220 Interiors Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. ■ can be thick or thin, segmented or dashed ■ can be straight or curved Lines are directional. They can give the impression of movement in a space. A space generally uses a combination of lines, although it is not uncommon for one type of line to dominate an interior. There are four types of lines: horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and curved, Figure 8-3. ■ Horizontal lines. Parallel to the horizon, the perceptions of horizontal lines include feelings of calmness, stability, solidness, restfulness, and security. ■ Vertical lines. Perpendicular to the horizon, vertical lines communicate height, strength, and dignity. They are more formal than horizontal lines. ■ Diagonal lines. Suggesting movement or action, diagonal lines are angled, jagged, or zigzag lines. ■ Curved lines. Communicate movement but with a graceful feel, curved lines are wavy and flowing gentle and sometimes delicate. Curved lines introduce a sense of whimsy or energy to a design. If curved lines are poorly constructed, overused, or used inconsistently, the space can look too busy, cluttered, or chaotic. Within interiors, lines create movement and have the ability to direct the eye visually, moving a person around the room without taking a physical step. They can increase or decrease the impression of height, produce textures and patterns, and alter the physical dimension of the space. Lines can draw attention to an architectural feature such as a fireplace and follow the contour of objects. In addition, lines convey emotions. For instance, deli- cate lines seem soothing and serene while bold, jagged lines suggest explosive energy. Lines can also create a sense of calm or a feeling of strength. Use of horizontal lines alters the perception of space by visually expanding it. They direct the eye around a room rather than up into the volume of space. Therefore, they communicate informality, calmness, and serenity. They visually anchor a person in the space. Indicative of earth’s horizon, floors are the common horizontal line people see in interiors. Use of horizontal lines in contemporary spaces generates a minimalis- tic sleek style. An interior designer can add them with beams in a ceiling, a wall of short cabinets, low book- shelves, long pieces of built-in furniture, counters, or conference tables, Figure 8-4 A and B. Too many horizontal lines can ■ generate boredom due to lack of variety ■ close in a space and develop a sense of foreboding ■ enhance the feeling that the ceiling or roof is too low Vertical lines lift the eye upward in a space. Their use is common in buildings such as Gothic cathedrals and other places of worship to inspire awe. In compari- son to these vast spaces, the size of humans seems greatly diminished. Vertical lines make an interior ceil- ing appear higher, perceptually creating more volume. A B C Horizontal and Vertical Diagonal Curved glossyplastic/Shutterstock.com Figure 8-3 Lines create movement in a space and visually direct the eye, and can be (A) horizontal and vertical, (B) diagonal, and (C) curved. Discuss ways each type of line is used in the environments around you. Balogh Tamas/Shutterstock.com Rain Returns/Shutterstock.com