The Anatomy of a Home, Ch.1: The Elements of Interior Design Pt.1
Nobody really teaches you how to look at a room. Most of us just decorate by instinct, and designers use instinct too. The difference is that there’s also a design theory behind those decisions.
Design theory basically explains why a space works, not just why it looks good. It starts with the elements and principles of interior design, and before we get into the principles, we need to understand what we’re actually working with—the elements.
So in Part 1, we’re starting with space, line, shape and pattern, followed by color, texture and light in Part 2.
I’m writing this series not only to make your home prettier. I think where and how we live affects us way more than we realize. Where and how we live can affect our routines, focus, stress, comfort, and even our mental well-being. A home that constantly works against you can make everyday life harder without you even realizing it.
So we’re starting from the beginning and figuring it out piece by piece. Not just to make our homes look better, but to improve our quality of life, block by block.
SPACE
We tend to think of space as floor area, but designers look at it in both 2D—length and width—and 3D—length, width, and height. Within that volume, positive space is everything occupied by furniture and objects, while negative space is everything left around them.
Positive and negative spaces work together. That emptiness is the room’s breathing space, it rests the eye, creates harmony, and helps establish balance and proportion. It also creates circulation: the paths we naturally take through a room. When those paths are constantly blocked or a space feels visually overcrowded, even simple routines can require more effort and add unnecessary frustration to your day.
How can I use it at home?
Look beyond your floor plan. If everything sits low, the upper half of your room may be almost entirely negative space. A tall lamp, artwork, or shelving can change that balance without adding more furniture.
LINE
Lines guide where our eyes travel through a room and can completely change how we perceive it.
Vertical lines draw the eye upward. They can make ceilings feel taller and give a room a sense of strength, height, and formality.
Horizontal lines bring the eye down and across. They can make a narrow room appear wider and tend to feel more grounded, stable, calm, and intimate.
Diagonal lines create movement. They feel more energetic, dynamic, and free, but too many can also make a room feel restless or visually unbalanced.
Curved lines soften a space. They also give a human quality to interiors. A series of curved lines, such as an arcade (a procession of arches), gives a rhythmic cadence to an interior, suggesting graceful movement.
How can I use it at home?
Think about how you want the room to feel. Curves can soften a harsh bedroom, while vertical lines can make a low ceiling feel taller. If a room already feels busy, too many diagonals or competing lines can add to that visual stress. Lines quietly guide your eyes, so use them to create the feeling you actually want in a space.
SHAPE
Shapes generally fall into three groups: geometric shapes are precise, like circles, squares, and rectangles; organic shapes take inspiration from nature; and abstract shapes simplify or alter recognizable forms.
Look around your home, and you’ll probably notice a lot of rectangles—walls, doors, windows, cabinets, rugs. Repeating shapes create harmony, while contrasting them adds interest and can soften a space.
How can I use it at home?
If your room feels rigid, don’t add another rectangle. Break it up with a round table, curved mirror, organic-shaped vase or irregular artwork. Sometimes changing the shapes, not the style, is what the room needs.
PATTERN
Pattern is the repetition of a visual motif. We usually think of patterned fabrics or wallpaper, but we don’t think that pattern can also come from wood grain, brick, tiles, tufted furniture, ceiling beams, architectural details and even shadows created by light.
Pattern creates movement, rhythm and visual interest. Its scale and repetition can make a room feel calm and cohesive but when everything competes it can be visually overwhelming.
How can I use it at home?
Look for patterns already in your space before adding more. When mixing them, vary the scale and repeat a color or shape to create connection rather than visual chaos. For example, if you already have wood-grain flooring, that’s a pattern. Instead of adding several competing patterns, repeat the wood tone elsewhere and keep any additional patterns smaller and simpler.
Once you start noticing these things, it’s kind of hard to unsee them—and that’s the point. You don’t need to be an interior designer; you just need to understand your home a little better so you can make it work better for you.
The best way to practice is with your own home: pick a room, look for the space, lines, shapes, and patterns we talked about, and write down what you notice.
In Part 2, we’re getting into color, texture, and light, and how they can completely change the way a space feels. Follow us on social media so you can be updated when Part 2 is out. See you soon!
SZANTÉA’S WEEKLY FAVOURITES
Products I’d actually use in my own home.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the Amazon links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use, trust, or would confidently recommend to others.
Hidden storage that actually looks cute? Yes please → CLICK HERE
Making the laundry room look expensive one countertop at a time → CLICK HERE
Because three laundry baskets on the floor is not a system → CLICK HERE
Your family photos deserve better than boring frames → CLICK HERE
Cozy enough to justify having a blanket in every room → CLICK HERE
The chair that makes an empty corner finally make sense → CLICK HERE
Curtains = the easiest way to make a room look 10x more finished → CLICK HERE
Opening your curtains from bed because apparently we live in the future → CLICK HERE
Because your expensive perfumes deserve a cute little home too → CLICK HERE
Candle warmer, mood lighting AND decor? Sold. → CLICK HERE
HAVE A QUESTION?
Not sure which option is right for your home? Feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to answer your questions, offer advice, or point you in the right direction.
If there’s a topic you’d like me to cover in a future article, I’d love to hear your suggestions too.
Or get in touch through the Contact page on Szantea Studios.
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If there’s a topic you’d like me to cover in a future article, I’d love to hear your suggestions too.