interiordesign

Interior design is the practice of shaping interior spaces to support the activities of occupants, integrating architecture, materials, furnishings, and decor. It covers residential, commercial, institutional, and hospitality settings and considers function, safety, accessibility, and sustainability.

Central elements include space planning, circulation, scale and proportion, color, materials and textures, lighting (ambient, task, and accent), acoustics, and furnishings. Design principles such as balance, rhythm, contrast, emphasis, and harmony guide decisions. Sustainable and health-oriented design increasingly informs material choices, energy performance, and indoor air quality.

The design process typically begins with an organizing brief, followed by schematic design, design development, construction documents, procurement, and installation. Collaboration with architects, engineers, contractors, and clients is common. Designers work within codes and standards for safety and accessibility and use tools such as computer-aided design, 3D visualization, and building information modeling.

Practice categories include residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, institutional, and retail. Education varies by region; professional accreditation or licensing may apply. Historical movements such as classical, modernist, and Bauhaus influence contemporary practice, but current interior design emphasizes user experience, sustainability, and adaptability.