The Elements Of Decoration: Variety
When striving for unity, the most important enemy to be wary of is monotony. A certain degree of variety is necessary in every work of art, and this quality can be obtained without sacrificing unity in any way. The easiest way to attain unity in the decoration of a room is to make everything the same color, to repeat the same forms of ornament throughout, and to limit variety of use by similarity of form; but nothing could be more monotonous and uninteresting.
Imagine a room where the walls, ceiling, floor, rugs, bar rails, and furniture were all of one color, where a single type of ornament was repeated throughout, and where all the members of the furniture were of the same size. Then imagine the same room, with the various elements altered so that the size of each is proportioned to its function, with new motives of decoration introduced in a reasonable number, and with a certain degree of color contrast introduced into the room and its fittings. Unity is not lost, but variety is obtained in place of monotony.
Although it may seem like a paradox at first sight, it is sometimes possible to gain in both variety and unity at the same time. The concepts of variety and unity are not necessarily at odds with each other and can sometimes complement one other if applied properly. Consider a wall with three pictures hanging on it, all of equal size and similar treatment.
The effect lacks variety, since the pictures are so similar; it also lacks unity, since there is no main focus of interest. But if we replace the center picture by a larger one, so that it dominates the group, we have gained in variety. When a guest enters the room, the array is more striking now that the pictures are now of different sizes. We have also gained in unity, since the dominant feature is now clearly shown.
Suppose we have no large picture at hand, and small glass picture frames instead. Can the same result be obtained in other ways? To attempt to add interest by varying the height of the pictures, which is done often, produces only a feeling of restlessness and lack of restraint. The result does not tend to set the mind at ease due to the fact that the concept is uneven and almost jumbled.
A better method is to group our three pictures in a single frame so that they count as a single unit large enough to dominate the entire wall surface, instead of the three isolated spots of the first arrangement. This method provides more continuity to the eye as opposed to the possibility of encouraging distraction or imbalance. The unity is achieved by grouping the pictures while variety is present in the pictures themselves.
One of the most flagrant examples of aiming for unity at the expense of variety is so often attributable to the announcements of retail stores selling "suites" of furniture. This inspires a rule of thumb that should be adhered to: No furniture of merit was ever made in "suites." This method of merchandising is an insult to the buyer, assuming that he or she is incapable of selecting pieces that differ from each other in detail, yet which are harmonious with the rest of the room’s pediment.
It is the result of mass production as well as a desire on the part of the retailer to sell more pieces than the buyer may need. There is no possible excuse for buying furniture in "suites" with the one exception of dining room chairs. It invariably produces an uninteresting and monotonous room expressing dullness or complete lack of thought.
By: Allison Ryan
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