either side. The setup now reads more like a cohesive unit, and it better fits the proportion of what’s needed in the space.

So there you have it! A simple installation, broken down in designer language, ready for you to experiment with in your own home!

Do you have another burning question for us?! Something that you’d love to learn how to do the Uncommon way?! Follow this link, vote on a few ideas we’re considering, and write in to tell us what YOU want to know!

Also, check out our past “Readers’ Choice” posts:

Volume 1 on How to Make Any Room Pop

Volume 2 on How to Make a Fabulous Home Office

Volume 3 on What to Do When You Are Stuck Creatively

Volume 4 on How to Find Your Personal Style

Make it work (and make it your own!)

Love,

The Uncommon Team