Interior Design is a popular career choice for many people. Many of these people enroll in a design school or program within a university in order to prepare for these careers in interior design.

FIDER, the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research, is the national accrediting board for interior design programs in colleges and universities in North America. There are more than 130 member schools that have been accredited by FIDER since its inception. For an aspiring interior designer, FIDER accredited listings are a perfect reference for help in your decision about schools to which you are interested in applying. FIDER sets the standards that the design schools held accountable to, and insures instruction at the accredited schools maintain their classes according to these standards.

Today's cable programming is filled with shows that teach viewers how to revamp, redesign and remodel their home and work spaces. Popular TV shows like Trading Spaces, Design on a Dime and Flip That House have turned many regular viewers into aspiring interior designers. These entertaining and inspiring shows have made a name in many households, bringing out a creative flare in people who never knew they had one.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Interior Designer employment is expected to grow 19% between 2006 and 2016. This estimate is faster than the average expected for all occupations during that same time period. Job opportunities in both established design firms and for self employed interior designers should grow. The BLS states that "post-secondary education, especially a bachelor's degree, is recommended for entry-level positions in interior design." Many people who are interested in interior design may not realize that there are schools that provide online interior design degrees that fit the needs of busy, working adults.

People who enjoy watching home improvement shows on television often imagine what it would be like to have a career in interior design. They may enjoy home design and redecorate their homes regularly. Surely it couldn't be that hard to break into that arena, could it?

Actually, it is quite a competitive field. There are more than 130 North American programs that teach interior design. These are programs accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Eduction, the governing body that sets the standards for interior design curricula. There are probably many more programs that don't have that accreditation, but you would do well to go to an accredited school. Many of the best programs offer valuable internships or co-operative education opportunities to help you get a job right out of school. The cost of these programs varies, but as with most higher education, financial aid may be available.

For anyone who would like to become an interior designer, there are many interior design programs you can enroll in from the comfort of your own home. Home study interior design programs can develop the natural talent and creativity for anyone with the inner drive to become an interior designer. These programs provide several levels of certification, which include interior design certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor degrees.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics state that people completing an interior design program need to have the following core subjects in any home study interior design program:

Interior designing is a broadly misunderstood career. Individuals get the romantic idea that this profession is all about selecting colours, working with posh beautiful fabrics, and being artistic. However, that is not true. Being interior designers is about organizing the details, making the sale, and being certain that everything is in order for the client's installation on a particular due date. It is about negotiating with the installer, paying the manufacturers for furniture, keeping precise billing lists, making sure you have met the codes for the local municipalities, being certain the wall paper hanger is inside the space when he has to be, getting more fabric which you ran out of, and making it all appear stress free and effortless.