What is interior design, and how to do it at home?

[dropcap]The[/dropcap] search for Interior design has grown in recent years, especially for those who want to renovate and redecorate the house.

However, the area goes beyond the simple decoration of the environments, with expertise in planning, idealization and realization of complete house projects, apartments and commercial establishments.

In periods of mandatory social isolation, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the stay in homes made several people interested in interior design, with the intention of providing space improvements to increase the quality of life and well-being.

It is worth saying that designing an internal environment is something of extreme responsibility, therefore, the designer's job is responsible for managing and improving the properties, for a much more pleasant and cozy environment.

In today's article, learn more about what interior design is and how to do it in your home. Follow the reading!

The history of interior design

The first reports of interior design are very old, well before 1000 B.C.. (BC). At that time, the Egyptians built houses out of clay, filling them with wooden furniture and other decorative items, like straw mats, animal skins, among others.

With the passage of time, this trend would be reflected in the use of rustic fabrics for decoration, among other projects. The Egyptians built real decorated walls, where they portrayed their tastes and customs.

But it was in the Classical Era (between 499 B.C.. to 79 d.C.) that interior design has reached its peak, in Ancient Greece. Inspired by the Egyptian style, the Greeks started to design furniture that combine comfort, without losing beauty and sophistication.

In the Roman Empire, noble residences were characterized by large internal courtyards, with mosaics, highly refined floors and paintings, symbolizing gods and other figures in the literature of the time.

The Romans had a real concern for the finishing of buildings and they were responsible for thinking about the beginning of modern furniture, as we know today.

In the seventeenth century, with the baroque style, interior design took on an air of pomp, with a decoration rich in details, in a trend that spread quickly across Europe and influenced some buildings in Latin America.

Over the years, interior design has undergone several changes and, in the years of 1930 and 1965, completely changed his style, abandoning all the trends of previous centuries. During this period, modern furniture appears, that have become icons of decoration.

Thus, the profession of interior designer has gained notoriety, with renowned artists who were part of the movement. A classic of the modern era is the Charles Eames office chair, which has become a symbol of comfort, refinement and sophistication.

With this, the 20th century represented the best time in the history of interior designers, who were able to plan functional spaces, modern and personalized, that is, taking into account the wishes of each resident.

What is an interior design project?

It is not uncommon for interior design to be confused with decoration. Yet, this is a misunderstanding about the area, because the designer's profession goes beyond decorating an environment, because it involves the choice of coatings, colors, finishes, among other details that are part of the project.

In addition, the interior design understand what the residents want and create functional spaces, nice and personalized. Permanence spaces are also taken into account, to promote the best use of the environment.

In this sense, the interior design correctly divides the installation of the custom kitchen furniture, for example, even the application of small objects. It is essential that the interior design takes into account the conditions of comfort and ergonomics, to dictate the best height and dimensions of the furniture.

Finally, interior design also recommends the best coatings and materials, to ensure that users enjoy an appropriate environment, functional and sophisticated.

It is possible that the design chooses buy vinyl flooring, in a cost-effective solution for the home.

What are the stages of interior design?

As we could see, the interior design project involves a number of elements and, because of that, it is not a mere decoration.

Unlike, it closely resembles architectural planning. Hence why many designers work together with architects to propose a space.

Below, check out some steps of the interior design project.

Layout settings

The project layout consists of the position and organization of the elements, including furniture, decorative items, in addition to other fixed or mobile items within the environment.

This is one of the most important steps, because it will ensure proper distribution in the space, to better organize the flow on the spot.

The layout is defined for each and every space, so much so that it is the initial stage of residential landscape design. You mean that, even for outdoor environments, such as gardens and leisure areas, it is essential to hierarchize the elements, to ensure the best space organization.

The layout must also take into account accessibility standards, fire escape routes and minimum dimensions for rooms, especially for commercial establishments and places with high traffic of people.

Furniture

The furniture includes the fixed furniture and furniture, being one of the elements that most influences interior design. Therefore, the designer must recommend the right choices, so that the organization of the space remains functional, without losing the refinement.

In smaller environments, like apartments, attention to the choice of each piece of furniture is paramount, since you need to think about custom-made furniture, to make the most of every square centimeter.

Practicality, comfort and ergonomics

The interior designer also takes into account every detail to propose a practical environment, comfortable and ergonomic.

For example, on apartment balconies, many professionals can recommend the balcony closure with glass, a solution that guarantees the use of natural lighting, while protecting the place from the weather, offering better use of the area.

It is worth saying that comfort goes beyond aesthetics, involving details that improve the quality of life of residents, as accessibility, application of technologies, or varied practicalities.

Planning the right colors is also something that influences comfort. The use of a 3D coating on the living room wall can awaken feelings of tranquility, relaxation and calm.

Among other aspects that influence the feeling of coziness, stand out:

• Soundproofing;
• Thermal insulation;
• Odor composition of materials;
• Ergonomic furniture projection.

By the way, the interior designer must study the dimensions and proportions of the human body, as anthropometric investigations help to plan viable solutions for the site ergonomics.

Materials and finishes

Finally, the interior designer is also responsible for choosing the materials and finishes of the place, taking into account aesthetics, function and cost.

Currently, you can find a wide variety of coatings, allowing the designer to assess durability, the quality and, even, material sustainability, opting for environmentally friendly products.

The choice of materials also takes into account the objectives of the space, the role of the environment and the behavior of site users.

Therefore, it is worth considering the level of traffic in the area, cleaning conditions, texture and colors, as well as the diffusion of light, that affects the mood of the residents.

What are the characteristics of a good interior designer?

Given the importance of the interior designer to build a comfortable environment, nice one, practical and functional, many people have been looking for outsourced service companies to do this service, or by independent professionals.

To be a good interior designer, it is essential that the individual has the facility to recreate environments without structurally modifying them, be creative, organized and develop technical drawing skills.

Nowadays, it is possible to find a wide variety of courses available for training in interior design.

But it is important that the professional keeps up to date with market trends, styles and novelty, accompanying the fashion that also influences the decoration of the properties.

Conclusion

Interior design is an expanding area in the 21st century, although the concern with the layout and decoration of spaces dates back to antiquity.

The segment is concerned with combining comfort with quality, offering custom environment designs.

Thereby, it is possible to enjoy a totally unique space, modern, sophisticated and ergonomic, providing better well-being and quality of life to residents.

This text was originally developed by the blog team Investment Guide, where you can find hundreds of informative content about different segments.