Learn to identify your decorating style and how to apply the principles of design when decorating spaces within the home. Interested in designing your own space to reflect your style? Does creating a new color scheme, selecting new room accessories, or installing new floor or window covers sound like fun? Learn this and more in the Interior Design project!

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Exploring 4-H

Exploring 4-H Interior Design Spark Activity: Textured Hoop

 Have you ever thought about trying out some interior designing in your bedroom? There are several principles and elements of design to consider!

SHAPE/FORM: A shape is made by connecting lines; forms are three-dimensional. There are three basic types of forms - Rectilinear Forms, Angular Forms, and Curved Forms. TEXTURE: Texture is the surface quality of objects and can be both seen (visual) and felt (tactile) as used in interior design; texture can be rough or smooth. COLOR: Color is essential to interior design. Not only does it influence emotions, it is also the quickest way to instantly change a room. LINE: Line is an element that is used to define shape, contours, outlines, mass, and volume. Lines can be thick, thin, tapering, uneven, long, short, continuous, or broken. This activity is for you to use your imagination and use the principles and elements of design to create a unique decoration for your bedroom. First, gather up your materials of various textures, colors, and patterns of fabric, trims, lace, yarns, ribbon – anything that you have or can get!

  1. You will need a wooden embroidery hoop and a piece of fabric big enough to secure in the hoop.
  2. Using the textile materials you have found you can start to create your own piece of art.
  3. Attach the textiles to the background fabric by sewing, gluing, fusible web, or a combination of these.
  4. When you are finished, put the fabric into the hoop and pull so it is tight. Glue to the back of the hoop and trim. The back of the hoop can be finished by cutting a piece of heavy cardstock, cardboard, or felt a bit smaller than the hoop and gluing it into place.


Now you can plan the best space in your bedroom to hang it!

4-H Project Levels and Goals
Beginner
  • Learn design elements -color, texture, shape, form, line, space 
  • Work with different design tools and materials 
  • Plan and design your own space 
  • Plan a design budget for your space 
  • Practice choosing wall treatments, window coverings, and floor coverings
     
Intermediate
  • Learn to select wall coverings, flooring, and window coverings Identify furniture styles and learn about furniture selection
  • Plan your space using your needs, wants, and timeline
  • Create design boards to visualize living space changes using design elements and principles
Advanced
  • Draft a floor plan 
  • Plan and select lighting for a room 
  • Learn to create personal space in shared rooms 
  • Understand how home choice impacts the environment 
  • Select accessories to add the finishing touch
Put Your Project Into Action

Show Your Skills

  • Exhibit at your local 4-H show / state fair
  • Share a skill learned in your project with your 4-H club by giving a talk or demonstration

Service and Leadership

  • Refurbish furniture for someone in need
  • Volunteer to help paint or fix up someone’s home
  • Volunteer to redesign and rearrange a room at your school to make the area more functional
  • Organize a community day for the free disposal of paint, refinishing materials, and solvents
  • Help at a Habitat home construction project
  • Teach home maintenance skills to others
  • Organize a project scavenger hunt to find principles of design around your community

Entrepreneurship

  • Design, create, market, and sell home accessories
  • Repurpose old furniture pieces into new items
  • Refinish or reupholster items for sale
  • Create murals for nurseries, youth organizations, or personal homes

Technology Connection

  • Augmented reality technology used to visualize possible design changes
  • Consider advantages and disadvantages of incorporating “smart home” technology
  • Learn about the LEED rating system, used to certify a building as “green”

Connecting with a Mentor

  • Visit a local paint shop, take a class if offered
  • Tour a furniture store
  • Job shadow an Interior Designer
  • University of Illinois, College of Fine & Applied Arts http://catalog.illinois.edu/schools/faa/

Events

  • 4-H workshops or SPIN club - Interior design or a related field like sewing, electricity, or woodworking
  • Tour nearby historic homes; pay close attention to how a building displays design trends of its era
  • Museum collections often include decorative home furnishing items; visit nearby museums/art galleries

Project Manuals & Exhibit Requirements

  • Design Decisions

Purchase manuals on the Shop Illinois 4-H Store. 

View exhibit requirements and scoresheets on the Illinois State Fair page.

Careers
woman in interior design showroom with samples on table
  •  Interior Designer
  • Architect
  • Theatrical Set Designer
  • Home Furnishing Designer
  • Realtor
  • Home Inspector
Start a Conversation
  • What did you learn from doing this project that you didn’t know before?
  • What did you learn about yourself by doing this project?
  • What part of this project was hardest to do?
  • What are some ways you can continue to learn new things about this project?
  • What did you learn by participating in this project that will help you in the future?
Credits

Utah State University Extension. Discover, 4-H Interior Design Clubs (For Intermediate Designers). 2016 August

University of Kentucky Extension 4-H project sheet

University of Wyoming Extension 4-H project sheet

North Dakota State University Extension 4-H project sheet

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Hot Sheet

Michigan State University Extension 4-H project sheet 

 

Resources
Principles and Element of Design - Lesson from 4-H Interior Design
Explore Guide
Kids Think Design
Teach Kids Art- Color Wheel
American Society of Interior Designers
Plinth & Cintz Interior Design
Design Decisions