Do you enjoy home decorator shows? Does the idea of working in a furniture showroom excite you? Do you often find yourself thinking of the perfect paint color to match the placemats in your kitchen?

Then we’ve got the place for you!

The Interior Design Group, located at UTM is open to any student interested in interior design. “The group’s purpose is to inform students of the latest trends and the different aspects of interior design,” says Julia Rankin, a senior Family and Consumer Science major from Decaturville, Tenn., who is the group’s president.

So what exactly does the group do? For one thing, they bring in guest speakers—many of them returning students—from all over Tennessee to speak to the group and plan other activities. They attend design and home shows in places such as Nashville and Jackson and have even traveled to see historic homes. Last year, they went to New Orleans to learn about architecture and home interiors of the South. This spring, they plan to sell candles in order to raise money needed to take an educational trip to Charleston, S.C. and Savannah, Ga.

They also try to stay involved with the Martin community and are always looking out for a community service project. “We’ve collected lids for St. Jude, as well as helped Habitat for Humanity in the past,” explains Dr. Martha Herndon, the group’s adviser. They’ve also donated clothes to We-Care.

“It’s a really great group to be involved in, because it’s fun,” says Rankin. “And all students who are interested in design are more than welcome to join.”

Interested in becoming an Interior Design major? Actually, you’ll be a Family and Consumer Science major with an emphasis in Interior Design.

Other areas of study include Fashion Merchandising and Child Development.

They are also associated with a number of professional groups, one of which is ASID, the American Society of Interior Design.

Sound like something you’d be interested in? The Interior Design group contains 10 to 12 members and meets every other Tuesday from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Gooch 343.