Today we continue Stagetecture’s feature ‘Olioboard Inspiration‘. Last time you enjoyed – ‘Summer Backyard Wedding Inspiration ‘ from Natalie Hawkes and this week we start getting ready for college back to school! Madeline Jones is a member of the Facebook Olioboard Fan Room and I asked her to help you and your college students get ready for dorm room life. Her board and ideas give easy dorm room organization ideas for a great school year.

If you’re interested in being featured see details here: How to be featured on Stagetecture’s Olioboard Inspiration‘ series.

Graduation is a time for celebration, remembering the old and bringing in the new. Getting ready for freshman year in college is the next step.  Transitioning to a new life includes planning for staying in unusually small quarters. Living in a 10 by 10 foot dorm room with a stranger can be a challenge. Necessities like textbooks, a book bag and a planner are the obvious things that are required. However, since space is at a premium, consideration must be given to consolidating while still having character and charm. A dorm room needs to be a study hall and still be a place in which to relax and enjoy.

Select a color palette you love:

First, select a color palette. These colors can be found in the bedding, towels, lamps and a small area rug.  If possible, contact the potential roommate in advance to share in the purchasing of shared items such as poufs, a telephone, area rug, and refrigerator.  This will save money and prevent doubling up on items.

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Choosing smart storage solutions

By using smart storage ideas like a trunk for keeping clothes, or under the bed bins for storing bath towels, and hanging shelves for shoes, space can be maximized. Folding chairs and poufs allow for moveable seating for when friends visit. Foldable ironing boards and refrigerators that tuck away under the desk or in the closet preserve valuable real estate. Containers and hanging shelving provide ample and tidy storage.  A shower caddy is convenient, and laundry bags instead of baskets save space. Also, consider comfort by creating a space that reduces stress and looks cool at the same time. Who doesn’t want a cool dorm room?

Personalize your dorm room

If the dorm room is comfy and looks fun it will allow for relaxation and entertaining. There are lamps that act as iPod or cell phone chargers, do double duty and look cool at the same time.  Add some fun touches like interesting posters or clothesline photo frames. Corkboard can be used to hang pictures of family and friends back home and a white board can be mounted on the outside of the dorm door for messages.

Colorful, small speakers can be used to play music but headphones are a must, especially when studying is taking place while others are asleep.  Some companies make removable wallpaper and decals, which are super unique and won’t damage the walls.  A set of twinkle lights or neon telephone and lava lamp offer interesting ambiance and a little light at the same time.  Have fun with the space and make it your own.  After all, it is the new home sweet home, at least for a few years.

When you watch home makeover programs on HGTV you might mistakenly develop the impression that anyone can be an interior designer. And when a multi-week renovation is presented in a half-hour segment, it’s easy to see how the expertise and experience of designers can be lost in translation. But the truth is that becoming an interior designer takes more than just a flair for decorating and placing the furniture in various configurations. Without the right knowledge and skills on your side, no interior design firm will hire you, no matter how innovative your ideas. Luckily, there are plenty of options for schooling if you want to earn an interior design degree, and here are just a few benefits you’ll gain along the way.

Image via: Carolina Design Associates, LLC

1. Elements of design.

There are technical, artistic, theoretical, and historical aspects to the field of interior design, and the more you’re exposed to and the more you understand, the better chance you have of succeeding in your chosen career. If you’re smart, you’ll take in all you can during your time in school, but the path to a degree will at least instill in you the essential elements of design that are at the root of your trade.

2. Technical skills.

Having a creative instinct and the knowledge to put it to good use is only half the battle when it comes to interior design. You must also incorporate the technical skills that will help you to advance within the modern design industry, including both hardware and software engineered to turn your vision for a space into schematics, floor plans, and 3D images. Undertaking a degree program will give you access to training for AutoCAD (the most essential computer software used in the design industry), as well as the latest and greatest technologies available to professional interior designers.

3. Legal knowledge.

As an interior designer, part of your job will be to remodel interior spaces, including adding and removing walls, moving plumbing and electricity, and so on. So you need to be aware of building codes, permits, and other legal aspects of construction that must be adhered to. In addition, you may be responsible for crews of workers, meaning that liability is a potential issue. The point is that you might not have the knowledge you need to operate within the scope of the law if you don’t take the appropriate coursework provided by a degree program.

Image via: Bagnato Architects

4. Certifications.

Not all states require interior designers to be certified or licensed in order to work, but it’s in your best interest to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam anyway since it proves the highest level of knowledge and preparedness for your field. Of course, you will have to provide a college transcript to take it, but all states that mandate licensure for practice require you to pass this test. And it will almost certainly help you to get hired.

5. Clout.

By attending an interior design program and earning a degree, you’re not only gaining the background information and skills needed to practice your craft, but you’re also proving to potential employers or clients that you’re prepared. Over time you’ll gain experience and make your own mark on the industry (building a portfolio along the way), but when you’re just starting you need the proper credentials if you want to be considered for hire. You wouldn’t necessarily expect to nab an executive position without first looking into real-world or online MBA degrees (or commensurate experience), and neither should you attempt to enter the field of interior design without the appropriate credentials to recommend you.

For more interior makeover ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Working from home is a great option for moms who want to juggle their careers and family lives without sacrificing either one, and teachers have some particularly promising options for at-home jobs. While you may have become accustomed to the old fashioned classroom setting with desks and chalk boards, a surprisingly large amount of education is moving into the virtual realm today. High speed internet connections and free video chatting programs have made it easier than ever before for teachers to take their work onto the web. If you’re a work at home mom looking for online teaching jobs, consider some of these options.

Image via: Paragon Kitchens

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-Tutoring

Qualified tutors are always in high demand, and online tutoring is becoming an increasingly attractive option for students, parents, and teachers everywhere. Learning styles vary significantly from child to child, and many parents have difficulty finding tutors who work well with their children. Online tutoring breaks down geographical boundaries so that you can work with students from all over the country, or even overseas. Popular companies like Tutor Vista and Growing Stars are always in need of qualified workers, so consider this as an option.

-ESL and Foreign Language Instruction

Whether you specialize in a foreign tongue or have a natural aptitude for teaching English to second language learners, there is a wealth of opportunity in the world of language education for work at home moms like you. Companies like Auralog and GoFluent specialize in helping people from all over the world and you can be a part of this by offering your services as an instructor. Long distance language instruction was often done over the phone in the past, but video chatting is quickly becoming the preferred mode of communication.

-Test Prep

Standardized tests are the most common mode of measuring students’ abilities today. Tests like the SAT and ACT are crucial factors in deciding things like college admissions for students everywhere, and there is a great market for helping students to prepare for these tests. You could work with an established company, doing anything from designing test prep courses and literature, to grading and analyzing practice exams.

Image via: Rick Lew

-Online College Faculty

If the growing popularity of online programs like the MBA track at mba.Norwich.edu are any indication, online college education will continue to expand in the next few years. As online schooling becomes increasingly popular, schools need qualified educators to staff their virtual classrooms. Whether you design and run courses for the school’s online platform or work in administrative and advising positions, the world of online college education is always promising. Work at home moms can find great opportunities in this growing field.

Transitioning from a day job in education to an online position may not be easy, but many working moms find it a great solution to the problem of juggling work and home lives. Opportunities for educators on the web are vast and varied. Consider these ideas a springboard for your career as an online educator. Make the most of your career in the exciting world of online education by getting started in these promising industries.

For more career ideas on Stagetecture, click here.