EMERGING TRENDS IN INTERIOR DESIGN

The direction in which Interior Design is moving at this moment is dictated by certain general societal trends. Firstly the enormous growth of population in cities is resulting in reduction in per capita space and exorbitant floor space prices. As we need to fit more and more people into less space and achieve comfort, we are into a situation where Interior Design cannot be avoided Secondly, a major part of our lives is being spent indoors in homes, schools, offices, hotels, hospitals etc. and in cars, trains, buses and planes. We step out from the enclosed space of a car and get into that of an office or a hotel. With so much of are lives going on in inside spaces, there is powerful impetus to make the indoor environment as pleasant and satisfactory as possible. Moreover in modern technological world of computers, automation and the related functional requirements have to be met to make the indoor space we occupy useful & supportive.

Current development in Interior Design is also driven by greater purchasing power. Owning a house at an early age has become an all India trend as there are several having finance agencies. Increasingly more money and energy are being spent on home décor and in other interiors, as improved design is a marketing asset.

Interior Design has therefore emerged as a distinctive discipline responsible for making the micro – environment better. It is no longer a question of adding moldings, dados, skirting, wall finishes etc as camouflage. There is far greater professionalism, which is transforming the way we look at interiors.

The aesthetic trends in interior design can be classified as

• Contemporary modern – self conscious experimentation with new materials
• Post modern – metamorphic approach to tradition
• Classical – historical approach
• Ethnic – vernacular approach

• Eclectic – a mixture of styles

Interior Design today is also subject to the tides of environmental concerns, and issues relating to barrier free environments. Virtual reality is being explored as an alternative, which can replace reality, by trying to simulate environmental circumstances without the need for material and space. New inventions such as energy – conscious window blinds, photo – sensitive lights, door handles that absorb daylight and glow at night are making the interiors technologically advanced. Thus we can look forward to a future where good design would be available to all.