Find Your Interior Design School Today
Now you can get your interior design training online and take classes around your schedule.Turn your passion for home decorating into a career in interior design. A successful interior design career starts with training from a reputable interior design school. Search our school directory for interior design schools in California, New York, or even online. For more tips and advice on interior design schools and careers, check out our interior design articles.
Featured Articles - Interior Design & Decorating
Color, Material, and Education: All Tools of the Interior Decorator
by Joe Cooperjoe.cooper@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Interior Design School Review Columnist
Interior decorators often complete the link between architects and interior designers and homeowners or tenants in pursuit of a completely finished look. New trends and opportunities make it a good time to start a career in interior decorating.
Interior Decorating Trends
Veteran interior designer Susan Slotkis, author of the well respected Foundations of Interior Design, recently described to Furniture Style the movement in interior decorating trends. She explains that the U.S. has been "behind" other countries in the use of "saturated" colors. However, she remarks, "we as Americans have moved towards more comfort level with more color." For example, we are beginning to see brown color groups being used more frequently in interiors.Ms. Slotkis also notes an increase in the use of handmade decorations and accessories. This trend can be observed in the marketing and sale of many interior decorating materials these days, with terms like "hand-carved," "hand-woven," and "hand-spun" appearing commonly in retail and furniture stores.
Interior Decorating College
While many homeowners and consumers could describe similar interior decorating trends, and even give their own spaces a good amount of design, it takes a professional to offer and sell interior decorating advice and services. Many states even make it illegal to provide these services without an interior decorating license or degree.An interior decorating degree may be less common than an interior design degree, but interior decorating colleges offer certifications, licenses, and degrees to students who complete programs that are often 18-24 months in length. In these programs, students typically learn basic design concepts, and study the use of a variety of materials, furnishings, and lighting to complete interiors once the structure is in place.
New Opportunity in Interior Decorating
Some new opportunities are available in interior decorating, as real estate developers look to attract buyers and renters by completely furnishing models units. These developments feature the contemporary design and decorating of licensed professionals, and can be found in most areas around the country.Sources: About the Author
Joe Cooper writes home services and design articles and manages corporate communications. He holds a bachelor’s in American Literature from UCLA.
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Child Safety First: Kid-Proof Your Interior Design Schemes
by Kate McIntyrekate.mcIntyre@interiordesignschoolreview.com
According to an article on HGTV.com, more than 2 million people a year are injured or killed in accidents that happen in their own homes. If your interior design clients have children, one of your most important jobs as an interior designer is to make their homes as safe as possible for the smallest members of the family.
Play it Safe: Kid-Friendly Interior Design
The Home Safety Council reports that falls are the top source of injury in homes in the U.S., followed by poisonings and burns. Children are particularly susceptible because of their boundless energy and curiosity. Here are some tips for child-friendly interior decorating:- Either choose furniture designed without sharp, pointed corners or install corner protectors on problem items like coffee tables and end tables
- Look out for sharp corners on fireplace hearths, and cover them if necessary
- Make sure that all rugs have anti-slip mats underneath them to prevent them from sliding as a child runs across them
- Include an out-of-the-way lockable cabinet in your interior decorating scheme for poisonous substances such as cleaning supplies, and make sure that the home is adequately supplied with both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Rather than incorporating open flames from candles, consider using battery-powered candles instead
Maximize Your Interior Design Skills
Attending an interior design school degree program will help you to learn about ways to maximize your expertise to expand your client base. Knowing how to design for families with children is a great place to start. Interior design clients with children will greatly appreciate working with someone who can produce great designs for their home while also looking out for the safety of their family.Sources: About the Author
Kate McIntyre is a writer in Portland, Oregon. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University.
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Know Your Natural Fabrics: The Basics for Interior Designers
by Kate McIntyrekate.mcIntyre@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Picking attractive fabrics that harmonize with the rest of the interior decorating in a room is only half of the battle. Interior designers must also worry about the characteristics of the fabrics they choose, lest they make the mistake of using unlined silk for curtains or white cotton upholstery in a house with a small child who loves grape juice. This guide will help you to pick the right fabric for the job.
Silk for Elegant Interior Decorating
With its rich shine and luster, silk is one of the most beautiful fabrics available to interior designers, but it does require some special handling. Silk cannot be placed in direct sunlight or the fibers might weaken and develop “sun rot.” Be sure to line silk curtains, and you should be safe. Because silk is so pricy, it is a popular choice for throw pillows.Warm and Fuzzy Interior Decorating with Wool
Not all wool is created equally. Many people think of wool as scratchy and uncomfortable, but this quality can vary greatly based on the type of sheep and the way its fleece is processed. Merino wool, for instance, is often buttery soft--a great choice for blankets and throws. Wool also makes rich and naturally flame retardant carpeting and rugs.Cool and Crisp Interior Decorating with Cotton
Cotton is the go-to comfy and casual choice for upholstery because of its breathability. It also makes great casual curtains for less formal design schemes. New organic cotton fabrics are appealing to those interested in green interior decorating. Keep in mind, though, that it can stain easily.If you find that you enjoy choosing fabrics for rooms, you might have the talents you need to be a great interior designer. Skills such as choosing the right prints and pairing patterns, colors, and textures are valuable design skills. Taking some courses at an interior design school can help you decide if the career path is right for you.
Sources: About the Author
Kate McIntyre is a writer in Portland, Oregon. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University.
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Success with Stone in Interior Design
by Joe Cooperjoe.cooper@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Interior Design School Review Columnist
Granite or marble, limestone or travertine--stone is a popular material used in interior design. Stone can offer a variety of options for interior spaces, including countertops, fireplaces, bathtubs, and more. It can even become a green offering to clients as you build your career in design.
Between a Rock and Career Growth
As interior designer Jenny Maples will tell you, some of the hardest materials produce the best results in interior design. Many designers are using stone in their work these days, which can create a variety of very distinct looks for a variety of spaces.After beginning her interior design career over ten years ago, Ms. Maples has evolved as a designer--from leaving much of the decision-making up to her contractors to driving her own design from start to finish. Now, she uses a lot of stone fabrication in her design.
The Hard Truth about Stones in Interior Design
Stone is a durable material that offers designers solutions for a variety of design projects, from kitchens to living rooms, showers, and staircases. Fabricated stone is typically available in a wide range of styles and textures, offering a similar arsenal of looks and feels.Stone can also be a great display of the interior designer's artistic choices, showing craftsmanship and ingenuity. It can dress up any space, adding elegance as well as durability.
Add a Green Offering to Your Clients
Although "going green" as a designer can be a challenge (and sometimes more expensive), stone can be an unexpected means of doing so.Depending on where you purchase it, stone can be environmentally friendly. Some stone is produced by companies with green manufacturing processes. The production of materials like ceramics and tile can often fall into these green categories.
Recycled stone can also improve your green offerings, giving your clients that "good green feeling" along with a material that will last them a lifetime.
Sources: About the Author
Joe Cooper writes home services and design articles and manages corporate communications. He holds a bachelor’s in American Literature from UCLA.
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Contemporary Home Design Is For the People Who Live There
by Lance Filbertlance.filbert@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Strangers I meet at parties sometimes remark that my profession will probably be replaced by home design software. I usually try to spill my drink on them before giving my answer and walking away. No, there is no home design software program that will ever replace the human touch in home interior design. I don't just say that because I want to protect my career. I say it because I have had the misfortune of "rescuing" residences that were created through home design software.
People have differing home interior design needs
One of the important principles of contemporary home design is the fitting of the space and its contents to the specific needs of the people who live in the space. For example, home design software can't find ways of dealing with the special requirements of an elderly homeowner. It takes a human interior designer to make the adjustments needed in that situation. In the same way, a home design program can't adjust furniture and spaces to accommodate a resident who is extremely tall, or short, or fat. These specialized home interior designs require the sensitivity and intelligence of a real, live interior designer.The interior designer of the future will care about people
Of course, you'll learn about all these special needs when you study contemporary home design in interior design school. In the meantime, it might be fun to challenge yourself with a little game. Make a list in your notebook (What—you don't carry a design notebook with you at all times? Run out and get one right now.) Every time you enter a space, list all the types of people who would not be comfortable in that space. Is the home interior design friendly to old people? To disabled people? Could you live there in a wheelchair? What if you were blind?Now make a second list of all the ways that you would improve the space to make it usable by a wide variety of people. That little list might just become the first step towards making you an interior designer of the future.
About the Author
Lance Filbert is known for his witty and innovative design ideas. He has an extensive arts background and has an arts degree from the City University of New York. He lives in San Francisco with his partner, Bertram, and their cairn terriers, Toto and Toklas.
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