History of Interior Design

Interior design is the art and science of applying aesthetic, technical and functional principles to create living and working spaces that are safe, comfortable, beautiful and suitable for human use. 

Interior design involves the selection of layout, materials, furniture, colors and lighting to create a space that is harmonious, unified and meets the specific requirements of each project.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA): “The physical environment around us can influence our emotions, behavior, and mental health. Living in a well-designed space with plenty of natural light, a good layout, and harmonious colors can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and increase concentration.”

Interior design is a creative and ever-evolving field, clearly reflecting the evolution of human civilization. The history of the development of the interior design industry is divided into main stages:

• Ancient period interior design: includes the Stone Age, Egyptian civilization, European Neolithic and Greek period.
• Medieval Interior Design: includes Roman, Romanesque, Dark, Gothic and Renaissance periods.
• Modern interior design: includes Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles.
• Modern Interior Design: includes Bauhaus, Art Deco, Mid-century modern styles.
• Contemporary interior design: includes Minimalism, Scandinavian and Industrial styles.

The future trend of interior design will be a harmonious combination of modern technology, sustainable materials and personal style, bringing people living spaces that are convenient, comfortable, safe and good for health.

This article will take you on a journey through the history of interior design, from prehistoric caves to modern apartments. Let’s explore and immerse yourself in the colorful and creative world of interior design!

Ancient period interior design

Ancient period interior design includes the Stone Age, Egyptian civilization, European Neolithic and Greek periods.

Stone Age (6000 – 2000 BC)

Historical evidence suggests that caves were the first human dwellings. Despite the dangers of nature and the challenges of survival, prehistoric humans took the time to decorate their caves with vivid drawings of plants, animals, and people.

Stone, animal skins and wood were the main materials used in interior design of this period, reflecting simplicity and closeness to nature.

Egyptian Civilization Period (2700 – 30 BC)

Egypt is considered one of the cradles of prehistoric interior design. While common Egyptians lived in simple mud huts, the nobility enjoyed a life of luxury in magnificent palaces. 

Furniture uses basic items such as vases, jars, animal skins and sculptures to decorate the house, showing a certain sophistication and aesthetics. Materials such as marble, precious wood and gold, etc. are also used in decoration to show luxury and class.

European Neolithic Period (2000 – 1700 BC)

Entering the Neolithic period, humans made great strides in creativity and decoration. Pottery production began to be popular with many unique designs, decorated with patterns, drawings and brightly colored paints. 

The furniture in this period was mainly wooden furniture, elaborately decorated with handcrafts, bringing high aesthetic value.

Greek period (1200 – 31 BC)

The advanced Greek civilization allowed people to freely express their personality and preferences in decorating their homes. Greek architecture is famous for its large, majestic pillars, bringing a strong and impressive beauty. 

Interior design of this period has the following characteristics:

• Color: Use many bright colors and delicate patterns to create a joyful and vibrant living space.
• Material: Prefer high-class materials such as marble, precious wood, metal, showing luxury and class.
• Furniture: Designed in an elegant, sophisticated style, focusing on comfort and aesthetics.
• Decorate: Use many sculptures, statues, paintings to create highlights for the interior space.

Medieval Interior Design

Medieval interior design had a strong transformation through the Roman and Roman periods but then fell into the dark ages. However, it revived in the Gothic and Renaissance periods. 

Roman Period (753 BC – 480 AD)

The Roman period was famous for its lavish lifestyle, and this was most evident in the architecture and interiors of its magnificent palaces. The design features of this period focused on the following points:

• Using rare and exquisitely crafted materials, the interior is furnished to exacting standards.
• The walls are often covered with stone tiles with delicate patterns, the floors are paved with marble or mosaic tiles.
• The furniture is elaborately designed with claw-shaped bases, giving it a luxurious and powerful look.
• Mattresses and pillows are widely used for comfort and softness.
• Interior decoration favors handicrafts and images of clawed animals, demonstrating the wealth and class of the homeowner.

Roman Period (500 – 1500 AD)

Roman architecture during this period was famous for its large domes, lavishly decorated with floral motifs and paintings. The domes not only created a majestic beauty but also helped to increase the load-bearing capacity of the structure.

Columns, statues and reliefs are also commonly used in interior decoration, contributing to creating a luxurious and classy space.

Dark Ages (900 – 1100 AD)

Due to the difficult socio-economic situation, Roman interior design during this period had a clear decline and entered a dark period, without any creativity.

Interior materials return to primitive types such as stone and wood, furniture focuses on function, no longer concerned with aesthetics. 

Gothic period (1140 – 1400 AD)

After the dark period, interior design has begun to change, the beauty of interior is highlighted again, adding more colors to create a more vibrant and brighter living space.

Highlights of this phase: 

• The pointed arch is a prominent feature that creates elegance and lightness for the building.
• The rib system is used to support the dome, helping to increase load-bearing capacity and create unique architectural lines.
• Stained glass windows, balloons, and sculptures are used for decoration to create vibrant and magical color patches for the interior space.
• The architectural details are elaborately decorated with moldings, pillars, and arches, which are also added to make the Gothic style stand out.

Renaissance (1400 – 1600 AD)

The prosperous economy along with the patronage of nobles and the Church contributed to the strong transformation of Renaissance architecture. 

Renaissance architecture was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman architecture, with balanced, harmonious lines and an emphasis on proportion. This period was characterized by:

• The design focuses on curved arches with elegant and gentle lines.
• Windows and floors are expanded to let in natural light, making the space feel more airy and spacious.
• Large paintings and furniture with bright colors are used to decorate the house.
• Luxurious materials such as marble, velvet, woven carpets and aromatic herbs were also popular during this period.

Modern interior design

Interior design in the early modern period (17th century – early 20th century) marked a dramatic change from previous periods, with the rise of styles that emphasized aesthetics, splendor and reflected social status. Typical styles include Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical.

Baroque style (1600 – 1750)

Baroque style creates majesty and splendor through curves, elaborate patterns, and sophisticated moldings. The furniture uses warm colors such as red, yellow, and brown combined with strong light to increase splendor. Decorations favor metallic and gold-plated details. 

Materials used in this style are mainly precious wood, marble, velvet, high-class silk, etc.

Rococo style (1730 – 1770)

Continuing the sophistication and elegance of Baroque but with more elegant and gentle lines, Rococo uses many floral motifs and stylized natural images to highlight the interior. Soft pastel colors such as white, pink, and blue are typical of the style. 

Polished wood, mirrors, curtains and upholstery in silk and satin are popular materials used in this style. 

Neoclassical style (1760 – early 20th century)

The architectural characteristics of Neoclassical are the harmonious combination of classical and modern elements. In this style, balanced shapes, elegant and delicate lines are accompanied by details of moldings, columns, and sculptures inspired by Greece and Rome.

Materials used prioritize natural wood, marble, granite for floors, high-quality velvet - silk for carpets, chair covers, etc.

Modern Interior Design

Modern interior design includes many different trends, developed from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. This period favors minimalism, optimal functionality, using geometrical lines and new materials such as Bauhaus, Art Deco, Mid-century modern.

Bauhaus style (1919 – 1933)

Bauhaus style emphasizes the functionality of objects, eliminating unnecessary decorative details. This style often uses new materials such as steel, concrete, glass, etc. to create modernity and personality and mainly uses neutral colors such as white, black, gray, etc. to create a spacious and elegant feeling.

Art Deco style (1920 – 1940)

Art Deco style uses strong shapes and sharp lines to create luxury and class. Art Deco uses strong contrasting colors such as black - white, yellow - black, etc. to highlight the space; and geometric patterns to make the space more eye-catching. 

Mid-century modern style (1940 – 1970)

Mid-century modern style uses simple furniture with soft lines, inspired by nature and materials such as wood, leather, rattan, etc. to create a warm and close feeling. 

Mid-century modern colors also prioritize brightness such as yellow, orange, green, etc., creating a joyful and dynamic feeling.

Contemporary interior design

The characteristics of contemporary interior design are the continuation and further development of modern style but more innovative, creative and diverse. The three typical styles of this period are Minimalism, Scandinavian and Industrial.

Minimalism

Minimalist style prioritizes simple interiors, focusing on essential items. This style of space focuses on light and makes the most of natural light, creating a spacious and airy feeling.

Neutral colors are preferred such as white, black, gray to create a modern and mysterious space.

Scandinavian style

Scandinavian style emphasizes convenience and aesthetics, using delicate, neat lines. Materials such as wood, leather, stone, rattan, bamboo, etc. are thoroughly applied in every corner with bright colors, creating a gentle and relaxing feeling. 

Industrial style

Rustic interiors with materials such as concrete, steel, brick or recycled materials are preferred in industrial style. Industrial space minimizes partitions to create a spacious and airy feeling. 

Future interior design trends

Interior design in the future will be a harmonious combination of modern technology, sustainable materials and personal style; bringing people living spaces that are convenient, comfortable, safe and good for health.

Smart technology

Smart homes with modern technology applications to control electronic devices in the house such as lights, curtains, air conditioners, door locks, etc. by touch or voice will be the interior design trend in the future. 

Sustainable and environmentally friendly materials

Future interior design not only uses recycled materials such as plastic, metal, glass to reduce waste and protect the environment, but also prioritizes the use of natural materials such as wood, bamboo, stone, natural fibers to bring a feeling of closeness to nature and safety for health.

In addition, biological materials produced from renewable resources such as fungi, bacteria, seaweed, etc. are also being researched and put into use to bring sustainable health to users. 

Personalized interior design

People increasingly desire to own living spaces designed according to their preferences, needs and personal style. Therefore, the new interior trend will invest in "the process" of bringing a unique mark to each homeowner, creative and unique depending on each personality. 

In addition, future interior design trends also aim to maximize natural light, bring nature into the home, use energy-saving solutions and create multifunctional living spaces.

Frequently Asked Questions About the History of Interior Design

What is the role and importance of interior design?

Interior design plays an important role in people's lives, not only creating beautiful living spaces, improving the quality of life, personalizing the homeowner's style and personality, but also increasing the value of real estate. Specifically: 

• Create beautiful, comfortable living spaces that suit your needs.: Interior design helps optimize space, arrange furniture reasonably, use suitable materials and colors, create beautiful, comfortable living spaces and meet the aesthetic needs of users.
• Improve quality of life: A beautiful and comfortable living space will help people feel comfortable, relax, reduce stress, and improve the quality of life.
• Express the owner's style and personality: Interior design is a way for the owner to express his own style and personality through the choice of colors, materials, decorations, ...
• Increase property value: A beautifully and scientifically designed interior space will contribute to increasing the value of real estate.

What are the fields of interior design?

The interior design industry includes many different fields from home interiors, offices, shops, cafes - restaurants to public interior design projects. 

Below are the areas of activity of interior design: 

• Home interior design: This field focuses on interior design for apartments, townhouses, villas, etc. Residential interior designers will work with clients to understand their needs and desires, then create a design that fits the space and budget.
• Office design: The goal of office design is to create a comfortable, efficient and inspiring work space for employees.
• Store design: This field focuses on interior design for retail stores, showrooms, etc. with the aim of creating a space that attracts customers and boosts sales.
• Design of coffee shops and restaurants: Designing a cafe or restaurant is to create a cozy space, attract customers and create a good impression of the brand.
• Public space interior design: This field focuses on interior design for public spaces such as libraries, museums, airports, train stations, etc. Public space interior designers need to create a space that is beautiful, comfortable and meets the needs of users.

Who are the most famous interior designers in the world? 

There are many talented and famous interior designers in the world, each with their own unique and distinctive design style. Here are some typical names:

• Philippe Starck (France): Famous for his modern, minimalist and creative design style. He has designed many famous furniture, household items and architectural works in the world.
• Kelly Hoppen (UK): Famous for her luxurious, sophisticated and inspiring design style. She has designed many high-end hotels, restaurants and houses for the upper class.
• Jonathan Adler (USA): Famous for his bold, colorful and individual design style. He has designed many unique furniture, home appliances and architectural works.
• Marcel Wanders (Netherlands): Famous for his unique design style, a harmonious combination of tradition and modernity. He has designed many impressive furniture, household items and architectural works.
• Piet Boon (Netherlands): Known for his modern, industrial and edgy design style. He has designed many impressive homes, offices and commercial spaces.

Which interior design schools are reputable in Vietnam?

In Vietnam, there are many prestigious interior design training schools, specifically: 

Northern:

• Hanoi Architectural University.
• Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts.
• Hanoi University of Science and Technology (Faculty of Architecture and Planning).
• Hanoi College of Fine Arts.
• Hanoi University of Economics and Technology (Faculty of Architecture and Construction).
• Hanoi University of Technical Education (Faculty of Architecture - Industrial Fine Arts).
• Military Technical Academy (Faculty of Architecture).

Central:

• Danang University of Technology (Faculty of Architecture and Planning).
• Hue University of Fine Arts.
• Danang College of Architecture.
• Duy Tan University (Faculty of Architecture and Construction).
• Dong A University (Faculty of Architecture - Interior Design).

South:

• Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture.
• Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts.
• Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (Faculty of Architecture and Planning).
• Gia Dinh College of Fine Arts.
• Hoa Sen University (Faculty of Design).
• Nguyen Tat Thanh University (Faculty of Architecture - Construction).
• Saigon International University (Faculty of Architecture - Interior Design).

What are common mistakes in interior design?

Some common mistakes in interior design include:

• Choosing a design style that is not suitable for the space.
• Using too many colors and patterns.
• Arranging furniture unreasonably, wasting space.
• Ignore the lighting factor.
• Using decorative accessories that do not match the design style.
• Buying furniture without measuring carefully.
• Don't care about feng shui.
• Construction without design drawings.

What to note when designing and constructing interiors to avoid "losing money and getting sick"?

To own a house with beautiful, scientific space, and the right style, you need to Notes when designing & constructing interior or:

• Clearly define design style.
• Understanding and planning scientific space.
• Choose and arrange furniture properly.
• Arrange colors and lights in parallel, complementing each other. 
• Pay attention to feng shui elements. 

What are the interior design trends 2025?

Interior Design Trends 2025 Nowadays, it is multi-layered lighting, green space orientation, free-form furniture, interior combining curved lines and domes, and the application of natural stone in every corner of the space. 

Which unit designs and constructs professional interiors in HCM?

SmartDecor is a unit specializing in interior design and construction for houses and offices professionally at good prices in HCM. With a team of experienced architects and engineers, a factory system fully equipped with modern equipment and machinery, we are committed to bringing you the most optimal design and construction solutions with cost savings of up to 20%. Every project of SmartDecor is committed to being ahead of the trend, smart, modern and personalized. 

Reasons to cooperate with SmartDecor:

• The team of architects and engineers have many years of experience in the field of professional interior design and construction. 
• Regularly update the latest design trends to bring you beautiful, modern furniture models that suit your needs.
• Capable of interior construction on request, can combine many types of materials together to create optimal and perfect solutions for customers. 
• Professional working process, ensuring construction progress and quality.
• Prestigious warranty service, ensuring customers are always satisfied with the company's products and services.

If you are looking for a reputable interior construction unit with a variety of interior designs to suit all styles and preferences, you should not ignore SmartDecor. Any questions will be supported by SmartDecor thoughtfully and promptly.