A chapter opener has a specific purpose: it needs to inform the reader a new chapter has started, without making the page difficult to access. While a big title, an ornament, a drop cap, a deep top margin, or a small figure can all be effective chapter opener treatments, only if they work together with the reading path. An opener overloaded with treatments starts to become something other than a page from the body of the book, as it becomes a page that feels like a poster.
Start with clarity of hierarchy. Not all elements of a chapter opening require the same level of emphasis. Which is the first thing you want the reader to see? Make that element more prominent, and let the others recede slightly. A common treatment in book interiors is to have the chapter title as the most prominent element, with the chapter number set slightly smaller and positioned above the title, or have the opening paragraph begin below a small amount of white space that separates it from the chapter title. This gives the reader a simple and clear path to the next line of text.
Often space will serve you better than added ornamentation. A large top margin can create a comfortable atmosphere prior to the opening. An increased space between the title and the opening paragraph can separate the title from the body text without the use of a rule or other graphic device, such as an icon or a textured background. If the title is clear enough and the display type is distinctive, then it is likely no further decoration is needed, as the white space will be doing most of the work here.
Try making a chapter opener and some short sample text. Make one version with just changes to point size and to the amount of white space. Make another version with only one extra element, such as a line rule, a drop cap, or a decorative style for the chapter number. Make a third version using everything you might be drawn to include. Compare the versions as pages, as opposed to viewing them individually. The winning version is often the one in which the reader quickly grasps the information on the opener page and finds it easy to continue reading the body text.
When designing the first page of a chapter, keep the rest of the book interior in mind. If each chapter is introduced with a different chapter title position, different ornament and different amount of white space, it might give your book an uneven or inconsistent feel. A safer, more repeatable system could entail the same title style, approximately the same amount of space above the chapter title, a consistent relationship to the body of the text, and an understanding of whether or not running headers or a page number will also appear on these pages. These decisions can lead to a more consistent interior design that the reader can trust to make sense of the reading experience.
Consider also the effect of your opener on the next page, if in a two-page spread. A beautiful and interesting left or right page can look a bit awkward when placed next to a page full of body text. Pull back, look at the spread as a whole. The chapter opener is intended to stand out from the rest of the pages of the book, but still to fit into the flow of the book design. If the first page of a chapter feels a bit too strong, you can always tone down some of the type point size and eliminate a single decorative element before you go back and change body type.
Ultimately, a clear chapter opener sends a gentle and quiet message: this is the chapter, what begins on this page, and what comes next. This information can be communicated just as well through the use of restraint as through the inclusion of added design features. If the page looks better with less going on, it’s likely that the decorations included are working more effectively because they have a reason to be there.