INTERIOR DESIGN

WESTERN CONTEXT
STONE AGE 6000 to 2000 BC
The first sign of an approach to interior design was noted in prehistoric
dwellings featuring fauna and flora. Those dwellings were made of mud, animal
skins and sticks.

ANCIENT EGYPT 2700

Credit for the birth of interior design is most often given to the Ancient Egyptians,
who decorated their humble mud huts with simple furniture enhanced by animal
skins or textiles, as well as murals, sculptures, and painted vases. Beautiful gold
ornaments found in Egyptian tombs revealed the importance of more lavish
decoration for wealthier and powerful Egyptians.

ROMAN EMPIRE 753 BC to 480 AD AND GREEK EMPIRE 1200 to 31 BC

The Roman and Greek civilizations built upon the Egyptian art of interior decorating
and accessorizing. Both cultures celebrated civic pride through their development of
domed-roof public buildings. In the home, elaborate Greek wooden furniture had ivory
and silver ornamentation. The Romans placed special emphasis on combining beauty
and comfort, and home interiors reflected wealth and status. Roman furniture made of
stone, wood, or bronze was accented by cushions and tapestries. Both the Romans
and Greeks used vases, mosaic floors, and wall paintings or frescoes to beautify
interior spaces

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THE DARK AGES 900 to 1500
From this period of splendor and ornamentation, there was a sudden
movement to austerity, brought on by the constant wars of Medieval
Europe and the rise of the Christian church. The Dark Ages were a time of
somber wood paneling, minimal furniture, and stone-slab floors. Even the
wealthier individuals of the time, who added decorative touches like wall
fabrics and stone carvings, stuck to muted colors and simple textiles.
The Dark Ages saw disinterest in interior design with people opting for
simple paneled wood walls, minimal furnishings, and stone slab floors.

GOTHIC 1140 to 1400

Coming out of the Dark Ages, Europeans once again introduced color
and ornamentation to their homes. In the 12th century, the creative
Gothic style was noted for its use of open interiors and windows to
capture natural light. Decorative ornamentation and bold colors were
once again prominent interior design features. Two hallmarks of the
era carried over through to today are of more windows for brighter
homes along with open floor plans.

THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD 1400 to 1600

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the French Renaissance (rebirth) led to a
renewed focus on art and beauty in interior design. Architects created
spaces with elaborate decorative elements such as marble floors, inlaid
woodwork, paintings, and furniture made of the finest woods. The best
examples of Renaissance interior design are found in the royal palaces, 3
villas, and chapels of Europe
 BAROQUE 1590 TO 1725, ROCOCO 1700 AND NEOCLASSICAL STYLE 1780 TO 1880

Following the Renaissance, the ornate Italian Baroque style became popular
throughout Europe. As exemplified in the Palace of Versailles in France, Baroque
made use of such interior design elements as colored marble, stained glass,
painted ceilings, and twisted columns. In the mid-18th century, European interior
designers began favoring the Rococo style, showing particular appreciation for
Asian porcelain, flower designs, and furniture inlaid with elegant materials like
mother-of-pearl and tortoise shell. The late 18th century Neoclassical look, an
offshoot of the classical design of ancient Rome, made heavy use of bronze, silk,
satin, and velvet.

ART NOUVEAU 1890 to 1920, ART DECO 1920’s to 1960 AND BAUHAUS 1920 – 1934
From the early 1800s on, however, in Europe and America, a trend had also
started towards more freedom and eclecticism in interior design. Over the
next two centuries, a number of innovative and modern interior design styles
would come and go into fashion including Art Deco, Art Nouveau, the
minimalist look, and the industrial Bauhaus style.Another 19th century trend
was the popularization of interior design. While once reserved for royal
palaces or the homes of wealthy citizens, interior design in the 1800s began
to reach the masses.

20TH CENTURY MODERN ERA

By the 20th century, the near-universal presence of home appliances such as
stoves, washing machines, televisions, and telephones produced a new
challenge for interior designers, who had to plan spaces not only for aesthetic
purposes, but also for functionality.
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 INFERENCE

- Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve
a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space.
- The notion of interior design historically has arisen as part of a settled agricultural
way of life. The tents of nomadic peoples were hardly suitable for the more permanent
forms of decoration.

- The field of interior design has come a long way from the mud and brick days of the
ancient Egyptians. Designers today have access to both man-made and synthetic
materials, and they can draw upon the influences of past generations while also
continually striving to create new design trends.

- By the turn of the 20th century, amateur advisors and publications were increasingly
challenging the monopoly that the large retail companies had on interior design.

- Window treatments were big, and metallic, chrome and glass elements were
preferred. The Foundation for Interior Design Educational Research (FIDER) — now the
Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) — and the National Council for Interior
Design Qualification (NCIDQ) were established to maintain standards for the
education and examination of interior design professionals. Such changes
guaranteed that every CIDA-accredited interior design program has undergone a
thorough review to ensure that high academic standards for the interior design
profession are achieved.
- By the close of the 20th century, awareness of good design, "green" design and the
growth of similar specializations increased the need for interior designers, creating a
profession that has catered both to the creative student and the environmental
activist ever since. 5
VERNACULAR AND FOLK ART
EUROPEAN,AUSTRALIAN & AMERICAN CULTURE
Westrern culture is characterized by a host of artistic,philosophic,literary & legal
themes & traditions. The values of western culture have derived throughout from
political thought to favouring freethought. It did continue to develop during the
middle ages and developed with a complex range of philosophy, medieval
scholasticism & mysticism. Western culture has also played an important role in
cinema,literature,technology,democracy etc. It combines architecture,painting,
music,sculpture,literature,film & performing.

VERNACULAR ART
Vernacular houses are those built from the locally available materials that reflect
custom and tradition more than architectural fashion. They are responsive to
change & can pose challenges in being adapted for modern living. Very few
houses remain from the 13th-15th century but revolution took place from the mid
18th-19th century.The types of houses are cottages.urban type houses etc.
Usually western culture houses are either timber construction,aisled
construction,cruck construction,box framing,stone construction,brick
construction & mud-earth construction.

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It started with the Arts & Crafts style,much of the interest lies in how these houses differ in form &
appearance(interior & exterior).Circulation in vernacular houses is simpler & they use the concept of
rooms at different social levels. The earliest surviving roofs are the coupled common rafter type which
then became trussed roofs. The type and weight of roofing material as well changed. Painted rooms with
geometric & floral motifs were very common.

These houses were simply fitted with

exposed beams,joists & unceiled roofs.
Fireplaces & doorways had decorative
emphasis. The houses had potropaic amarks
typically near the house entrances by means
of which they sought to invoke divine
protection or ward off evil spirits. 7
FOLK ART
FOLK ART encompasses a range of utilitarian and
decorative media, including cloth, wood, paper, clay,
metal and more.
FOLK ART is made by individuals whose creative skills
convey their community's authentic cultural identity,
rather than an individual or idiosyncratic artistic identity
TIMELINE OF FOLK ART
In the starting and middle of 19th century there were
regular pageants and processions at which folk art was
on display on banners and signs.
Then the Industrial Revolution came, which was to some
degree responsible for the demise of folk art because the
skills traditionally needed to construct utility items were
no longer in demand.
In the late 19th century the aims of the Arts & Crafts
movement helped to rejuvenate interest in folk art ideals.
ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT
The Arts and Crafts movement was an international trend
in the decorative and fine arts that developed across the
western countries.
Initiated in reaction against the perceived
impoverishment of the decorative arts and the conditions
in which they were produced
It stood for traditional craftsmanship, and often used
medieval, romantic, or folk styles of decoration.
It advocated economic and social reform and was
anti-industrial in its orientation.
It advocated that-
•There must be "fitness in the ornament to the thing
ornamented", and that wallpapers and carpets must not
have any patterns "suggestive of anything but a level or
plain".
•The writers advocated flat and simplified natural motifs
on fabric rather than decorated one.
•Insisted that "style" demanded sound construction before
ornamentation, and a proper awareness of the quality of
materials used. "Utility must have precedence over
ornamentation”.
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•Other intentions-
➔ flat and simplified natural
•Furniture and decorative objects modelling on medieval motifs
styles and using bold forms and strong colours.

•Patterns were based on flora and fauna, ➔ flora and fauna

•Products were inspired by the vernacular or domestic ➔ emphasizing nature

traditions of the British countryside.

•Some were deliberately left unfinished in order to display ➔ simplicity of form

the beauty of the materials and the work of the
craftsman, thus creating a rustic appearance.

•Efforts were made to unite all the arts within the

decoration of the home, emphasizing nature and
simplicity of form.
weathervanes painted and carved carousel horses
old cast iron doorstops

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ROLE OF Ergonomics is the process
of designing or arranging

ANTHROPOMETRY workplaces, products and

systems so that they fit the
people who use them.

Looking Back in history: VITRUVIUS & CORBUSIER Anthropometry refers to the

measurement of the human
In book 3 : Temple Part 1
individual. An early tool of physical
Ratios and proportion which inspired Leonardo da Vinci's even more anthropology, it has been used for
famous Vitruvian Man drawing. identification, for the purposes of
understanding human physical
Since nature has designed the human body so that its members are
variation.
duly proportioned to the frame as a whole.

In book 6 : Private House

Good Old Days…..
Placements of different rooms in private dwelling or house depending Old domestic house consists of
on climate as determining the style of the house open courtyard, sloped roofs,
bright walls and flooring.
Proportions and exposures of the different rooms Columns used as structural part
as well as ornamentation.
While transmitting to us the proper arrangements for buildings of all
kinds, they were particularly careful to do so in the case of temples of
the gods, buildings in which merits and faults usually last forever.
Present Day...
Depicting Roman design
includes elegant, monumental
proportions, with high ceilings
and wide-open spaces.

So, if you want to recreate the architectural and decorative style 11

used by the Ancient Roman elite, space is the key.
 ROLE OF ANTHROPOMETRY AND ACTIVITY
1. Europe The Golden section The Orders within Greek The ratios
(1:2, 1:3, 2:3,
is a special ratio and Roman olden times
system found by signified the perfect 2:4) that the
dividing a line into definition of harmony Renaissance Greek to
Golden ratio two parts so that
Order and beauty. believe they
theories has found
the longer part
divided by the the key to
smaller part is also the
equal to the whole harmony.
length divided by
the longer part. 2:3

1:2
2. Australia

Large opening which

Sky louvers and series Large sliding doors that includes ceiling and
Darker shades of colours used
of sliding doors, with connects living room bottom louvers and
Large opening in the And red lines showing spatial
Space and path and outdoor seating the mid portion is
space for natural relationship in interiors 12
relationship pivot windows
ventilation
3. America

Carpets are used for

Fireplaces are used for creating a relaxing ambiance by heating Sloped roofs with attic space. insulating a person’s feet
Attics are generally used for Dining table with from a cold tile or concrete
up the room. The importance of fireplaces has changed from
storage/ bedroom natural light floor, reducing sound from
one of the necessity to one of the visual interest. walking and decoration

Staircase
Line being
a primary
element in
spatial
organisati
-on

The kitchen island became a solution to space challenges, People often combine living room with kitchen and dining room
providing more surface area, storage potential and a place or living room with a lounge
for folks to congregate. It also separates kitchen from living,
without any
partition wall

Dining hall Hanging coat over the hanger

Symmetry soon after entering the house
Traditional sun room & also is one of the habits or culture
with natural lighting In windows of westerners. Hence the
from all 3 sides, a room placement entryway usually has coat
very commonly used in hangers along with console 13
america table and shoe rack
SCANDANAVIAN LIFESTYLE
The style and movements brewing in Europe at the beginning of the
20th century spread around the world
DAILY LIFE
● Routine daily activities, such as waking up, going to work,
returning home, preparing food, watching television, going to
bed and sleeping have become standardised everywhere.
● Scandinavian lifestyle is different from other countries because
their lifestyle is a combination of the beauty of nature,
environmental thinking and cultural substances.
● In general, Scandinavian people work hard but they respect
their free times and have fun in their spare times and holidays.
● ‘Fika’ translated into ‘coffee break’ is a cultural institute which is
a combination of coffee and cookies or cakes, also taking break
in the middle of the day to meet and chat with friends. In many
workplaces, there is a special coffee room that everyone can
attend the common coffee breaks one or two times each day
● After daily activities, people go to their homes to prepare food
and have a long dinner with their families.
● Scandinavians lead a slower and healthier life on weekdays in
contrast to weekends.
● Older people spend their weekend with their family playing with
their children, sitting on their sofas and watching a quality
movie while they are having coffee and some cookies.
SEASONAL ASPECT
● The lifestyle of the scandanavian people are shaped a lot by
the seasons, the long winters and short summers.
● This means that the people spend most of their leisurely time
indoors.
● Summers are usually spend doing outdoor activities like
picking mushrooms and wild berries, fishing, hunting and
camping. It goes with their ‘Friluftsliv’ lifestyle which means
‘open air life’.
● The region’s long winters require its denizens to spend much of
their time indoors — which is why there’s a focus on lots of
well-lit spaces with a practical setup.
● Due to the long cold winters, the interiors are designed to be
warm and cozy. Using materials like wood and carpets and light
colours throughout. Furnaces and heaters are common.
● Scandinavians live for summers, endless days and warm
temperature air. In Scandinavian interior style outdoor lounge
place is an important part of their homes.
● Scandinavians who are accustomed to live with nature carry
the beautiful color and patterns of nature to their home
decoration with natural linens, cottons with simple floral
patterns. 14
ANTHROPOMETRY
● Scandanavian tradition revolves
around communities and
get-togethers where people come
together and socialise.
● In almost every home, common areas
like living rooms, dining,lounge etc..
are designed such that it can
accomodate a large number of people.
● Large dining tables that can
accomodate everyone.
● Large living space where everyone
watches tv, sports together.
● Large kitchen counters to cook for a
large no of people.
● Scandanavian design is known for its
clutter free simple spaces.
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DESIGN PSYCHOLOGY AND PERCEPTION
➔ Basically the western world consists
of 3 major continents - Europe
,Australia and America.
➔ As the climate in these continents is
extreme,the interior design has to
cater to these conditions.
➔ Western style decoration usually
uses wood, rock, leather, and metal
in abundance.
➔ The fireplace and mantle are
prerequisites for a western style
living room interior.
➔ Decorate with artwork on oil,
vintage photos, paintings, and
Western artifacts
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PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT
➔ Identity : Adaptability is built into western design at every stage,
as it is a form that was founded on the ideals of Western attitudes
of building your home with local materials. Western design ideal is
built on comfort, usability, durability, and beauty in both simple
lines and intricate curves.
➔ Colour : Colors have a big impact on mood. They can promote
feelings from tranquility to anxiety.

➔ Lighting : Studies have shown that mood and energy levels are
directly related to how much natural light we receive daily
➔ Aesthetic : Aesthetics play an essential role in the emotional
satisfaction of users and residents depending on the lifestyle
and culture.
➔ Perception of space : Use of ‘visual tricks’ to make a space look
more spacious and bigger. For example use of warm color pallet
and ample natural lighting with the minimalist furniture makes a
small room look bigger than it’s actual size.
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PREDOMINANT FEATURES
➔ Earth Tones and Leather -
Cosy feeling
➔ Rustic = Beauty +
Functionality + Build
Quality
➔ Wood is Key
➔ Fireplace and mantle -
Warmth
➔ Animal themes - Lifestyle
➔ Minimalistic - Modern
lifestyle
➔ Inspiration from nature
➔ Textile decoration -
Aesthetics
➔ Paintings - Identity 19
SCANDINAVIAN STYLE
➔ All White Everything - help
keep spaces bright
➔ Form Follows (Multi-)
Function
➔ Nature is a Big Design
Influence
➔ Clean Lines and Simple
Profiles
➔ Cozy is a Way of Life
➔ Minimalism > Maximalism
➔ Eco-Materials and
Efficiency are Important
➔ Lighting is Key
➔ Put a Graphic Pattern on it 20
THANK YOU
Lakshmi Rachana
Lakshmi Sanjana
Meghala
Tharun Atithya
Anushka P
Aqsa
Aadya Udani
Abhishek Yadav
Bikash Jana
Chaithanya M
Agneyi B
Anand Krishna
Prema A H
Abhijna S
Anvitha S