Interior architecture is the practice of sensitively and innovatively redesigning an existing interior space, while respecting its historical value. As well as considering aesthetic design, interior architecture focuses on the functionality and material construction of interior spaces. It addresses structural elements like window and door placements, ventilation, heating and plumbing, as well as interior decoration.

1. START OF INTERIOR DESIGN
IN HUMAN HISTORY

2. History of Interior Design Across the World
• Before the 7th century BCE, little evidence of decorative home furnishings survives.
• Cave-dwelling human beings who lived 20,000 years ago made paintings on cave walls, but these may have had a purpose other than decoration.
• No examples of movable furniture from prehistory have been found.
• The very idea of interior design was made possible by the shift in human culture from the nomadic lifestyle to the settled agrarian life.
• Societies with nomadic lifestyles had little need for large collections of heavy, awkward furnishings to move around with them.
• Central Asian nomadic societies did, however, create fine carpets and area rugs to provide for comfort and decoration within their portable shelters.
• Among these cultures, carpets and rugs are considered the highest form of fine art.
• One of the oldest known rug examples dates from the 5th century BCE and is known as the Pazyryk carpet.
History of Interior Design Across the World
• Fast forward to the 17th, 18th, and even the beginning of the 19th century, and designing interiors became the task of the homemaker of nearly every home.
• While the inhabitants of the homes were the ones making the design choices, sometimes they would enlist the help of a craftsman such as a woodworker to
create custom pieces for the home.
• Design choices were different across the world, and across time.
• By the time the 20th century hit, design choices became focused around functionality.
• This was only exacerbated when the Great Depression hit and there was no room for frilly, decorative “wants,” only what was needed to keep the home running.
• Much of this is seen in many mid-century modern furniture and interior designs.
• Finally, interior design slowly but surely began to transition into the decorative arts.
• From the Bauhaus movement to the emergence of art moderne, the designers of these functional objects began to get more creative with their work and
produce something that was equally functional and aesthetically pleasing.

3. Art Moderne design combined functionality
and design.
Pazyryk carpet
TIMELINE
silver Ivory-inlaid furniture ornamented the homes of wealthy Greek
Greek Empire
Ancient Egypt
Murals decorated their buildings for the sake of portraying their beliefs and history.
The ancient Egyptians decorated indoors with furniture, vases, and sculptures

4. 3)
Roman Empire
4)
showed their wealth through their ornamented homes with murals,
mosaics, and furnishings featuring clawed feet.
The Byzantine Empire
the dome construction, church architecture, and icon paintings. The domes and
extravagant decorations were the centers of Byzantine architecture and interior
design.
5)
The Dark Ages
The people of this period opted for less decorated elements and preferred having
panelled wood walls, stone slab floors, and not much furniture.
6)
Gothic
outstanding colours and decorative ornamentation prominently featured the interior
design of the living areas. Open floor plans and the emphasis on windows for brighter
space were the creation of this era yet carried over through today, which allows the
trend to never cease to exist. Commonly, the sculptural decorations and the
architectural features were created using Limestone, sandstone, and Purbeck marble.

5. 7) 8)
symmetry and order, interior design was presented in paintings of mythological and
allegorical sculptures, covering the walls. This timezone of the INTERIOR DESIGN
HISTORY witnessed the different decoration elements such as florid decorative
details, luxurious textiles like silk and velvet, marble surfaces, and carpets, which
were used as wall arts because they were too expensive even to the wealthiest of
that era.
The Renaissance Period Baroque
In terms of shapes and forms, oval and elliptical shapes were preferred to square,
rectangular and circular shapes. Stained glass, twisted columns, coloured marble,
painted ceilings, gilt mirrors, and oversized chandeliers played a role in the
expensive-looking interior design of this era. Those Ostentatious elements featured
the focus of the Baroque era, which revolved around flamboyance, splendour, and
ultra-rich excess.
9)
Rococo
The Rococo style is known for rooms decorated entirely in ivory-
coloured stucco, and their aesthetics were achieved through the
use of light pastel colours, paired with ivory whites, polished
marble, gold, and silver. This aesthetic was maintained not only
in the walls and ceilings, but in the furniture, flatware, silverware,
paintings, and decorations to achieve visual lightness and luxury.
10)
Traditional
They decorated their houses by showing off pianos, upholstered furniture, and books,
taking advantage of the lower cost of rugs and wallpapers to prove their wealth.
INTERIOR DESIGN HISTORY has known a period that focused on antique furnishings,
rich colours, and symmetrical room layouts, embodying a certain period in history,
particularly based on 18th-19th century European and American decor. Traditional interior
design is still a mainstay to this day due to its broad term that highlights varied design
styles and movements. This style is timeless, evoking glamour, comfort, and history.

6. 11) 12)
The Industrial Revolution Neoclassical Style
The architectural details and motifs of this style were inspired by ancient Greek
and Roman cultures. This style was marked by using Mahogany and window
draperies, which were the main features of this style. The bronze and gold metals
were used as furnishing features along with silk, velvet, and satin while ensuring
the matching wallpaper and furnishings.
The increasing attainability of luxury items and the wide distribution of
fashion and lifestyle publications made it easy for so many people—
more than ever—to be interested in interior design throughout the
Industrial Revolution period.
Tropical
13)
tropical interior design involves decorating with natural materials such as wood,
rattan, wicker, sea-grass, bamboo, palm, and teak. The use of silk, cotton, and
fabrics featuring palm leaves, lattice prints, and cane motifs in furnishing is also
prominent in tropical interior design. And again, the colours are inspired by the
seaside, food, and plants, including green; pink, blue, coral, and yellow.
14)
Victorian
more value to strong colours such as deep purples and glowing yellows,
which were created thanks to the invention of aniline dyes. New printing
and weaving techniques were also used in this era, allowing the usage of
these strong colours to craft stunning plaids, stripes, and florals. Those
techniques turned the Victorian homes into cheerfully coloured spaces,
showing in wallpapers, curtains, and upholstery.

7. 15)
Aesthetic Movement
The Victorian materiality, which revolved around fussy decor, curvaceous forms,
and abundant details, was rebelled against by the Aesthetic artists who
attempted to promote the adage “art for art’s sake,” trying to separate art from
the obligation to exhibit a social and political materialisation and maintained that
art should not be confined to painting, sculpture, and architecture. The Aesthetic
Movement refused modern industrialism and paid more attention to subdued
colours, geometric designs, less detailed composition, and simplified linear
forms.
16)
Tuscan
The materials used in this style are marble, stone, locally made brick and
terracotta mix with woods, and textiles. Taking from the calming nature of
Tuscany and influenced by Roman architecture and design. Simplicity with
touches of luxury were the key features of this style, combining comfort and
elegance.