Perez, Jeysel M.

Arc 5203

A Brief History of Interior Design

The profession of interior design is just over 100 years old. In these hundred years, what began as
the art of decorating, embracing form and function, has evolved by leaps and bounds into today’s world
of highly specialized areas of interior design that require years of study and experience.

In the early 1900’s, the term “Interior Decorator” was first used in America. Most decorators at
the time had no academic credentials, but the best of them had a combination of good taste, common
senses, and natural talent to interpret and address the issues, such as scale and proportion. Elsie de
Wolfe became the first Interior Decorator to be given a design “commission.” In 1913, Elsie de Wolfe
published the first interior design book, “The House in Good Taste.” Dorothy Draper was the first
documented commercial Interior Decorator, establishing her design firm in 1923.

The term “Interior Designer” was coined in the 1930’s, by a magazine called “Interior Design and
Decoration.” That magazine was not printed between 1943 and 1952, but a competing magazine,
“Interiors,” insisted on using only the term “interior designer,” not “decorator.” At this time design
schools also recognized the work not only of designers but also of architects and engineers. “Interiors”
published more contract work than residential work. When “Interior Design and Decoration” magazine
resumed publication, it dropped the term “and Decoration” from its name.

The largest professional organization in the field at the time, AID, was founded in 1931 when a
group meeting convened at a furniture show determined to create a national professional organization.
AID changed its name from the American Institute of Decorators to the American Institute of Interior
Designers (AID) in 1936. Over the years, as the profession of interior design grew, so did the number of
organizations and associations to represent the varied professional members.

In the 1970’s both The Foundation for Interior Design Educational Research (FIDER) and National
Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) were formed to establish, maintain and govern
standards for the education and examination of interior design professionals.

It was not until 1982 that the first United States legislation supporting the fast evolving
profession of interior design was passed. That legislation was passed in Alabama.

The history of interior design continues to rapidly evolve in a world that is at once becoming
ever more global and at the same time demanding the fine-focus of specialized areas of critical
knowledge. Interior design specialties are now widely accepted as part of the norm in built
environments where the health, safety and welfare of the public are of foremost importance, including,
but not limited to, Design for Aging in Place, Universal Design, Healthcare Design, Educational &
Institutional Design, Specialty Workplace Design and more.

Time Line
1878

First semi-annual furniture market (held in Grand Rapids, Michigan).

1904

First documented use of term “interior decoration.”

First courses in interior decoration offered at the New York School of Applied and Fine Arts (Now
Parsons).

1905

Elsie de Wolfe obtains her first commission as an interior decorator, and is identified as being the first
interior decorator. In 1913 she goes on to publish the first recognized book on interior design “The House
in Good Taste”

1925

Dorothy Draper starts the “Architectural Clearing House” and is identified as the first woman interior
decorator to specialize in commercial interiors.

1931

The American Institute of Interior Decorators (AIID) is formed.

1936

AIID changes its name to the American Institute of Decorators (AID).

1957

National Society for Interior Designers (NSID) is formed as a splinter group of the New York Chapter of
the AID.

1961

AID changes its name to the American Institute of Interior Designers (still AID).

1963
National Office Furnishings Association (NOFA) creates NOFA-d (NOFA designers), a professional group
for Interior Designers who work for office furnishings dealers. Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) is
formed.

1969

Institute of Business Designers (IBD) was started from NOPA-d (name changed from NOFA-d).

1970

Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) is formed to review and accredit
undergraduate and graduate interior design programs.

1974

National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) is formed to develop and administer a national
interior design qualification exam.

1975

American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is created from the union of American Institute of Interior
Designers (AID) and National Society of Interior Designers (NSID).

1982

Alabama becomes first state with title registration legislation for Interior Design.

1992

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) becomes law, identifying accessibility standards for all public
buildings.

1994

Unification of International Business Designers (IBD), International Society of Interior Designers (ISID),
and Council of Federal Interior Designers (CFID) to form International Interior Design Association (IIDA),
with the intent to create an international association with a united mission that would represent interior
designers worldwide.

2006

Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) becomes the Council for Interior Design
Accreditation (CIDA).

Basic Interior Design Decorating Principles

Balance

In design, balance creates a feeling of equilibrium. It is all about equalizing or approximating the
visual weight of objects. Balance is created not just through shape, but through color, pattern, and
texture as well.

There are three different kinds of balance:

Symmetrical or formal: Traditional or formal spaces call for symmetrical balance where the space
is evenly split into two sides that mirror each other. For example, two chairs on either side of a coffee
table can be said to be symmetrically balanced. This kind of balance is easy to achieve as design
elements are repeated on each side. If you are not careful, this kind of balance can become monotonous
and boring.

Asymmetrical or Informal: The visual weights of lines, colors, forms, and textures are balanced
without exact duplication. It is not as ordered as symmetrical balance and can be more complex and
interesting. For instance, a sofa can be balanced by placing two chairs on the other side.

Radial balance is achieved when there is a central focal point with other elements radiating from
it or around it. An example would be a round dining table, with chairs arranged around it. There is a lot
of repetition of form, texture, and color.

Rhythm

As in music, rhythm in design is all about creating patterns of repetition and contrast to create
visual interest. You can achieve this by using the same color or shape at different intervals. Its purpose is
to move your eye around the room. For instance, you can establish a rhythm by using a color in the
pillows, picking it up in a painting, and echoing it again in a rug. These repetitions will help carry your eye
around the room.

Harmony

Harmony is created when all the elements act together to create a unified message. Just as
rhythm can create excitement, harmony creates a sense of restfulness. For instance, you can create
harmony by using just one color, even though your forms vary greatly in shape, size, and texture.

Emphasis

A room where everything gets equal importance will seem either scattered or boring. You need
an anchor. Architectural spaces often have points of interest such as a fireplace or a window with a
beautiful view. You can choose to enhance the built-in focal point by arranging furniture around it to
emphasize it. In a room that lacks such a built-in point of interest, you can create one through groupings
of furniture or using an unusual or large piece.

Proportion and Scale

Proportion is the ratio between the size of one part to another, and scale is how the size of one
object relates to another or to the space in which it is placed. For instance, a large overstuffed sectional
in a small room will be out of scale.

Some proportional relationships are more pleasing than others. The ancient Greeks came up with
the Golden Section, which sought to reduce all proportion to a simple formula: The ratio of the smaller
section to the larger section should be the same as that of the larger section to the whole. This
proportion is present in nature, and artists and architects have used it as well.