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Introduction to Line in Interior Design

• Horizontal Lines: Weighty, secure, restful, stabilizing.  Horizontal lines suggest a solid, harmonious relationship with the Earth; this gives a stabilizing, peaceful harmonious effect to window treatments for example. When found in a connecting architectural detail such as mouldings, horizontal lines provide a smooth transition between rooms or areas. If they lead to a focal point, they help to emphasize it.  Too many horizontal lines in an interior may become boring and lack visual interest. Horizontal lines make a room appear wider or longer.

• Vertical Lines: Lofty, solid, formal, imposing, restrained.  Vertical lines lift the eye upward and make windows, and sometimes, entire interiors, appear taller or higher. They have the ability to lift the mind and the spirit as well. As such, vertical lines are purposeful tools for architects and designers of churches and public buildings because they inspire awe and tend to diminish the significance of human scale.  Vertical lines convey a feeling of strength and dignity and are quite appropriate in formal dining rooms, entryways and formal living areas, as well as offices and public meeting and performing spaces.  However, this formality can bring stiffness or a commanding feeling to the interior. Too many vertical lines can cause a feeling of uneasiness and too much confinement. 

ANGULAR LINES  • Diagonal Lines: Action, movement, interest, angular stability.  Diagonal lines are flexible because their exact direction may vary from shallow to steep angles. Diagonal lines generally suggest movement, action or dynamism, perhaps because diagonal lines are associated with going places—up or down a staircase or escalator, the taking off or landing of an airplane, for example. Interest is usually sustained longer with diagonal lines than with horizontal or vertical lines, possibly because the angles seem to defy gravity and the eye and mind are stimulated. Yet diagonal lines also can be secure, such as the reinforcing diagonals of a roof truss system. Too many diagonal lines can be over stimulating and compete with horizontal or vertical lines.  • Zigzag Lines: Exciting, lively, rhythmic movement.  Zigzag lines are short diagonal lines that reverse upon themselves and form a regular or irregular pattern. A zigzag line can be one single line or several in a set. A set of regular zigzag lines is called a chevron or herringbone pattern, and irregular zigzag lines are typically called a flamestitch pattern. Angular zigzag lines can add energy and life to an interior. If too many zigzag lines are incorporated, however, the effect can be frenzied and agitating. 

CURVED LINES  • Curved or Circular Lines: Soft, humanizing, repetitive tempo, gracefulness.  Curved or circular lines provide relief and softness to straight and angular lines and balance the harshness of too many straight lines. Curved lines give a human quality to interiors; they can be easy on the eyes and pleasing to view.  A series of curved lines, such as an arcade (a procession of arches), gives a rhythmic cadence to an interior, suggesting graceful movement. In architectural components, round or elliptical segments (sections of circles or ovals), such as archways and arched transoms or fanlights, provide graceful dignity to interiors. Generously curved lines are viewed as feminine. An excess of curved lines may become too decorative and consequently, a little overpowering.  • Flowing Lines: Gentle movement, growth, linear development.  Flowing lines are irregularly curved lines that move gently in a random or spiralling manner. Flowing lines may be seen in large interior trees or climbing vines, in spiral or curved staircases, or in the lines of fine Oriental rugs, for example. Inspiration may be taken from the graceful and curved forms of growing and changing live plant forms. As we are never certain where the line will end, flowing lines can provide a great deal of interest.

 • Tightly Curved or Busy Lines: Playful activity, zest, lively visual stimulation.  Tightly curved or busy lines are most often seen in textiles and in wall and floor coverings as complicated patterns that are lively, busy or active. Tightly curved lines can add frivolity and fun to interiors. Complicated tightly curved compositions, such as those in vivid floral fabric, in area rugs or wall coverings, add life and may be visually stimulating and aesthetically satisfying.  As such, busy lines may save interiors from becoming dull or boring, yet control over the quality of the design is imperative. Colours and contrasts that are bold or feature too much obvious pattern might prove displeasing and detract from the harmony of the interior. 

COMBINING AND BALANCING LINES  Every interior uses lines in combination, yet often one line will be planned to dominate in order to accomplish a desired effect. Vertical and horizontal lines form the structural or architectural foundation for a building. Angular and curved lines are used for interest, movement, relief and to humanize an interior space. 

Line also communicates emotion and states of mind through its character and direction Horizontal lines suggests a feeling of rest or repose. Objects parallel to the earth are at  rest in relation to gravity. Therefore compositions in which horizontal lines dominate tend  to be quiet and restful in feeling. One of the hallmarks of Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural  style is its use of strong horizontal elements which stress the relationship of the structure  to the land. Vertical lines communicate a feeling of loftiness and spirituality. Erect lines seem to  extend upwards beyond human reach, toward the sky. They often dominate public  architecture, from cathedrals to corporate headquarters. Extended perpendicular lines  suggest an overpowering grandeur, beyond ordinary human measure. Diagonal lines suggest a feeling of movement or direction. Since objects in a diagonal  position are unstable in relation to gravity, being neither vertical nor horizontal, they are  either about to fall, or are already in motion, as is certainly the case for this group of  dancers. In a two dimensional composition diagonal lines are also used to indicate depth,  an illusion of perspective that pulls the viewer into the picture-creating an illusion of a  space that one could move about within. Thus if a feeling of movement or speed is  desired, or a feeling of activity, diagonal lines can be used. Horizontal and vertical lines in combination communicate stability and solidity.  Rectilinear forms stay put in relation to gravity, and are not likely to tip over. This stability  suggests permanence, reliability and safety. (see below - 'MONDRIAN') Deep, acute curves, on the other hand, suggest confusion, turbulence, even frenzy, as in  the violence of waves in a storm, the chaos of a tangled thread, or the turmoil of lines  suggested by the forms of a crowd. Curved lines do vary in meaning, however. Soft,  shallow curves suggest comfort, safety, familiarity, relaxation. They recall the curves of  the human body, and therefore have a pleasing, sensual quality. The quality of the line is in itself a fundamental visual language, to an extent that cannot  be claimed for any other single element. Its use is so universal that we are all profoundly  sensitive to it. Even without an artist's training, we can extract considerable meaning from  the kind of line used in a drawing.         MONDRIAN         Like many pioneers of abstraction, Mondrian’s         impetus was largely spiritual. He aimed to distill         the real world to its pure essence, to represent the         dichotomies of the universe in eternal tension.         To achieve this, he privileged certain principles         - stability, universality, and spirituality - through         the yin/yang balancing of horizontal and vertical         strokes.   Lines take many forms and may convey emotional qualities A line is the result of a dot or point moving in space or over a surface. Line has only one  dimension and its most important property is direction. A line is one of the most important tools that an artist has to use and one of the most  important elements to study when looking at a piece of art. Lines organize an artwork the  way the backbone organizes the body. The direction of the lines pulls our eyes up a tree  or jiggles along a picket fence. Arts use line to move the eye through and along the work.  In almost every picture there is a dominant line that hold interest and stabilizes the  composition. Repetition of line can give a work unity. Variation in line can make it  interesting. Lines have character and personality and can communicate emotion.         * Horizontal lines are calm, quiet, restful         * Vertical lines are bold, strong, stable         * Thin lines can be delicate, timid, weak         * Diagonal lines show action, falling, leaning, or            growing         * Pointed or jagged lines can express uncertainty or            anger         * Meandering lines are whimsical and happy         * Flowing lines are graceful and mystical