Elements of Interior Design - Line, Pattern & Texture

Line has to do with the form of objects in a room.  Angular furniture contributes to a clean, contemporary space, while soft, curved lines elicit a lived-in and traditional space.  The lines of stair railings can create a transition between spaces, while countertops divert your vision to the horizontal line of the room.  Even patterns that repeat can create a continuous line that your eyes will follow.  

This piece is very traditional (armoires in themselves are dated).  The curved line of the top and the carving in the wood add a softness that can't be mistaken for a contemporary setting.

The cottage kitchen is very linear.  It's a long single counter and the ceiling is peaked.  A single pendant would have divided the wall, but the "pool table" light, along with the shelves, repeat the horizontal lines and bring the focus down to human height.  It's a very busy, and eclectic space. 

Pattern can come from wallpaper, fabric, rugs or even flooring.  It can be floral, geometric, striped or abstract, and it can come from something as small as a cushion or a large-scale pattern on a sofa.  Consider the size and style of the space before injecting patterns.  Several patterns can be combined in one space, however, they should relate to one another in either the pattern itself or in color and gradation (i.e., the same pattern in different colors or different patterns in the same colors).  

The breezeway would have been a long boring brick hall had I not broken it visually with the wood inlay pattern.  It added some interest and made the space a little more decorative.

Here's an example of multiple patterns working together because they have color in common. The quilts, throws and rug are all different patterns in close blue shades.  And of course the walls pull them all together.  This is a very conservative use of combined patterns--the only color besides blue is a touch of pink on the window seat pillows.  

Patterns create a visual Texture, whether crisp striped wallpaper or blurry ikat fabric. Through tactile surfaces (wood, slate, natural fibers, etc.) and dimensional textiles (slubby linens, knitted throws, fur, etc.) actual texture can add to the character of a room, providing depth and sophistication.  

My stairway goes up and down from the main floor--it was lots of shiny dark wood, off-white molding and neutral walls.  I needed some kind of carpet for safety, and a runner (leaving some of the wood exposed) is the informal look I was after.  I wanted a pattern and texture to make it even more casual.  I found eight nubby natural jute runners that I had sewn together--it was exactly what I wanted.  I left the landings bare.

Another use of texture.  Smooth linen seat cushion, slubby linen oversized lumbar pillow, antique grain sack pillows, knit pillow, sheepskin throw and furry dog!