Why Interior Design is an Art Form

Every homeowner with a pile of paint samples and a home goods catalog fancies themselves an interior designer. Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t, but the widespread amateurism of DIY interior design doesn’t detract from the fact that what they’re doing – in theory – is no different from the work of painters, sculptors, and other artists.

In short, interior design – particularly when it’s done by a skilled professional – is an art form. Here are five reasons why:

It makes us stop and look

When done right, interior design is a breathtaking visual. Look no further than HFZ Capital’s Instagram account which showcases the Manhattan real estate company’s various property developments inside and out. True, these images are the product of good photography as much as they document good design, but there’s no denying the aesthetic brilliance of interior design when it’s done right.

If you stop to admire the beauty of a marvelously designed interior space, you’re no different from someone who stops to appreciate a painting in a gallery or a statue in a piazza. There’s something special about what you’re looking at and – for the moment at least – you can’t bear to look away. It makes you feel a certain way, and the experience is one you won’t soon forget.

It incites an emotional response

Fine art has a way of inciting strong emotional reactions in onlookers. It could be a sense of loss, a sense of pride, a sense of wonder, or one of the many other potential responses, but it’s strong enough to leave its mark on our soul in some way. Expertly crafted interior design does the same thing.

Pierre Yovanovitch, the designer responsible for beautiful Penthouse living spaces at The XI developed by HFZ Capital, believes great interior design generates a sense of joy that otherwise remains elusive. An aesthetically balanced living space, he argues, invariably makes us happier than we’d be in a bachelor pad. The emotionally-charged intent of one of the world’s most renowned interior designers highlights yet another similarity between interior design and traditional forms of fine art.

It combines form with function

Nothing about the functionality of a space requires it to look pleasing to the eye. Look no further than the typical bachelor pad; the furniture never matches, the walls are usually bare, and the focal point is a cluster of electronics and cables surrounding a television. It’s not pretty, but the proverbial bachelor is perfectly content. The same goes for any space where function takes precedent, such as a distribution center or a lumber yard. Nobody there cares about the paint on the wall, and why should they?

Putting together top-notch interior design means bridging the gap between form and function. Interior designers find ways to ensure a space serves its purpose while simultaneously achieving a distinct visual aesthetic. Every vibrant color every eye-catching fixture, and every piece of furniture was carefully selected to work in unison. Simply put, interior design is a skill set that calls for a comprehensive understanding of many artistic disciplines.

Interior design deserves to be considered an art form equal to paintings, sculptures, and other traditional forms of art. It plays by the same set of unwritten rules with some real ones thrown on top. What’s more, people have to make use of the final product in their day-to-day lives. It’s a tall order that demands creativity, ingenuity, and the willingness to think outside the box. If that’s not art, what is?

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Press release and photographs courtesy of the gallery and the artists. If you would like to submit your photo story or article, please email INFO@ARTEFUSE.COM.

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