Transitions Make Magic Happen
Its the moments between the moments, the transitions, where the real magic happens.
Every dance is made up of a series of moves, but how a dancer goes from one move to the next shows what they are made of and creates the flow of the whole performance.
What happens in that space between the moves? I bet you never thought of that.
Is it like watching a slide show, where you see one picture, and then the next and the next? Or is it like a film or video where the transition between moves is seamless so you do not notice any break in the action?
And is it truly a work of art, where each transition is just as beautiful as the move that came before and what comes next?
The most amazing dancers put their hearts and souls into the transitions! Take a photo during any part of it and it will be a beautiful moment.
The transition leads the audience from one part of the dance to the next, telling the story in such a way that nothing breaks the magic.
Even in moments where there seems to be a pause, the energy continues to flow and move, pointing o what is coming next.
Interior Design Lessons from Dance
How does this relate to Interior Design, you wonder? Well, transitions play a pivotal role in weaving the enchantment, whether on the dance floor or within your living space. Welcome to Part 9 of my insights, drawn from my experiences in dance, on the art of crafting your ideal environment.
As I grow older, I’ve come to realize the profound interconnections that exist within the realm of artistic expression. The very principles that underpin the mesmerizing beauty of dance are equally applicable to the realm of Interior Design, or indeed, any other form of artistic endeavor. All it takes is a discerning eye, an attentive ear, and a receptive heart to uncover these shared truths.
It always seems to come back to the alignment between art (creativity), science (color), and energy (connection) that makes the magic happen. I use this alignment to create both beautiful dance pieces and interiors.
Learn more in some of my other articles:
I Learned To Solve All My Interior Design Problems by Dancing : Surprise Me.
I Learned To Solve All My Interior Design Problems by Dancing and Learning to Tell a Great Story.
I Learned To Solve All My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Bring on the Bling.
I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- There Can Only Be One Star.
I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Be Brave.
I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Create Drama with Shapes.
I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Create Drama with a Focal Point.
I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing.
How Do Transitions Relate to Interior Design?
Ever walked into a house and instantly felt a sense of tranquility, with each room flowing seamlessly into the next? Conversely, have you ever felt slightly overwhelmed or uneasy, unable to pinpoint why, while navigating another home? This feeling often hinges on the art of transitions.
Transitions are the bridges between distinct spaces. They manifest in entryways, hallways, staircases, and even doorways leading to different rooms. Beyond the indoors, a window offering a view of the outdoors acts as a transition, merging the external and internal environments.
Within rooms, transitions might be found between separate seating arrangements or areas dedicated to diverse functions. Think of them as choreography in the dance of interior design, guiding your movement and experience.
Harmony emerges when there’s a purposeful connection between these spaces. Whether it’s through congruent colors, shapes, textures, or other design elements, these transitions create an interwoven tapestry of design that pleases the senses and soothes the soul.
Creating Beautiful Transitions
Enhancing transitions within your home’s decor is effortlessly achieved through the strategic use of color.
A clever approach involves selecting a consistent color that appears in each room, even if it serves as a subtle accent in some spaces while taking center stage in others. This establishes a unifying thread throughout your home.
Alternatively, you can experiment with varying shades of the same color or opt for a monochromatic color scheme that spans your entire living space.
Another effective method is to designate a primary color as the foundation for your interior palette, with all other rooms harmonizing with this chosen hue. This way, your home’s color schemes work together seamlessly, creating a sense of cohesion, whether you’re employing complementary, triadic, diadic, or other color schemes.
Transitions from Outdoors to Indoors
The entryway of your home carries immense significance, particularly if your home serves as your place of business. It’s the initial point where visitors form impressions about your residence and, by extension, you as the owner. This impression is shaped by various factors, including the exterior aesthetics, colors, landscaping, surroundings, neighborhood, and the design and color of your front door.
For this Bed and Breakfast, the flow between the exterior and interior is not working well.
While the exterior boasts a vibrant dark teal blue complemented by a striking hot pink door, the interior’s existing paint palette hasn’t been updated to match.
Then you enter and experience the transition to the interior. Do they go together? How does it feel?
The entryway is painted in a shade of blue, which works well since it belongs to the same hue family as the exterior color. However, when you peer through the doorway, you transition from the yellow living room with its assorted accents of rust and blue into the red kitchen
The most straightforward solution is to repaint the kitchen. It could be refreshed with a neutral white, a similar yellow, or perhaps a shade of blue or green that harmonizes better with the exterior color. Furthermore, a makeover is in order to modernize the entire area and bid farewell to the outdated 1990s faux painting.
Just envision the welcoming atmosphere that would greet you upon entering.
Transitions Between Rooms
Transitions happen in every space where there are entrances and sightlines into adjacent rooms, regardless of whether it’s an open concept or not, as seen in the previous example.
In the illustration below, you’ll notice that the two rooms share a similar color palette. They both feature the same wall color, and there are resemblances in the colors of the bed, rug, and pillow in comparison to the living room pillow.
I could change the wall color or the bedroom to an off white or gray, which still ties in to colors in the living room and the transition is still beautiful.
Or, I could pick a clashing color that may look nice in the bedroom, but in the context of the transition between rooms does not work as with this green.
Transitions between the Outside and Inside
Another important transition is between the outside and inside. Wherever you have windows with views you want to highlight, the transition is important and can often be the focal point of the room. Find similarity in colors and patterns you see outside and bring them into your interior in your art, decor or wall colors.
For example, in the bedroom below, the whole design is based on the view and the colors of ocean and sky. To create the smooth transition from outdoors to indoors, and make the room feel one with the outdoors, the color of the wall, bed, bedding, furnishings and even my custom designed fractal art all were harmonious with the colors and patters of the outdoors.
In the design below, the colors of the forest, sky,
and trees were used in the furnishings, pillows and rug.
Get the Look
See some of my energy art in the designs above on Society6 and Fine Art America.
“Icefield” and “Arctic Night” by Mary Ann Benoit of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
“Watercolor” fractal art collection by Mary Ann Benoit of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Are You Ready to Create Beautiful Transitions in Your Home?
Knowing the elements that craft your ideal space, are you prepared to bring that vision to life in your home? If you were certain that the perfect environment would elevate your life, you’d jump at the chance, right?
Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.
Curious about your Interior Design style? Take the quiz and find out.
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Such a great series! And transitions are the unsung heroes…they can, as you point out, make all the difference in how you experience moving through the space!
I love that, the “unsung heroes”. So true!! They make such a difference and most people probably are unaware they exist! Thanks!
Oh wow Mary Ann! So many great tips. I know when we created our new backyard oasis last year, the transition between our back, 3 floor to ceiling windows, was important to me. We ended up choosing a composite deck material that is the same tone as our hardwood throughout our home. Since we now have beautiful floor both inside and out, we rarely close the blinds! It makes such a difference.
Great tips!
Thank you! That sounds perfect, creating that wonderful transition from inside and out using color in your flooring/deck. I am sure it made a huge difference in connecting them rather than separating them visually. I bet it is gorgeous.
Thanks for the tips! Transitions in interior design are so important and many people never consider it. So interesting to see the parallels between dance and design!
Such great advice! Transitions are so important in interior design and many people never consider it. So interesting to see the parallels between dance and design.
Thank you! I think transitions are so overlooked but they make such a big difference in how things look and feel.