Islamic style in interior design – Islamic Inspired Interiors

Writing – Architect/ Alaa Mohamed Abdel Ghani &Reviewing & Publishing – Architect/Shaima Magdy.

an introduction

The Islamic style was not limited to mosques and religious buildings only, but it extended to reach the interior design. In the past, the design of houses in the Islamic style appeared, taking into account privacy and the use of internal courtyards and other elements, but today, after the materials used have developed and turned to Diversification in interior designs, the Islamic style and modernity were combined within the space to create a new and distinctive interior design, and this is what we will talk about in this article.

See also the articles of the series of religious buildings (mosques and the foundations of their design) )

The distinctive elements of Islamic architecture

modern islamic architecture

As for our topic today, through the lens of an architect, we will shed light on the interior design in the Islamic style in a modern way so that we can apply it in our homes, and we will answer these questions:

What are the Islamic elements used in interior design?
Which colors do you prefer in the design?
How are the finishes chosen to give the effect of the Islamic style?
How are furniture shapes different?
What are the Islamic touches added to the interior design?

See also the article on the most important styles of Islamic architecture

1- Contracts

Contracts are used in interior design in several forms, and when designing them in the wall, the dimensions should be proportional to each other and proportional to the room.
• It can be used individually (large central node in the wall).
Neighboring contracts can be used together, either the same size or different nodes in the middle for distinction. The contract in the interior design gives a dimension to the space and adds beauty to it.

Use of contracts:

1- It is used to separate the spaces.
2- It is used to mark the wall by placing knots to focus on it.
3- It is used to identify the entrances.

In this design use:
Islamic contracts: Use contracts to separate spaces.
Make the two necklaces on both ends of a smaller size than the necklace in the middle to ensure the entrance at the bottom of the large necklace. •

2- columns

Columns are used either circular, polygon or rectangular, and are often covered with white and colored marble.

Use of columns:

1- As an aesthetic form inside the void by covering it with marble.
2- To separate the spaces with columns, and we can put a partition between them and the wall for separation.

In this design use:
marble columns: It was used in two circular shapes under the used contracts and it has a crown and holds the contract.
Using the rectangular shape and dividing it with white marble and a base of a different color.

3-Decorative units

It was used in various aspects in the Islamic style.
1- It was used in ceilings and walls in its many forms.
2- It was used in the furniture (Arabesque) in the back of the sofa, tables and chairs.
3- It was used in lighting units to create an aesthetic form of light.
4- It was used for doors and windows for privacy and diversity.

Large decorative unit: Can be used in the middle of the floor
Use in fabric for furniture.
Use it as a table top drawing.

Repeating decorative unit: It can be used in walls as a ceiling to separate the spaces.
Use it in the back of the sofa, chairs or tables.

geometric decorative unit وحدة : It was used in the necklace from the inside until it was confirmed in the Islamic style in the necklace with its geometric shapes.

Colored decorative unit: It was used in the wall, adding Islamic colors to the wall, giving a sense of joy and diversity in colors and geometric shapes, adding a mixture of modernity and Islamic.

4- Colors used in Islamic design

There are trends in choosing colors:
• Colors Zarqa And its degrees, and these are influenced by Moroccan Islamic architecture.

• Colors green And merging it with the colors of blue or white, where the green symbolizes that it is an Islamic color.

• Colors Structure Mixed with white and gold, which gives warmth, sophistication and luxury to the space.

• Colors the Red Which enters with brown in an overlap that adds vitality and beauty to the space and adds a bold touch.

• Colors Neutral Such as white and beige, and it is possible to graft with one of the mentioned colors.

5- Finishing used in Islamic design

1-5 walls

• mosaic : And in it, colored ceramics are used in wall cladding in various colors as we mentioned, and thus it gives a sense of Islamic architecture.
• Geometric shapes are used in mosaic, whether small geometric shapes for small spaces or large spaces in large spaces.

• Metal in the form of decorative units The walls separating the spaces (partition) use the shape of the decorative units of metal to give the Islamic character inside the space and to give privacy by separating the spaces.

• marble Covering some walls with marble to indicate wealth and luxury, influenced by mosques from the inside, and the height of the marble is often half or less than half of the wall.

• paint In the remaining parts after we have used mosaics or marbles in the wall, or even if we do not use them, the paint can be used in the appropriate colors, often white or beige.

•mosaic wall: Use colored ceramics (mosaic) in blue and green to give the Islamic style.

• decorative units It is used to separate the spaces, a partition of geometric shapes in Islam, made of metal and fixed to the ceiling.

2-5 floors

• Ceramic: The shapes of the floors in the Islamic world take distinctive geometric shapes.

1- Either the space should be defined by a ceramic frame of a different color.
2- Or that the center of the floor in the void is geometrically shaped consisting of tiles.
3- The decorated tiles should take the entire floor of the geometric shape, but in this case it is preferable not to form mosaics in the wall.

3-5 bishop

• decorative units Using the suspended ceiling from the decorative units, and LED lighting is placed behind it to give an appearance
Aesthetic .
• ceramic The use of ceramics in ceilings has been discontinued due to its danger that all of it may fall and prevent its use.

In this design use:
Ceiling of decorative units A suspended ceiling with Islamic decorative shapes was used, and behind it and next to it a house of light in yellow was used to give a sense of Islamic style and warmth.

6- Furniture forms in Islamic design

sofas:

Islamic architecture is characterized by the fact that the sofas are made of arabesques, either with geometric shapes or twisted lines that take the form of plants.
• old : It was made of wood.
• newly It is made of metal to merge modernity with Islam.
• Legs for the sofa The muqarnas element can be added to move from the sofa to the legs.

chairs:

It also takes the design of wood or metal, and the decorations can be in Arabic calligraphy or common geometric shapes
It is in the Islamic style.

pillows:

In the Islamic style, it is concerned with the cushions that are placed on the sofas and which are placed on the floor to sit on.
• It is used in Arabic sessions by laying it on the ground, communicating and talking, and creating an atmosphere of intimacy and intimacy.

Use in this design:
• Pillows for sitting: They are used to create an intimate social atmosphere by sitting on top of the cushions on the floor.
• Use cushions to support the back to make the sitting area comfortable.

the tables:

Either they are in the old Islamic style of wood and arabic, or recently the tables are used in a modern, modern form, but geometric shapes borrowed from Islamic architecture are added to them to merge modernity with Islamic to give new and unique forms.

7- Accessories that complement the Islamic design

carpet:

• Carpet is one of the important elements in Islamic architecture and takes various shapes and decorations that add beauty to the space.
• The importance of carpets for Muslims is that they are connected to it to a great extent, as they do not use shoes at home, so they are always connected to the carpet, and sometimes they use pillows to sit on the floor, so they are in contact with the carpet.
• There is a prayer rug that also takes the geometric shapes and lines used in Islamic architecture.

The red color is frequently used in the carpets used in the Islamic style, and it is one of the distinctive colors and was widely used in Andalusia.

Calligraphy :

1- It is used in several forms, some of which are used in frames on the wall.
2- It can be used in a laser cut partition in the form of Arabic calligraphy.
3- Using it in tables as a table holder takes the form of Arabic calligraphy.
4- Use in the backs of chairs of wood or metal.
5- Using it in the walls from above on ceramic or marble verses of the Qur’an.

lighting units:

• Chandeliers: they give luxury to the space and make it rich and rich, and most of them are lit with yellow lighting to give luxury and warmth.
Choosing the appropriate dimension of the void.

• Hanging lanterns: they can be made of copper and engraved with geometric shapes and suspended from the ceiling.

• Units installed on the wall: These units are installed on the wall of copper and engraved with Islamic shapes, either in Arabic calligraphy or forms of Islamic architecture or geometric shapes, and they appear when the lighting unit lights up as a reflection on the wall.

• Units placed on the ground: made of polygonal or rectangular shapes or others, and the lighting is inside and can be moved.

Frames :

• It is used in the Islamic style and contains Quranic verses.
• It can contain Arabic calligraphy in its various forms and fonts.
• The use of animal shapes in the Islamic style is prohibited.
• The frame is usually used in golden color for richness.

• Using frames from the Holy Quran in golden and brown colors with green and red.
• Using Arabic calligraphy in writing to give a sense of the Islamic style.

Do not forget to read the article of the Arab councils: Heritage with the designs of the present from here as an applied example of this article…

8- An example of an interior design in the Islamic style

1- Contracts:
• The use of contracts in the walls to give an aesthetic view of the space.
• Putting internal lighting inside the necklace that adds a quiet touch to the necklace.
• It is placed in the main wall to distinguish it.

• Columns:
• Use of poles to carry the contract.
• It has a crown and a base influenced by Islamic architecture.
• Covering the column with marble to suit the Islamic style.

• Decorative units:
• The use of decorative units inside the contract, which are made up of geometric shapes used in the Islamic style.

• Colors used:
• Combining brown and blue colors to give a beautiful blend that adds to the dynamic space.

• Finishes:
• Walls: the use of mosaics in the lower part of the wall with colored ceramics that combine blue and brown.
• Using paint in the upper half of the wall with transverse lines influenced by Islamic architecture.

• floor:
Using a difference in levels in the floor that serves as a frame to separate the sofa part from the floor.
• The use of white ceramics as a frame to define the void.
• The use of decorative ceramics in the middle to give the aesthetic shape.

• Roof :
The suspended ceiling of the decorative units behind it has been used
Putting lighting to reflect the decorative units when lighting.

Furniture shapes:
• Sofas: the use of sofas made of wood arabesques.
• Upholstered with velvet, gentlemen, to give balance to the void.
• Table: made of arabesque wood and covered with white marble.

Sources :

1 . Arabic Inspired Interiors That Will Make You Feel Majestic

2. How to design a modern Islamic interior

3 . Interior Design, Faculty of Engineering, Port Said University

5 . Standards in interior design in Islamic style الطراز

6 . Design Principles Guidelines