Without tension the result is unsure, even insecure.
1. Refers to how tightly or loosely a person knits or stitches
2. Describes tautness or stress. A degree of psychological ‘tension’ is an essential ingredient in successful art and interior furnishings. There must be an edginess, a sense that opposites attract but only just, one colour that vibrates with another, complementary yet contradictory textures, an odd mix of period style or size and shape–something unexpected that keeps it all exciting and on the cusp of something else–bad taste, movement, clash…
Great design always has this tension, often found in colour or form, yet in such a manner that is not immediately obvious. We are unaware of why it works, we just know it does.