Anyone who’s interested in home decor and interior design knows they’re both powerful industries. I remember watching hours upon hours of House Hunters, Design on a Dime and Design Star on HGTV as a child. But if you’re not as familiar with the fields, it might be surprising to know that the global home decor market was worth $616 billion in 2019, and the interior design market was worth over $150 billion in 2020. However, by 2027, home decor is expected to be worth a staggering $838 billion, and interior design is projected to be worth $255 billion.

People are always looking for ways to update their homes, and thankfully there’s no shortage of interior designers available to help. As of 2020, there were nearly 43,000 interior designers spread across the United States, including over 8,000 in California and over 4,000 in both Florida and Texas.

The majority of interior designers in the US are women, with men making up only about one quarter of the field, but as with most industries, there is a small wage gap between genders. Male interior designers make an average of about $52,000 a year, while their female counterparts earn about $1,000 less annually. But when it comes to people decorating their own homes, men and women both like to be involved. One study by Graham & Brown found that 85% of British men play an active role in decorating their homes, and 47% of them even believe they have a “better eye for style” than their partners. Men might be becoming increasingly involved in interior design over time though, as 87% of men polled by Graham & Brown revealed they believe they’re more interested in home furnishing than their fathers were.

We reached out to Feng Shui master and creator of the blog Tao of Dana, Dana Claudat, to hear a little bit about the benefits of focusing on Feng Shui when decorating your home. "The benefits of Feng Shui are vast and multi-faceted. My first aim is always to help people to feel more 'at home' in their home, connecting to the power of home as a sanctuary. Feng Shui can unlock creativity, can help people to access higher levels of focus and intention and it can de-stress life, creating more harmony," Dana told Bored Panda. 

"Clients have transformed their careers, expanded their personal horizons, welcomed amazing romance and life partners into their lives, made huge breakthroughs financially and organized their lives to have more time for joy and passion projects. The benefits are infinite because your home-- and all the energy around you-- is influencing you all day long whether you're conscious of it or not. As you deliberately design and tune that energy, there are no limits to the life changes you can make as you change your home."

We also asked Dana if Feng Shui can help those who just don't know where to start when it comes to interior design. "You definitely don't need to be an interior designer to use Feng Shui in your home, yet great Feng Shui tends to be fabulous interior design," Dana says. "When you're working with Feng Shui, you're helping to optimize the flow of energy in a space. You're mindful of how you want to feel in a space as you make choices to set up that space. You're connecting to your own true nature and Nature itself-- bringing lots of natural materials, plants and more positive life force to a home."

Dana also told us that she finds the most important thing for people to keep in mind when decorating their homes is to "approach everything from a place of joy and creative power". She went on to say that, "It's not a mental reasoning exercise-- it's a feeling exercise. So, if you're drawn to a hot pink, decide it will make its way into pillows, art or rugs. If you can't stop thinking about a bold wall color, dive in an experiment with one wall." Dana also recommends checking out DIY resources online, like Lone Fox, to see home makeovers explained in a simple way. "When you creatively participate in setting up your home-- doing DIY projects, painting walls, customizing things-- the empowering Feng Shui results are magnified."

Lastly, Dana wanted to add that, "Even if you can't make huge changes in your home, if you start by embracing basics-- clutter clearing, deep cleaning, organizing, and basic energy clearing like opening windows and burning incense every week -- you can make a huge shift in the energy around you. That vibrant, magnetic energy will echo through everything you do in life!"

If you're interested in more tips from Dana, be sure to check out here blog right here.

According to Architectural Digest, the woman responsible for popularizing home decor in the United States was actress Elsie de Wolfe. She became America’s first professional decorator in 1905 and went on to publish a book titled The House in Good Taste. De Wolfe gained success by designing for wealthy clients, including Henry Clay Frick, who hired her to decorate 14 rooms in his lavish home. By working for rich clients, de Wolfe was given an essentially unlimited budget to do with whatever she pleased.

One reviewer of her book on Amazon stated, “While some may complain that this woman's almost unlimited resources made good taste easy, I valued seeing what one would do if money were no object. As Elsie de Wolf said more than once, having plenty of money does not guarantee good taste. Likewise, not having money does not mean that an attractive home is out of reach. What is timeless is having a home that reflects the dwellers within, one that is simple, where each item has a purpose and is not just for decoration. Then, as now, we like homes that are neat and clean and that comfort and refresh us.”

Although individuals have the freedom to design their spaces however they see fit, interior design can also be a bit more technical. According to the experts, there are 7 key elements of design that need to be considered for a home to reach its full potential. The first element is space, which refers to “the distance between and around furniture and objects and their proportions within a room”. When designing a room, one must find the right balance of “positive” and “negative” space (or areas filled with objects/furniture and open areas). Too much furniture can make a room feel crowded or cluttered, while too little can make a space feel impersonal.

The next element to consider is lines. This includes structural features of a room as well as furnishings. Horizontal lines, like rugs and tables, make a room feel more stable, and vertical lines, like windows and doors, can be used to make a space seem taller. You can also play with diagonal lines, zigzags and curves to spice up a space.    

The next element of interior design is form. This refers to the shapes of the room and all of the objects in it, including furniture, artwork and decorative accessories. The key with forms is to find the perfect balance between natural, soft shapes and stronger, geometric shapes. After form, light comes next. Ideally, you’ll be able to utilize both natural and artificial light in any room, but sometimes, we have limited access to windows and daylight. It’s nice to have some variety though, whether that be dimmer switches or a combination of overhead lights and lamps. Color is another important element, while it can have a great impact on the mood of a space. Cool colors are more calming, while warmer colors are more energizing. Consider what a room is used for when deciding on wall and furniture colors. Be sure to throw in some pops of accent colors as well to help liven up any space.

The last two elements of interior design to consider are textures and patterns. While they’re self-explanatory, these two elements can also be easy to forget. From sofas to pillows to rugs to floors, having a variety of textures can make a space feel much cozier. Toss a fluffy blanket over a chair or add some velvet throw pillows to your couch to mix up your room a bit. Patterns can also make rooms much more lively and interesting. Pops of florals, detailed rugs and abstract artwork can bring a space to the next level. Of course it’s important to be mindful of how many patterns you use, as too much chaos can be stressful to look at, but don’t be afraid to play with them.  

If you’re passionate about home decorating and you’re interested in becoming an interior designer professionally, Architectural Digest has got you covered with everything you need to know. To become a licensed interior designer, you’re likely going to need a bachelor’s degree. This can be in any field, but you’ll definitely have an advantage if you studied at a design school or took courses covering topics like interior design, color theory, drawing and composition, interior lighting, materials and applications, sustainable building design, perspective and rendering, and building codes and standards. If you do have the opportunity to attend design school, it’s ideal to find a program that’s accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Some popular schools include The New School, Rhode Island School of Design and Pratt Institute. 

Once you’re ready to get some practical experience, it’s recommended that you find a paid internship working under professional designers while finishing school or before fully launching your career. These allow you to hone your skills by learning from experts and make connections before embarking on a solo journey as an interior designer. Carolyn Ames Noble, chair of the American Society of Interior Designers, told Architectural Digest that, “Another aspect of internships is simply learning how to navigate an office environment. Everything from how to write an articulate, efficient email to tracking your time on multiple projects is key to being successful. Firms are more likely to hire you if they know you’ve already been exposed to these areas of development prior to graduating.”

Once an aspiring interior designer feels they’ve mastered their skills, they can work towards getting their proper certification. In the US, 27 states require interior designers to be licensed, typically through passing the NCIDQ exam. After gaining the formal credentials, interior designers can focus on perfecting their portfolios and establishing their brand identities. Networking is extremely important in the field, so designers must curate their social media and websites to perfectly reflect their style. Their jobs never end though, as the industry is constantly evolving over time, designers must stay up to date with trends and keep their work from becoming stale. Though it’s a competitive field to enter, being an interior designer can be an incredibly rewarding job for those passionate about design, decorating and enhancing others’ spaces. 

While not everyone can become an interior design expert, it's great that communities like the Home Decorating subreddit exist for those us who just want to freshen up our homes in simple ways. Who knew how far a little wallpaper or a fresh coat of paint could go? Enjoy the rest of these photos of beautiful and creative interior design, and be sure to upvote the spaces you're most inspired by. Then let us know in the comments if you have any tips for home decorating!