Learn the skills and concepts you will need to become a Kitchen and Bath Designer. The page below lists schools and colleges that offer excellent programs and degrees in Kitchen and Bath Design. Study basic design, drawing, plumbing and lighting designs that will train you to be a success in the Kitchen and Bath Design Industry.

Do friends tell you that you have a good eye for colors, patterns and matching the different elements in a room? If interior decorating is your bag, then maybe all you need is an interior design degree to help get you jump started on a new career, or grow within an existing one.

Interior designers enhance not only the attractiveness of spaces in private homes, public buildings and business, they also make these and other areas more functional and safe. An interior design job might entail working with a client to better take advantage of the space in a small room, while also giving it a more modern and colorful look.

Specializing within Interior Design Jobs
There are as many different types of designers as there are interior design jobs. Some may focus their careers on residential design, while others may only have business clients. Still others may even specialize their interior decorating on particular rooms, such as the kitchen or bathroom. A successful designer needs to take into account a client’s tastes, needs, budget and be able to visualize what will work best on a particular interior decorating job. But how do you get the experience to land these interior design jobs?

Interior Design Degrees May Be the Answer
Without an interior design degree, it will be hard for you to gain the experience that most clients will require, and build your portfolio. In fact, it may be impossible in some areas of the country. That’s because interior design is the only design field subject to government regulation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the American Society of Interior Designers, 22 States and the District of Columbia register or license interior designers.

Passing the National Council for Interior Design Qualification examination is required for registration or licensure in those areas. To be eligible to even take the exam, an applicant must have at least 6 years of combined education and interior design experience. Registration or licensure is not mandatory in all states.

What Will You Learn with Your Interior Design Degree?
As an interior design degree student, you'll study a wide range of courses in traditional design – such as space planning, problem solving, and the history of design and architecture – as well as more technologically based classes – such as computer-aided drafting and design and 3D-design. Interior design degree coursework can also covers a variety of specialty design, including exhibit design, retail store design, hotel/restaurant design and corporate design. In addition, you'll learn how to present your designs to clients, and professionally communicate your ideas.

What Can You Earn with An Interior Design Degree?
According to the BLS, the average salary for interior designers was $39,180 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $29,070 and $53,060. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,240, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $69,640. There were approximately 60,000 people earning a living as interior designers in 2002.

So now that you know more about the field of interior decorating, you should review the wide range of interior design degrees and classes and see which best suits your style.

Posted on March 7, 2005 at 11:55 AM