Interior Design Defined

“Oh, you’re an interior design major? Fun!”

Putting up wallpaper, fluffing throw pillows, and picking out paint colors is NOT what I go to school for four years to learn how to do.  Some people may think this is all interior designers do; however, I hope after reading this, people gain a better understanding of what people in my field actually do.  Picking out paint colors is sometimes one of the many tasks done by an interior designer, but it is also a very small part of the job.

Some of you may be getting interior design confused for interior decorating.  There is a distinct difference between the two.   An interior decorator focuses on selecting finishes, such as paint and window coverings, and furnishings.  

The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) defines interior design as the following: “a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment.  These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive.”  More information regarding interior design and the scope of services performed by professional designers can be found on the following website: http://www.ncidq.org/AboutUs/AboutInteriorDesign/DefinitionofInteriorDesign.aspx.

Ever since I was in about the seventh grade when I started telling people that I wanted to be an interior designer, their response was often what was seen in the video.  The public has been somewhat misinformed when it comes to this profession.  They are often misled by what HGTV shows us on television.  Remodeling a home in a couple days is NOT what professional interior designers do.  Because people have become misled about what interior designers do, people often think of it as a joke.  Interior designer’s primary concern is the health, safety, and welfare of the people who occupy the spaces they design.  

Interior designers also value:

            -sustainable materials

            -accessible spaces for everyone

            -aesthetically pleasing spaces

            -the clients’ needs and wants

I believe that the interior of a space can create a mood or a feeling that changes people.  Imagine you’re in a room with dark walls, hard furniture, cold floors and little to no light.  Do you feel happy?  Cheery?  Or do you feel sad and scared?  Believe it or not, the interior of a space creates a mood and depending on the interior, the mood can vary greatly.  Now, take a look at the images posted.  

 These images are images of the interior of Google’s corporate headquarters.  How do these spaces make you feel?  Energetic?  Playful?  Because of the design of Google’s interiors, it allows employees to feel young and alive while at work. 

Interior designers value:

            -sustainable materials

            -accessible spaces for everyone

            -aesthetically pleasing spaces

            -the clients’ needs and wants

            -the safety and welfare of the users

Most people who become interior designers tend to specialize in either commercial or residential design.  I am particularly interested residential design with a focus on kitchens and bathrooms.  I have always loved looking at house plans and watching Cribs on MTV (which shows some pretty cool EXPENSIVE homes), and I believe the kitchen in definitely the heart of the home.  The kitchen and the bathroom also contribute greatly to the resale value of a home.  I am only in my second year of the interior design program at NDSU, so I still have a lot to learn about the interior design field and what I can do once I am a professional.  

Designing interiors is something many people probably feel in unnecessary.  However, I disagree.  We’re not only making the space we’re designing “pretty”, but we’re making it safe for and accessible to everyone.  Why design something that only some can see?  The next time you’re in an intriguing space or a depressing space, think about what surrounds you.  Look at the layout of the space, the materials, and the space as a whole.  An interior designer most likely designed that space, and it is my goal to never create a depressing space.