Room Elements

Page Updated on July 28, 2007

Every room needs the following elements:

• Natural Light Without sunlight, life on planet earth probably wouldn't exist. It gives us energy, warms us, brightens our spirits, and lets us see true colors and textures (something artificial light can rarely do). Moonlight is also inspiring. Place as many windows as possible on the south side of your home to let in as much light as possible. (Consider a passive solar design if you are building or renovating your home to conserve energy and keep rooms from being too hot in the summer.) Bedrooms work best on the east side, so the sun can wake you up in the morning and energize your day. Skylights are wonderful for any room, especially those that are in the center or on the north side of the building.
• Stone or Ceramics Stone and ceramics help give a room a feeling of being grounded. Stone tiles on floors or counters are less expensive than slabs but still produce the feeling of elegance that slabs provide. Ceramic tiles create an earthy feeling and are excellent flooring surfaces for any place that tends to get messy easily (but I don't recommend them for kitchens because they are uncomfortable to stand on for long periods, and any fragile item will surely break if dropped; wood is better for kitchens). A less drastic way to incorporate stone or ceramic is with sculptures and plant pots or as decorative edgings to highlight the architecture. Stone and ceramic can both be incorporated into furniture, but care must be taken to avoid using an item that is too overwhelming to the room.
• Wood Wood gives the room a warm feeling and offsets cold metals. It can also provide an earthy feel or elegant feel depending on the color, texture, and style of the wood item. Wood floors (bamboo counts too) are a good base for any room that you want to relax in.
• Metal Metal usually works best as accents, but if your design is industrial or futuristic, you can even use it in furniture. A touch of metal adds a touch of glitz if it's shiny or a touch of earthiness if it's dull. Both sheens promote creativity and productivity. Too much metal gives a room an emotionless, sterile feeling, much like that of a blank canvas (good for operating rooms and industrial kitchens but bad for rooms you wish to live in).
• Live Plants We need plants to survive. They provide fresh air (reducing indoor air pollution), moisture in the air (reducing dry skin and wrinkles), shade (blocking too-sunny windows in summer), privacy, and nutrition (if they're edible). Plus, they're alive, and being surrounded by life both calms and energizes us.
• Water A fountain, pond, aquarium, water garden, or other water items provides both tranquility and energy, much like live plants do. Water is necessary for life, so it isn't a surprise that being near water brings us closer to a feeling of peace.
• Fire Fire provides light, heat, and can be aromatic, but it also appeals to our primitive sides. Maybe it's the caveman in our genetics and the power of harnessing a force that's so powerful, but fire can comfort us even while it can threaten us. Perhaps that's why it often inspires spirituality and reflection. Candles and fireplaces are perfect for almost any room.
• Fabric Fabric gives a room a comfortable, cozy feel. Imagine how cold and uncomfortable a room without fabric is (good for a public bathroom but bad for a room you want to live in). Fabric furniture, rugs, pillows, curtains, and blankets or towels are favorable in any room.