Where Did Interior Design Originate?

Interior design, the art of creating beautiful and usable interiors, has been around in some form for as long as people have had houses. Though people often use the terms "interior design" and "interior decorating" interchangeably, they are quite different. Interior decorators focus mainly on enhancing the surfaces in an existing space, including painting and furnishing. But interior designers consider a space in its entirety, from the room's function to its acoustics, as well as its surface decorations.

Ancient History

Interior design appears to have played a role in ancient Rome, where wealthy citizens designed rooms for summer or winter use depending on their aspect and construction. Summer rooms were intended to be cool and comfortable for hot days, while winter rooms were designed to stay cozy.

The ancient Egyptians of roughly the same period also used interior design, most notably in their pyramids. The interiors of the pyramids were designed to be functional for the departed in his afterlife.

The Renaissance

The artistic rebirth that characterized the Renaissance brought with it a surge of interest in interior design, especially for the very wealthy. Architects, artists and craftspeople became more and more ambitious as the members of the nobility attempted to outdo one another with fantastic residences. Increased trade meant materials from the Middle and Far East were more readily available. In many ways, the Renaissance marked the birth of modern interior design. Though the large-scale interior design projects were limited to rulers and the nobility, many of the rising middle class borrowed smaller-scale ideas for use in their dwellings.

The Colonialist Period

Interior design became useful on a larger scale during the colonialist period, when Europeans began to settle in newly discovered regions, including the Americas. Confronted with no permanent existing settlements and the challenges of bringing goods long distances, settlers became their own interior designers, constructing minimalist homes that fulfilled basic living needs and learning how to craft many of their own furnishings and decorations.

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution made interior design accessible for more and more people by creating cheaper, readily available goods and making home-improvement projects more affordable. Magazines and books about home decoration also began to be popular, as technological improvements allowed people leisure time that had not previously existed.

Modern Interior Design

Following the Industrial Revolution came the advent of the professional interior designer. These professionals make their livings by designing interior spaces in homes and public buildings. One of the first professional interior designers was Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a Scotsman whose exaggerated Art Nouveau pieces achieved great popularity in the early 20th century.

References

• The History of Design; John Pile; 2004

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish