Interior Design, Furnishings and Maintenance

As everyone from corporate America to the individual homeowner begins to truly appreciate the role and importance of living and working environmental design and visual appearance, this interesting, creative field will achieve the recognition it has long deserved.  Home and business owners are choosing professionals to turn their visions into reality; marketing professionals are deferring to interior and environmentally sensitive designers to tell them what works.  Home and office design will continue to gain in importance, and will be revolutionized by the increased use of technology, bold color, and historic classicism balanced by trends and fashion.

Students pursuing the Interior Design, Furnishings, and Maintenance career path program study:

• principles and elements of interior design
• selection and care of textiles and furnishings
• space planning and interior systems
• computer-assisted design
• merchandise analysis
• the relationship between exterior and interior design

Students also learn employment and management skills for careers in residential and commercial interior design; furnishings; and maintenance.  Occupation-specific curriculum includes principles and elements of design; window, wall and floor fabrication and installation; furniture construction; marketing and merchandising; the history of furniture design; space planning and drafting; kitchen and bath design; commercial design; care and maintenance; repairs; and making environments energy efficient.

Careers in Interior  Design, Furnishings, and Maintenance will increase as the economy rebounds and more people realize the importance of living and work environment design.  Hottest trends include "universal design," home and office design that is accessible by both the disabled and the nondisabled; home interior design artists, with faster than average projected job growth; industrial design professionals who create furnishings and products as well as workspace; and color consultants.