Mastery of decorative design for builders, artists, and students transforms theory into practice with a thorough survey of ornament, proportion, and form. This advanced text guides you through the methods, rules, and historical trends that shape decorative art, from wall surfaces and borders to industrial objects and architectural details. Clear, illustrated explanations help you apply principles to real projects. This edition examines how decoration serves function and meaning—how surfaces, patterns, and elements interact to create harmony in rooms, vessels, and objects. It covers the evolution of ornament, the use of line and mass, and the role of natural forms, animal and plant motifs, and human figures in design. You’ll find practical guidance on repeats, color, and proportion, plus insights into how architecture and industry influence decorative choices. The text ties tradition to invention, showing how designers can translate observed shapes from nature and everyday objects into new, purposeful forms. - Learn the core elements of ornament and how to classify and combine geometrical, vegetal, animal, and human motifs - Discover strategies for applying decoration to walls, plafonds, borders, pilasters, and other architectural surfaces - Explore industrial and natural sources of inspiration, with guidance on adaptation rather than imitation - See how proportion, stability, variety, and contrast drive pleasing, unified designs Ideal for readers of art, design, and architectural history who want practical techniques balanced with historical context.