What I learned in Interior Materials

Interior Materials is a core class for any interior design major. I think it is important to know exactly what you’re working with so it makes sense to have to take this class. I feel like I learned quite a few things this semester, and I believe this class in beneficial for designers to grow.

            Fabrics have many different attributes. I think in the beginning as freshmen a lot of my peers and me didn’t understand that not all fabrics can be used is all applications. I think the learning about the different fabrics was crucial to our decision making in the future. I didn’t realize that not all fabrics are made with the same weave. I do find that interesting. I also think that knowing which weave is which can be rather important when texture comes in to play. I also didn’t know that some of the fabrics get their named from the looms in which they are made, such as jacquard. Knowing that some of the patterns cannot be achieved without the weave itself is an interesting fact to know. I also enjoyed learning about the different ways to dye fabric, or the fact that you can print patterns on it. I feel like I learned that fabrics themselves are extremely versatile, and even the more fickle ones have uses.

            I also learned that flooring can be just as diverse. Granted, I knew there were many different types of flooring I feel like I have a new outlook on it. It seems like you can use anything for flooring. I knew carpet had a pretty extensive color palette, but I feel like there are so many cool patterns and even textures that I was introduced to during the duration of this class. Not only that, but it can be made out of quite a few fibers. I learned that even leather can be used as flooring, which was something I would have never dreamed of. Wood floors are something of common knowledge, but I was unaware of the way some woods do in certain climates. Take bamboo for example. I was floored when I learned that it couldn’t thrive in a dry climate. It actually cracks and spreads apart. I thought wood was wood, and it didn’t matter what environment you put it in. I learned that tile is not as sturdy as I thought it was. It can crack if you drop too much weight on it.

            One of the most interesting things I learned about was LEED. Even though it doesn’t have much to do with materials themselves, it is a very interesting concept and something that speaks to me personally. In a way I am a minimalist, and I think that conserving the environment is a big deal. I enjoyed learning about the different things you can do to make a space LEED certified. I also am fascinated by the quality of air inside a space and outside. I found it a little disturbing that indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor air quality. Learning about LEED makes me want to make a change in myself to help my future and the future of the planet. I was also very intrigued by the green roofs that some corporations are employing to make sure that water from rain does not to go waste, and the fact that they help to insulate the building is a really cool and innovative idea. Sustainability is something that I feel everyone should practice.

            There were plenty of things I learned in Interior Materials, and again I am glad that the class is required for me as a designer. I think that these things will help me be more well rounded in the work that I do outside of college.