Do you walk into a room and know exactly what colors and what furniture would look good in the space? Do you know what paint color or wallpaper would brighten the room? How do you create a feeling of coziness in a family room? Being an interior designer is all about making a house a home. But, what about just starting in your room? Can you select colors, textures and accessories that will show off your personal style and enable you to take care of your room? If you know the basics, you can advance to wood finishing, principles of design, furnishing purchase decisions or using software to create your ideal house.

Beginner

• Learn more about design elements including: color, texture, shape, form, line, and space
• Learn design principles: rhythm, balance, emphasis, unity, and proportion
• Create your own design accessories
• Work with different design tools and materials
• Make plans that include comfort and safety

Intermediate

• Apply design elements and principles to room designs
• Plan and design your own room and space
• Use paint and fabric to create new looks
• Learn how to select wall coverings, flooring, and window coverings
• Identify furniture styles and learn about furniture selection

Advanced

• Draft a floor plan
• Reduce clutter and create convenient storage
• Learn proper care of items and how to extend their use
• Plan and select lighting for a room
• Learn to create personal space in shared rooms
• Understand how home choices impact the environment
• Make energy efficient choices

Applying Project Skills to Life

Enhance Your Communication Skills

• Teach a session on a painting technique
• Give a demonstration on how to make a pillow or other accessory
• Give a talk at a local library about how to de-clutter and organize

Get Involved in Citizenship and Service

• Refurbish furniture for someone in need
• Volunteer to help paint or fix up someone’s home
• Host a design class for family for friends
• Work with a nonprofit to create a functional meeting space floor plan

Learn about Leadership

• Plan a community painting day
• Teach home maintenance skills to others
• Create a video on how to make your home more energy efficient
• Design, create and market soft furnishings and accessories to sell at local craft shows

Showing What You’ve Learned

• Refurbish furniture
• Create a room accessory
• Show a room painting technique on a smaller scale
• Design a floor plan
• Make a 3-D room model
• Create a window covering
• Design a lighting plan for a house or room
• Poster on the elements of design
• Display about design principles
• Poster of tools used in interior design
• Create a plan to make your home energy efficient
• Develop a design board showing how to transform a space
• Use a model kit to build a solar home showing how the sun’s energy can be used to heat a home
• Showcase a home improvement item you created