Family and Consumer Science Research Guide for Interior Design

This guide is the starting point for identifying, locating, using, and evaluating  materials relating to Family and Consumer Science program for Interior Design  in the Carmichael Library and on Internet.  If you need additional assistance, please Ask a Librarian.

Finding Library Materials     
Library Catalog
The Library Catalog is often the best place to begin research. Search by author, title, subject, keyword, or a variety of other specialized searches.

Interior Design is not the preferred heading when searching the Library Catalog; the heading is Interior Decoration. Several examples of standard subject headings appropriate for use in the Main catalog for Interior Design are listed below:

• Interior decoration -- England -- History -- 19th Century 

• Interior decoration -- France

• Interior decoration, French

• Interior decoration, U.S.

• Interior decoration in art

• House furnishings

• Lighting, Architectural and decorative

• Upholstery

To obtain an authoritative list of subject headings check the Library of Congress Subject Headings, near the Ask Here desk.

Back to TOP

Call Numbers
Carmichael Library uses the Library of Congress system to organize its materials.  Interior decoration materials, and other related subjects, can be found in these call number ranges:

Read a call number line by line:

NA     Read in alphabetical order

2840  Read as a whole number

.M36  Read the letter alphabetically and the number as a decimal: .M3 is after .M29 and before .M36

1998  Read in chronological order

Back to TOP

Reference Materials
Reference materials include dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and indexes.  They are good starting points in the research process.

Several examples of Interior Design reference materials available for use in the Carmichael Library include the following:

• Harmon, Sharon Koomen and Katherine E. Kennon. (2005). The codes guidebook for interiors. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. (Circ KF5701 .H37 2005)

• Maliszewski-Pickart, Margaret. (1998). Architecture and Ornament: an illustrated dictionary. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. (Ref NA2840 .M36 1998.

• Boger, Louise Ade. (1967). Dictionary of Antiques and the Decorative Arts. New York: Scribner. (Ref NK30 .B57 1967).

• Banham, Joanna. (1997). Encyclopedia of interior design. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn. (Ref NK1165 .E48 1997 in 2 volumes).

• Pegler, Martin M. (1983). Dictionary of Interior Design. New York: Fairchild. (Ref NK1165 .P4 1983). 

• Pile, John F. (1990). Dictionary of 20th Century Design. New York: Facts on File. (Ref NK1390 .P53 1990)

• Sparke, Penny. (1998). A Century of design: design pioneers of the 20th Century.  Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series. (Ref NK1390 .S62 1998.

• Lewis, Susan. (1998). Interior design sourcebook: a guide to resources on history and practice of interior design. Detroit, Michigan: Omnigraphics. (Ref (NK1705 .L48 1998).

• Blakemore, Robbie G. (1997). History of interior design and furniture: from ancient Egypt to nineteenth-century Europe. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. (Circ NK1710 .B57 1997).

• Niesewand, Nonie. (1988). The Encyclopedia of Interior Design and Decoration. Secaucus, N.J. : Wellfleet Press. (Circ NK2115 .N5).

• Morley, John. (1999). The History of furniture: twenty-five centuries of style and design in the western tradition. Boston:  Little Brown & Company. (Ref NK2270 .M64 1999).

Be sure to check the Reference databases for electronic reference materials.

Back to TOP

Print Indexes
Indexes are used to identify published articles in specific journals.  Most of the indexes in the Carmichael Library are electronic and are available from the Databases page.  However, in some instances only print indexes are available:

• Art Index (1935-1993) Index N35 .A7

Back to TOP

Journals and Periodicals
Journals and periodicals are published at regular intervals in print and electronically.

Print Interior Design periodicals available in the Carmichael Library include the following:

• Architectural Digest

• Architecture (Washington, D.C.)

• Elle Decor

• House Beautiful

• Interior Design

• Interiors & Sources

• Journal of Interior Design  

• Stores

• World of Interiors

The following searches may also be helpful in finding electronic journals in the catalog:

• Interior design - Periodicals (Subject alphabetical search)
• interior design periodicals (General keyword search)

Back to TOP

Electronic Resources
Databases

Electronic access to journal articles is available from the Databases page.  Most databases can be searched using author, title or subject in either basic or advanced search formats. The results of a search will include either a citation, a citation and abstract, or a citation, abstract and full text of the article depending on the database searched.

Listed below are databases you could use to locate information about Interior Design  You can access these, and other databases, from the Databases by name page or the Databases by subject page.

• Art Index  Full Text 

• Academic Search Premier  Full Text 

• Expanded Academic ASAP Full Text 

• Humanities Index Full Text 

• OmniFile Full Text Mega  Full Text 

• Readers Guide Full Text Full Text

Additional information about specific databases is available at each database site. 

Back to TOP

Internet Links

Several recognized Interior Design sites are listed below:

• ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities

• Artifact

• Artist's Toolkit

• Carpet and Rug Institute

• Color, Contrast and Dimension

• Color Matters-Color Theory

• FabricLink

• FM4: Furniture: Meubles: Mobili: Muebles: Mobel

• Great Buildings Collection

• Housing from HDFS: Aging and Disabled

• See my Design

• Sheffield Feng Shui Web Center

• Wallpaper Council

Back to TOP

Additional Resources
Associations
Associations provide a forum for the exchange of ideas within a profession. 

Listed below are the names of a few Interior Design associations.

• American Society of Interior Designers

• Interior Design Educators Council

• International Interior Design Association

• National Council for Interior Design Qualification

• Interior Design Trade Associations  

Back to TOP

Additional Research Guides
Additional Research Guides worth reviewing include the following:

• Design A Room

• Internet Design Center (for architects and interior designers)

Other Libraries

• Steenbock Memorial Library Research Guide: Interior Design

• SDSU Briggs Library, Guide to Interior Design Research

• Art Libraries Society of North America

• High Point University Smith Library, Interior Design

• Newbury College Library Interior Design Research

Back to TOP

Compiled by Pauline Williams, 10-05