The Fascinating History Of Residential Interior Design

Residential interior design has a long and fascinating history, it is very common for people today to be interested in the styles of the past. This article hopes to explain the more distant history of interior design, as more modern interior design is much more well known and covered.

Ancient Egyptians

In ancient Egypt which stretched between 3100BC and 332BC, the ancient Egyptians decorated their mud homes with animal skins, simple textiles, graphical biographic and spiritual murals. Ancient Egyptians also had sculptures and painted urns inside their home to enhance the decorative feel. In terms of furnishings, most ancient Egyptians slept on built-in mud benches, which were covered in mats, instead of pillows most rested their heads on ivory, pottery or wood. Wealthy ancient Egyptians on the other hand often had beds made out of wooden frames with mattresses comprising of straw for extra comfort.

Wealthier ancient Egyptians often used chairs and leather cushions, whilst the poor often sat on their built-in mud bench bed during the day. Clothing and possessions were not stored in cupboards or wardrobes, they were instead stored in wooden chests which came in a range of shapes and sizes to suit. Foodstuffs such as oil and grain were often stored in pots and baskets instead of the cupboards, fridges, and freezers that we use today. However, the ancient Egyptians were still able to preserve their food to an extent by soaking their meat in brine, which is essentially salty water.

Ancient Greece

Fancy furniture from ancient Greece was normally made out of wood with ivory and silver decorations. In ancient Greece, home interiors were designed for comfort and to reflect wealth and political status to their guests. Greek interiors have always typically consisted of bright white walls contrasting with striking blue furnishings, which are supposed to remind Greeks of views of mountains and tranquillity. Elaborate vases and mosaic floors depicting mythological scenes, animals and religious figures were also common in the homes of wealthy ancient Greeks.

Romans

Roman furniture was typically made out of stone, marble, wood or bronze; each material reflecting a different level of wealth and political influence over society. These often harder surfaces were made comfortable through the use of cushions which were often stuffed with feathers. Romans also enjoyed placing vases around their houses to give their house more colour by growing a range of plant life around their homes. Roman interior designwas typically a contrast between black and white or a contrast between black and red. 

Dark Ages

Within the Dark Ages interior design capabilities were somewhat muted by large amounts of wars and plaque outbreaks at the time. Most homes consisted of basic wooden panelling, furnishings that often only served a practical purpose and cold stone slab flooring. Even the wealthier portions of society often did not go overboard during this time with interior design, as they typically stuck with muted, bland colours.

French Renaissance

During the French Renaissance, a renewed focus on art in interior design started growing mainstream. Homes began being designed with artistic touches such as decorative marble floors, elaborate woodwork designs on walls and furniture made out of the finest materials on offer. During this period brighter colours were often used much more than during the previous Dark Ages. 

Baroque Era

The Baroque Era stretched from 1590AD – 1725AD and was an era of Flamboyance and grandeur with new technology such as mirrors first hitting the market; the use of stained glass and chandeliers was also popular around this time for weather homeowners. Painted ceilings were also all the rage, often these painted ceilings were of religious figures to make people feel closer to God. 

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution happened between 1760 and 1820 and allowed goods and materials to be produced faster and more efficiently, this allowed a greater segment of society to get their hands on goods that were previously typically restricted to the upper, wealthier classes. This meant an increasing number of homes started to have more of an elegant interior design.

Victorian Era

Many public buildings today still have striking elements of Victorian design, including glandular hotels. Victorian buildings typically have large fireplaces and tiled flooring paired with floral or patterned wallpaper. Heavy curtains, carpets and rugs also become more mainstream. Many homes often had dark reds, greens, blues and browns. Victorian furniture typically had ornate carvings on darker woods, Victorian furniture was also typically paired with heavy luxury fabrics. 

Conclusion

Taking inspiration from ancient interior design can really make your house stand out from the rest. If you are looking to take inspiration from the history of residential interior design, either for your own home or if you’re looking for gifts for her, then you could either go all out or take small elements of the designs, such as something like an ornate photo frame, or maybe creating a warm and cosy home environment with things like candles and heavyweight throws. Your options are endless, but adding some elements of historical interior design adds something special to any home!