Baby Boomers are using much of their disposable incomes to upgrade their homes. This means lots of opportunities for California interior designers.

By Jessica Santina
RWM Columnist
December 05, 2006

Some call it the "empty-nester syndrome." The Baby Boomers have raised their families, built successful careers, and have begun watching their kids go off to college and launch careers of their own. Now, as they approach retirement, they have considerable amounts of disposable income, and homes that are now too big and too empty.

Recent trends indicate that this empty-nester syndrome is spreading among the 76 million Americans who are part of the Baby Boomer generation. And as a result, a large percentage of them are downshifting into smaller homes. What are they spending their considerable disposable incomes on, if not their mortgages? If they aren't buying second, or even third homes, they're upgrading their existing homes.

Golden Years, Golden State
Gopal Ahluwalia, staff vice president of research at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), told the San Diego Daily Transcript that older buyers want homes with all the "goodies" but without the maintenance. They're want creature comforts, choosing favorite vacation spots in which to settle down and retire.

This is especially true in California. With a higher percentage of older Americans than any other state, California will see its Baby Boomer population nearly double in the next decade. Retirees seeking sun, surf and recreation will start nesting in areas like San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, or even Lake Tahoe. That means now is a great time to get your interior design degree in California.

Designs on Your Future
Get started with an Associate of Applied Arts degree (AAA) in interior design. This two-year interior design degree introduces students to the basic elements of interior design, such as color theory and textiles, as well as the history of the industry and the essential features of residential and commercial design. You'll learn all aspects of design projects, as well as how to utilize the latest technology to produce your designs.

Upon completion of your AAA in interior design, you might go on to work as an interior design educator, as a sales professional in furnishings or related industries, or as a designer in the residential, healthcare, hospitality, or government sectors. While bachelor's degrees are often preferred for entry-level positions, those with AAA degrees in interior design may go on to become assistants, which not only helps qualify you for many baccalaureate programs, but it may lead you to an apprenticeship with a designer.

The increased interest in interior design from older Americans will increase demand for designers. Median annual earnings for interior designers in 2004 were $40,670. So get started on your AAA degree in interior design, and get ready to help millions of Baby Boomers call California their home sweet home.

Sources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Interior designers"
• Careers in Interior Design
• The Mid-County Post, "Where Will the Baby Boomers Live?" by Stephanie Harlan
• San Diego Daily Transcript, "Baby boomers change senior housing trends" by Jill Esterbrooks

About the Author
Jessica Santina is a freelance writer with a background in media and marketing. She also teaches first-year writing courses at the University of Nevada, Reno.