Mulleta, Gellan B.

ARC-5202
Specialization 4
History of Interior Design
Interior design has seen a fine array of styles as homeowners look to transform the look
in their homes. Whether it be painted or mosaic walls, rich, ornate furniture or bright,
bold prints, people through the ages have decorated their homes to improve home
décor, and in that respect, not much has changed since cavemen painted their caves.

INTERIOR DESIGN HISTORY TIMELINE:

Stone Age 6000 to 2000 BC

The first sign of an approach to interior design was noted in prehistoric dwellings
featuring flora and fauna. Those dwellings were made of mud, animal skins, and
sticks.

Neolithic Europe 2000 to 1700 BC

In comes the first defined handmade pottery that was used for both practical and
decorative reasons.

Ancient Egypt 2700

The rise of royal families saw for the first time people living in structures besides
mud huts. The new structures boasted murals that portrayed their history and
beliefs. And they had basic furnishings and decorative objects like vases and
sculptures – seen for the first time.

Greek Empire 1200 to 31 BC

Advancements in civilization and lifestyles saw citizens decorating their homes in

their own unique style for the first time ever with wealthier Greeks possessing
furnishings inlaid with ornate ivory and silver details. Iconic and statement-making
pillars and columns were key motifs during this era and the Greeks also created
standard rules and procedures for building construction.

Roman Empire 753 BC to 480 AD

An austere age when royals weren’t able to evoke their wealth simply through their
homes. The Romans decorated their homes with murals and mosaics, and
furnishings featured clawed feet.

The Dark Ages 900 to 1500

The Dark Ages saw disinterest in interior design with people opting for simple
paneled wood walls, minimal furnishings, and stone slab floors.
The Byzantine Empire 500 to 1500

During this period grande domes and decadent décor took center stage.

The Renaissance Period 1400 to 1600

The beauty of interior design was a major feature during the Renaissance period
with grand furnishings and art realized in vibrant hues and luxurious textiles like silk
and velvet along with marble surfaces. And since carpets were too precious and
expensive for even the wealthiest of patrons, they were used as wall art when
possible.

Gothic 1140 to 1400

In response to the dark ages, decorative ornamentation and bold colors were once
again prominent interior design features. Two hallmarks of the era carried over
through to today are more windows for brighter homes along with open floor plans.

Baroque 1590 to 1725

Ostentatious and ultra-rich artistic elements made for a recipe of sumptuous interior
designs featuring stained glass, twisted columns, colored marble, painted ceilings,
and gilt mirrors and oversized chandeliers.

Traditional 1700 to Today

Embodied by a formal spirit, traditional interior design is still a mainstay to this

day. Traditional interior design is a broad term that highlighting varied design styles
and movement’s that aren’t nailed down to one locked direction or spirit.

Traditional design celebrates the illustrious, rich history of the past by contrasting it
with decidedly modern elements for an elegant spin on beautiful design while
highlighting 18th and 19th-century European decor. It’s a timeless design style that
evokes easy glamor and comfort and is a great direction for those who appreciate
antiques, classic art, symmetry, and design rich with history.

Rococo 1700

A hyper elegant and lavishly detailed design style taking cues from botanical
silhouettes, Rococo interior design featured unique elements like tortoise shell and
pearl embellishments alongside Asian porcelain.

The Industrial Revolution 1760 to 1820

Throughout the Industrial Revolution interior design was available for a wider
audience and was easier to access for the general population than ever before. This
is in large part due to easier printing processes creating a wide distribution of
fashion and lifestyle publications and the fact that luxury items became increasingly
attainable.

Neoclassical Style 1780 to 1880

Taking inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman cultures for architectural details
and motifs, this era saw furnishings rely heavily on the use of bronze and gold
metals, and soft furnishings featuring silk, velvet, and satin. The trend of matching
wallpaper and furnishings also took hold.

Tropical 1880’s to Today

As the British empire swept through countries like India and territories like the West
Indies, they combined interior design elements from their home country and the
regions they were occupying to create a heady mix of the traditional and the extoic.

Aesthetic Movement 1800’s to Today

With ‘art for art’s sake’ in mind, the Aesthetic Movement was a way for radicals to
express their dislike of current, tired interior design. The key here was in practicality
and function taking importance before beauty.

Tuscan 1840’s to Today

Taking a cue from the charming and calming nature of Tuscany in Italy, the focus of
interior design during this period was of straightforward simplicity with hints of luxury
for good measure.

Arts & Crafts 1860 to 1910

In order to highlight their opposition to mass-produced ordinary items due to the

innovations of the Industrial Revolution, people turned to traditional crafts and
classic elements to produce furnishings.

Rustic 1870’s to Today

Rustic interior design features handmade furnishings and large, open rooms
boasting wooden beams and columns.

Rustic decor provides the perfect combination of comforting, fuss-free design and
practical, functional decor, put together to create a warm  rustic interior. Natural
materials work as the foundation and starting point for creating enviable rustic  home
decor celebrating the authentic beauty of natural materials to create a cozy,
beautiful space.
Modernism 1880 – 1940

The modernist movement stressed simplicity, clarity of form, and rejected noise in
design. Some of the movement’s leading figures in include Mies van der Rohe, Le
Corbusier, and Eero Saarinen, whose signatures seen in his forever popular
Saarinen table and Saarinen chair are the epitome of the design style.

Art Nouveau 1890 to 1920

The enthusiasm behind the Art Nouveau movement was in bringing in natural
silhouettes derived by botanical elements that lent the era its signature curved lines
and organic shapes.

Colonial Revival 1905 to Today

Popular in the U.S and spurred by the centennial, the Colonial Revival found
inspiration from the Neoclassical and Georgian historical styles. By far the most
popular style of the time up til WWII, some believe that the launch of the automobile
helped to spark people’s interest in historical references as they were able to freely
visit documented landmarks.

Eclectic 1900’s to Today

Some historians point to the rise of needing interior designers who understood how
to mix different design styles with authority for the sharp increase of designers in
the industry as eclectic style took over aesthetic inspiration.

Eclectic style is all about harmony and the coming together of disparate styles,
juxtaposing textures, and contrasting colors to create a cohesive, beautifully
realized room that wouldn’t be out of place in a home décor magazine as this is one
design style that takes verve and a great eye. And since eclectic interior design is
all about experimentation and play, do have fun with the freedom it allows.

Modern 1918 to 1950

With a focus on sparse interiors and bold primary colors, Modern interior design
eschewed the typically ornate and over decorated design aesthetic trending at the
time.

Bauhaus 1920 – 1934

Celebrated to this day for its grand yet minimal and beautifully executed gestures,
and founded by German architect Walter Bauhaus, who also created
the Bauhaus school of art and design in Weimar Germany, the movement quickly
produced some of the most influential architects, sculptors, graphic designers,
furniture makers, and design mavericks of the mid to late 20th century.
Country 1920 to 1970

With notes lifted from traditional farmhouse settings, country style was practical but
with quality, vintage inspired furnishings.

Today’s take on the modern country style of interior design is an idyllic classic.

Stepping away from a purely traditional country design style; modern country allows
for more playful and nuanced aspects along with minimal notes.

Art Deco 1920’s to 1960

This movement features an intoxicating blend of early 20th century design styles
including Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, Bauhaus, Art Nouveau, and
Futurism. One of the most well-known interior design styles, Art Deco represented
modernity, everyday glamor, and elegance.  The era relied heavily on clean lines,
fuss-free angular shapes, bold color, and stylized patterns like zig-zags and optical
figures. For added glamor, ornate embellishments and metallic surfaces were also
hallmarks of the era.

Materials used in art deco interior design are slick and reflective for everyday
glamor in the home. Plenty of metallics are present in this style; from gold to silver,
stainless steel, and chrome. They lend any room an elegant and luxurious feel, and
they can be used everywhere. Imagine a modern art deco living room with a glass
topped gold coffee table, chrome lamps, and a bold geometric patterned rug in
black, gold, and white. Glass is also a frequently used material in art deco design;
whether that’s through mirrors, glass-topped tables, sculptural elements or an art
deco vase or lamp, as glass adds to the elegant feel of an art deco room.

Mediterranean 1920’s to Today

To evoke the feel of coastal European countries, textures from terra cotta, stone,
and patterned tiles were heavily featured along with wrought iron, and aquatic hues.

Surrealism 1925 to 1930

Surrealists like famous artists included Salvador Dali, André Breton, and Max Ernst
used this avant-garde movement to free people from their associations of what was
normal and ultimately predictable in design, music, art, and even interior design.

Mid-Century Modern 1930’s to Today

Though the term mid century modern wasn’t coined until the mid-80’s, and though
no one really knows it’s true timeline, the era represents a combination of post
World War II practicality, 50’s era optimism, 60’s era earthiness, and 70’s era tones
and textures neatly wrapped up in a stylish ode to Scandinavian simplicity.
Call it a reaction to the decadence and gilt adorned stuffiness of interior design and
architecture through to the 40’s if you will, as at the time of its inception, mid century
modern decor was a complete rebuttal and restart for the senses.

The vibe is fresh and poppy, retro-tinged, and completely alluring with its dedication
to comfort and practicality wrapped up in beautiful design that never goes out of
style. Unlike other aesthetic movements, mid century modern decor is streamlined
in design, as form follows function while highlighting the materials used, rather than
making them something they aren’t.

Scandinavian Modern 1930’s to Today

This movement highlights the virtues of beautiful designed, practical objects that are
both easily affordable and accessible, which is why the movement remains popular
to this day.

Belonging to the school of modernism, Scandinavian interior design is a design

movement characterized by a focus on functionalism and simplicity. It also includes
the use of natural materials, such as leather, wood, and hemp. Furthermore, a
Scandinavian interior design is often influenced by a connection to nature, which
combines natural shapes, abstraction, and the use of natural elements.  

Transitional 1950’s to Today

With the invention of the television and its prominence throughout most homes
across the U.S, the interior design of sets helped feed the masses appetite for décor
more than ever.

Transitional style refers to a mix of traditional and modern furnishings, fabrications,

and decorative features that lend you more freedom when looking to decorate your
home with ease as there’s no end to the directions you can take the design style. In
essence, transitional interior design is the combination of various design styles
brought together simultaneously to create a cohesive design in one room.

Postmodernism 1978 – Today

This movement born as a challenge to what people saw to be the generic blandness
of the Modernist movement. One of its main figures was Italian architect and
designer Ettore Sottsass, with his signature playful shapes, abstract prints, and
powerful color stories.

Contemporary 1980’s to Today

Contemporary interior design is classic yet thoroughly of the moment and timeless
thanks to a light-handed, spare take on decorating to ensure it will never feel dated.
While modern decor can feel cold, limiting, and overtly minimal,  contemporary
style is calming and serene, and is peppered with a focus on architectural elements,
decorative details, attention to bold scales, and a concise color palette to create a
warm space with easy sophistication. Simplicity, clean lines, plays on texture, and
quiet drama are fundamental in achieving a perfectly balanced contemporary style
home.
PRINCIPLES OF INTERIOR DESIGN
Principle #01 — Balance
Balance in space is all about visual balance. The dictionary defines balance as “an even
distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.” In
interior design, this means distributing the elements evenly throughout the space to
create visual balance.
There are 3 types of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial.

All examples above show the balance of forms within the space. Remember, there are
six other elements that can be played with to create visual balance.
Principle #02 — emphasis & focus
To give emphasis to something means to give it particular importance, value or
prominence. In interior design, it’s about giving importance to a particular area or object.
It’s about creating a focal point within the space.
In this bedroom, it isn’t difficult to see what stands out. Color, an element of interior
design, is used to give the painting special importance through contrast. (contrast is
another principle in itself, and we’ll get to that next.)
Color has been used in this space, but how can we use the other elements to create
emphasis? Light is a powerful element to play with in a space. Accent lighting alone
already gives focus to an object. Lines can be used to direct the eyes towards what you
want to give emphasis to. Leaving negative space around an object or an area would
definitely give it importance. These are just a few examples. Let your creativity run wild!
Principle #03 — contrast
Applying contrast in interiors adds drama and interest. Placing contrasting (strikingly
different) elements next to each other somewhat creates emphasis on both objects or
areas. However, the use of contrast shouldn’t be overdone in a space, or else it would
lose its magical touch of drama.
In the last photo, the saturated painting above the bed used contrasting colors to the
rest of the room’s color palette. Although color is probably the most powerful element in
creating contrast, it can most definitely be achieved using the other elements, too.
Principle #04 — rhythm & repetition (movement)
To create rhythm in a space means to repeat certain elements throughout. In music,
rhythm is a repetitive beat that creates a musical pattern. In interior design, rhythm can
be achieved by the repetitive use of elements.
Let’s take these photos as an example …
The use of brass is repeated throughout the kitchen, living room and dining room. In the
kitchen, it’s used on the trimmings of the cabinets and on the pendant lamps above the
counter. In the living room, it’s used on the coffee table. In the dining room, it’s also
used on the pendant lamp above the table.
Sometimes, repeated elements are subtle. In other cases, they can be painfully obvious
such as repeated colors or patterns. But even when they’re subtle, they can create a
sense of unity throughout the space.
1.1 symmetrical balance can be seen by how the chairs are distributed evenly on each
side of the dining table.
1.2 asymmetrical balance can be seen by how the smaller paintings are hung to each
side of the central and bigger painting above the sofa. They may not be mirroring each
other, but they still create a balance of visual weight.
1.3 radial balance can be seen in the chandelier above the dining table. The spherical
glasses hang evenly around its center.
Principle #05 — scale & proportion

While the meaning of scale and proportion are oftentimes confused, they both have to
do with the size of an object. In interior design, they’re intertwined. They both have to do
with the size of elements in relation to other elements or in relation to the space as a
whole. A scale is used to weigh an object, and a balance scale compares the
weight of two objects to achieve balance. In interiors, this has to do with the visual
weight of an object (or element) compared to the objects right next to it or to the objects
and space surrounding it. The dictionary describes proportion as the
“comparative relation between things or magnitudes as to size, quantity, number,
etc.; ratio.” Scale and proportion, therefore, are intertwined in that scale is about one
object’s visual weight while proportion is about comparing that object’s visual weight to
other objects around it or to the interior as a whole.
Principle #06 — details

We’ve already covered five principles: balance, emphasis, contrast, rhythm, and scale.
They tend to lean towards the bigger picture of a space. Now, it’s time to zoom in and
take a closer look at the less obvious — the details. Details are easy to overlook. Details
include decorative objects and their trimmings such as fringes on curtains and pillows,
picture frames, cornices and wall trimmings, and furniture handles. Examples of less
obvious ones are the color of wires used on lamps, the corners of cornices (the quality
of installation), power plugs and light switches, and so on. Although details are easily
ignored, an excellent interior is consistent throughout — down to its teeny tiny details.
Principle #07 — harmony & unity

This is the goal of all the other principles: to achieve a unifying and harmonious space.
Last but most definitely not the least, harmony and unity encompass all the other
elements. This is the goal of all the other principles: to achieve a unifying and
harmonious space. The dictionary defines harmony as “a consistent, orderly, or
pleasing arrangement of parts; congruity.” Unity is defined as “oneness of mind, feeling;
concord, harmony, or agreement.” Harmony & unity is achieved when all the elements
in a space work together and complement each other. It means looking at the space as
a whole and seeing how each element plays a part in meeting the function of the space.
It also means seeing the harmonious transition between one element and another. 

Reference:
https://www.decoraid.com/blog/interior-design-history
https://visual.ly/community/infographic/home/history-interior-design
https://jennifercederstam.com/7-principles-interior-design/