Interior Design History: From Caves to Glam
- Sep 22, 2024
- 11 min read
Updated: Jan 18
Table of Contents
The first forms of interior design: Caves and cave paintings
The Renaissance: When art and design went to college together
The Industrial Revolution: The masses, machines, and cheap furniture
Modernism and Minimalism: Less is more... but also more expensive
The Evolution of the Interior Design Profession: From First Decorators to Global Associations
Conclusion: How we went from painted walls to Pinterest-ready walls
1. Introduction: Interior Design History
Where does our modern obsession with matching the sofa to the curtains and coordinating decorative pillows with the wall art come from? Well, it turns out that the desire to arrange our space in a visually pleasing way dates back a long time, even to the days when humans had only one piece of furniture in their home: a big rock.
In this article, we’ll take a journey through the history of interior design and the real story of the interior designer and ultimately get a better understanding how we got to contemporary style and the obsession with perfect design, as we see on Instagram.
2. The First Forms of Interior Design: Caves and Cave Paintings
Caves, The First Open-Space Apartments?
Before we talk about wallpaper, sofa arrangements, and decorative pillows, let’s go back to the roots. Literally. Prehistoric humans had a surprisingly artistic sense. Their dwellings, caves, weren’t just damp shelters but rather the "open-space apartments" of their time.
With a minimalist design and a panoramic view (if you were lucky enough to find a well-placed cave), these pioneers of interior design began to personalize their space. The first step? Decorating the walls with cave paintings. We don’t know if the animal drawings were part of a "thematic collection" or just their way of passing the time, but they certainly added a touch of personality and art to their walls.
Color Scheme in the Stone Age: When Paint Came from Nature
If we go back in time, colors weren’t as easy to come by as they are now – there were no hardware stores offering perfect shades of matte white or mint green. Prehistoric humans used natural pigments, extracting them from earth, ochre, and charcoal, to create color palettes directly from nature. It was like a very rustic "DIY" project.
Their paintings had earthy tones, red, brown, and black, and even though they wouldn’t have competed with Scandinavian or industrial design, it was clearly a form of personal expression. Every drawing told a story, even if they hadn’t yet reached the point of painting their faces on the walls, as we now do with selfies.
So, before you complain about not finding the perfect color for your bedroom, remember that our ancestors made their own paint and had walls personalized with art... all from 100% natural resources!
3. Ancient Civilizations: The Luxury of the Egyptians, the Refinement of the Greeks, and the Simplicity of the Romans
Egyptians: The Pioneers of Interior Luxury
If you've ever wondered where the idea of having gold (or at least golden) furniture came from, the Egyptians are the main culprits. The Pharaohs weren’t just building giant pyramids; they were also passionate about interior design.
Luxury was the order of the day, walls covered in vividly colored hieroglyphs, furniture decorated with gold and ivory, and hand-woven carpets that would make any Instagram influencer jealous.
We also can't ignore their obsession with symmetry, everything had to be balanced and perfectly organized, from the arrangement of furniture to the placement of statues of gods around the house. Plus, the Egyptians firmly believed that the afterlife should be just as luxurious, so they decorated their tombs better than many modern homes. How about having a "spare room" for the afterlife? Now that's dedication to interior design!
Greeks and Romans: When Art and Architecture Meet Functional Furniture
The Greeks, masters of proportions, didn’t treat interior design as merely a way to make their homes beautiful but as a way to turn them into works of art. Their furniture was simple but well thought out, with elegant lines and sculpted details.
Their temples and homes reflected a balance between aesthetics and functionality, a lesson we could relearn today when we buy a chair just because "it looks good on Instagram," even if it’s completely uncomfortable.
The Romans, on the other hand, took the Greeks’ refinement and elevated it to a new level of practicality. They created stunning mosaics to beautify floors and walls, along with elegant and functional furniture. Additionally, the Romans had a passion for indoor gardens, a tradition that even inspires today's "living green" trends. Roman houses featured open "atria", something very similar to today’s open-space layouts, but far more impressive.
And if you think the Romans were conservative, know that the first dinner parties around a long, elegant table were organized by them. So next time you invite friends over for dinner and show off your fancy dish set, thank the Romans.
4. The Middle Ages: The Dark Castle with a Touch of Tapestry
In the Middle Ages, interior design was a bit more... somber.
The homes of nobles were cold, dark, and made of stone, so people thought:
"How can we make this place a little more welcoming?"
Their answer was tapestry, works of art on fabric, meant to add a splash of color and, why not, provide some thermal insulation. Plus, the furniture pieces were massive and heavy, maybe to make you feel more important when sitting on them.
5. The Renaissance: When Art and Design Went to College Together
Rediscovering Beauty: Proportions, Symmetry, and Vibrant Colors
The Renaissance was the period when people decided that, after a rather dark Middle Ages, it was time to bring back brilliance and beauty to the world. Architecture and interior design returned to their roots, back to ancient Greece and Rome, where proportions were as important as perfect angles in Instagram photos.
Every element in a room had to be symmetrical, balanced, and, of course, decorated with authentic works of art, because who wouldn’t want a Michelangelo on their ceiling?
Renaissance interiors were full of color, life, and the most impressive details. Ceilings were painted with scenes from Greek mythology, walls were covered with intricate frescoes, and the carved furniture was so elaborate that you might think twice before sitting on a chair for fear of breaking it.
Essentially, every noble’s house became a miniature museum.
If you visited one today, you’d be surprised by how "Instagrammable" those interiors were!
Artists and Architects
In the Renaissance, famous artists and architects weren’t just interested in creating works of art for churches and cathedrals, but also for the homes of the wealthy. So yes, if you were a Renaissance noble, you could afford to hire an artist like Leonardo da Vinci to tell you where to place your dining table or how to paint your ceiling with biblical scenes.
The Renaissance wasn’t just an explosion of artistic creativity, but also an era of collaborations. Architects and interior designers (although they weren’t called that back then) worked together to create elegant, luxurious, and refined interiors where every corner was a true masterpiece. If you had such a designer today, you'd probably need a "palace-sized" budget, but your home would certainly be the envy of everyone.
So, when it comes to interior design, the Renaissance was the moment when style met intellect, and yes, it was a "match made in heaven."
6. The Industrial Revolution: The Masses, Machines, and Cheap Furniture
From Craftsmanship to Factory: When Furniture Became Affordable
In the 19th century, with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, the world of interior design changed dramatically. Before, furniture was handcrafted with care and passion by artisans who knew how to turn wood into true works of art. But, as we all know, art comes with a price.
In those times, only the wealthy could boast of hand-carved furniture with refined details. Then, factories appeared, and suddenly, furniture became affordable for everyone. No more selling your horse to buy a wooden table!
Thus, mass production began. Furniture was no longer patiently carved by a master of details but quickly assembled in factories, ready to fill the homes of the rapidly growing middle class during the Industrial Revolution. Of course, when everything is made on an assembly line, the design becomes simpler, but also more functional. People learned that they could furnish their homes quickly and cheaply, without waiting months for a wardrobe to be ready. It was a new world – one where "fast and efficient" was the new "luxury and refinement."
The Industrial Revolution radically changed how people designed their homes, introducing mass production and new materials. With new technologies and factories, furniture became more accessible to everyone, democratizing interior styles and offering functional options for increasingly smaller homes.
Styles for Everyone: How the Industrial Revolution Democratized Design
With mass production came new interior design styles.
The Industrial Revolution gave rise to a trend that continues today: the democratization of good taste. If previously only the nobility had access to quality furniture and spectacular interiors, now even the working classes could transform their homes.
And as cities grew rapidly, space became an issue, so furniture had to be compact and useful. Instead of imposing tables and heavy chandeliers, people opted for practical furniture that could fit into smaller apartments.
Styles became more varied and easier to adopt. Whether you liked Gothic influences, Victorian style, or preferred something simpler and more functional, you could find furniture for every taste. It was an era when homes changed quickly, and living spaces became more accessible and functional.
So, if today you can go to a store and furnish your home in a single visit, thank the Industrial Revolution. It all started with a simple idea: how to make luxury accessible to everyone. And as we discovered back then, nothing is more luxurious than having a functional and well-furnished home, without having to sell your soul for it!
7. Modernism and Minimalism: Less is More… But Also More Expensive
Modernism: When Simple Forms Became Sophisticated
The early 20th century brought a radical shift in interior design. After centuries of elaborate details, heavy ornaments, and all kinds of decorative elements, modernism arrived like a breath of fresh air.
Designers decided it was time to “clean up” spaces and focus on functionality and simplicity. This gave birth to clean geometric shapes, straight lines, and airy spaces.
A perfect example? Bauhaus furniture.
A chair was no longer just a seating object, but a manifesto of simplicity and utility.
Sure, some might say these pieces looked a bit cold and lifeless, but at the time, they were a true revolution. Everything non-essential was left behind, goodbye to baroque ornaments, hello to minimalist furniture! It’s like when you clean out your wardrobe and realize it's better to have a few simple pieces that match everything, rather than a pile of things you never wear.
Minimalism: When “Less” Becomes a Luxury
As modernism evolved, an even more extreme trend emerged: minimalism. The motto here was simple: “Less is more” – or, more liberally translated, “the less you have, the more expensive it is.” Minimalism promoted the idea that a home with very few, but carefully chosen objects could be more elegant than one full of stuff.
Of course, the paradox of minimalism is that instead of being affordable, it became a symbol of luxury. Think of those perfect apartments in magazines: a white table, an elegant chair, a single plant in the corner, and that’s about it.
Every object is a statement of style, and the prices reflect that. It’s like going to a fancy restaurant and getting a plate with “a few artistic elements” and a drizzle of sauce... and finding out that costs as much as a full lunch at a cafeteria. That’s minimalism in interior design.
So, minimalism transformed the home into a zen space, where everything has a place and a purpose. You no longer need thousands of decorative objects, just a few high-quality pieces. And if you’re wondering why you’d pay a fortune for a simple chair... well, minimalism answers: because less is more!
8. The Evolution of the Interior Design Profession: From First Decorators to Global Associations
When you think of interior design today, you probably picture stylish rooms, natural materials, and well-organized Pinterest boards. But how did the interior design profession evolve to become what it is today, with interior decorators and designers shaping everything from cozy homes to lavish commercial spaces?
The 1920's
It all started with the first interior decorator, long before there were interior design courses or professional certifications. Back then, it was about more than just arranging furniture; it was an art form, often reserved for the wealthy.
As the profession grew, so did the need for more formal training, giving rise to graduate interior design programs and interior design education research. Now, interior design educators councils and organizations like the International Interior Design Association help represent interior designers worldwide, ensuring that the industry maintains high standards.
One of the key milestones in this journey was the rise of Art Deco in the 1920s. It brought bold geometric patterns and luxury materials into the spotlight, inspiring interior decorators everywhere. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find that federal interior designers play a crucial role in large-scale projects, while documented commercial interior decorators continue to make their mark in everything from office spaces to hotels.
The role of interior designers isn’t just about style; it’s about function, comfort, and sustainability. With natural materials trending and the demand for interior design educational research growing, the industry is more vibrant than ever. So whether you're an aspiring designer enrolling in your first course or a seasoned professional involved in research, remember: interior design is a dynamic field that continues to evolve, one room at a time!
As the interior design profession has evolved, so has the complexity of the work that interior decorators and interior designers tackle every day. It’s not just about making a space look pretty, it’s about creating environments that feel good, function well, and, in many cases, reflect the personality of the people who live or work there. Whether you’re working in interior decoration or you're a documented commercial interior decorator handling large-scale projects like hotels or corporate offices, the job is as much about creating functional layouts as it is about choosing the right color palette.
Interior Design Educators Council
Organizations such as the Interior Design Educators Council are integral to this evolution.
They focus on improving interior design education research and training the next generation of designers.
Through these efforts, today's interior designers are equipped with both the creative flair and technical know-how to tackle modern challenges, like sustainable design and incorporating natural materials into their projects.
With more people seeking professional design advice and the growing respect for interior designers worldwide, the industry continues to be shaped by those who started it all, the first interior decorator, and is further advanced by the education and research driven by organizations like the Interior Design Educators Council.
So, whether you're pursuing a career in interior design education research or looking to make your mark as a documented commercial interior decorator, know that the journey of interior design is rich, ongoing, and always in style.
9. Conclusion: How We Went from Painted Walls to Pinterest
We’ve come a long way from cave paintings to perfectly styled bookshelves on Instagram. Throughout history, interior design has reflected not only how people lived, but also how technology, culture, and creativity evolved together.
Each era has added a new layer to the way we shape our spaces, and today we have the luxury of choosing from an incredible mix of styles, influences, and ideas. While most of us may never live in a medieval castle, we can still borrow a little drama, perhaps a tapestry on the wall, purely for the artistic vibe.
To support you on this creative journey, we also offer a free interior design course, along with 1:1 mentorship sessions tailored to your personal goals and specific needs, whether you’re just starting out or refining your style.
We wish you a wonderful day and great success in all your interior design endeavors. ✨
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