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Harmony, according to Merriam Webster, is the "pleasing arrangement of parts." In interior design, harmony is the culminating principle of design following proportion, scale, balance, rhythm and emphasis.
Interior harmony is the result of two sub-principles: unity and variety. These two principles must work hand-in-hand for a design plan to be successful, and too much of either will produce a room in discord.
Visual harmony can be likened to the dictionary's first definition of harmony, "the musical agreement of sounds." In music, there are different parts that make up a vocal ensemble—soprano, second soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass. Likewise in an orchestra, many musical instruments make up the harmonious whole—string instruments, woodwinds, brass and percussion. Unto themselves, each part can be very beautiful, but when music is produced using only one "voice" (either vocal or instrumental), then after a time—sometimes a short time, sometimes a longer time—the effect becomes monotonous. We lose interest.
To further the comparison, when music is written the composer has a theme in mind, which is reflected in the title, and all the parts work toward the precisely beautiful, harmonious execution of that theme. In visual harmony, the same principle applies. First, for a room to be in accord, to feel right, there must be a theme. There are dozens of themes to choose from—and astute design professionals should find these familiar.
OTHER PATHS TO UNITY
There are many ways to unify an interior. One is through color. Selecting and adhering to a color scheme from, say, a wonderful fabric or great wall covering or one inspired by an artistic rug or other work of art, is a perfect unifying element. Color is the most powerful element of design and a variety of values (from light to dark) and intensities (from bright to dull) is crucial in making the scheme balanced.
Another unifying element is texture. Textures that are similar make the interior seem more cohesive. When most textures in a room are smooth and slick, we interpret it as International Modern; when they are refined, we think of Traditional; when the textures are coarse, we associate them with American or French Country, Organic/Early Modern, Ethnic or Environmental.
Pattern is a third element that unifies rooms and creates consistency. While some patterns are authentic to a period or specific to a style, the majority are not. Most fabric and wall covering patterns have a feeling that can transcend several themes or looks. They are planned for flexibility.
Think "look," or "ambiance," or even "mood" when making a pattern selection and carrying out a design theme. A great advantage to coordinated wall coverings and fabrics is that the patterns are already matched or blended so all you have to do is decide which walls and which furniture applications to use them on. Another advantage here is that no two rooms ever need look the same, even when the same wall coverings and fabrics are used. Each installation differs, as do the places where we use our selections and the creative ways in which we specify the furnishings.
THE SPICE OF LIFE
While it is true that the unifying effect of thematic elements in a room holds together an interior scheme, it also is true that variety is the portion of the principle of harmony that saves an interior from sheer boredom. Variety can be a surprise accent color, a piece of art or even unusual window treatment hardware. It also dictates that not everything matches, even if the look is congruous.
Variety means that any theme can turn into an eclectic interior but still possess a feeling of harmony. An artistic eye, discriminating taste and some years of experience will help the professional understand when to break the rules in order to create something out of the ordinary.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Interiors that are the most beautiful and have the greatest appeal are those with harmony. All elements are selected to feel right (unity) and interesting (variety).
To be certain this is happening along the way, identify the theme, mood or look of every item chosen for a room. Great interiors don't just happen, they are planned from the beginning with harmony in mind.
Karla J. Nielson, Allied ASID, WCAA, is assistant professor of design at Brigham Young University. She is a practicing interior designer and has authored several books including Window Treatments and Understanding Fabrics. Nielson is a regular correspondent for Draperies & Window Coverings addressing the areas of fashion, education and merchandising.
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