Where Can I Find More Information on Historic Interior Design and Decorative Arts?

Historically accurate interiors are important to the interpretation of a historic home and building. There are many avenues for finding information about historic interiors.  Looking through older publications, photographs, and archives to find examples of the way buildings were furnished in the past is a good way to start your research.  The internet is another useful tool.  Search engines can turn up pictures and renderings of interiors.

Probably some of the most useful tools for educating people about historic interiors are museums.  Decorative Arts museums exhibit historic decorative arts, and display period rooms for interpretation.  Historic house museums are generally set up to educate the public about a certain time period, and keep historically accurate collections. Also, many architects designed furnishings for their buildings.  If you are researching interiors of a certain style or architect, it would be beneficial to visit house museums built in that era or by that architect.