Elements Of Design In Party Decor – Variety

My elements of design in party decor post generated lots of buzz; I also received several emails for more in-depth ideas about why these ideas ‘work’. By no means am I an expert with years of design under my belt.  But as you work on more events, you start getting ‘the eye’…something doesn’t look right, something’s missing…and you’ll keep playing around until you get what feels right to you.

Thus, I’m inspired to do a mini-series using all eight principles of design (check out the post to see what I’m talking about); so far we’ve got balance, emphasis, movement, repetition, proportion, rhythm, and today is variety.

So what is variety? It uses several elements to hold the viewer’s attention and to guide them through and around the party space. It can be from mixing different types of elements like patterns and textures to contrasting various elements.  It’s hard to explain, so I’ll show you…

This beer-tasting party from The Cooking Channel is a great example of variety, from the contrast of the orange napkins against the wood table with the stark white plates to the dark chalkboard runner offset with the lighter cheese boards.

Grey Likes Nesting’s bright striped table cover would have been very overpowering without the neutral butcher paper topper.

Rustic barrels, a long smooth tabletop, and floating lanterns overhead are all fabulous elements on their own, but they tie together well at this wedding featured on Wedding Chicks.

I love all the elements from Margot Madison Creative’s table…neutral top with bright pops of color, fun textures from the driftwood centerpiece and linen napkins,  and lots of natural elements contrasted with manufactured pieces.

This Fiesta Mexicana featured on Hostess With The Mostess has so many fun details to choose from.  Tissue fringe and fans!  Lots of fun colors against a burlap backdrop! Prickly cacti, oh my!

What doesn’t this eclectic baby shower featured on On To Baby have? Bright colors on weathered tops, vessels in different shapes and textures, all the different varieties of flowers…I could go on and on!

Stay tuned for the final element, unity!