Interior Design Certification Day (Interior Kentei no Hi)

What Is Interior Certification Day?

January 10th is "Interior Kentei no Hi" (Interior Certification Day) in Japan. It was established by the Japan Interior Research Institute (Nihon Interior Sogo Kenkyujo) of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, which runs the Interior Certification exam. The date comes from a pun reading 1 and 10 as "in-te(n)," as in "interior," and it was set as the day to announce the certification exam. Campaigns on interiors for the whole home are also held in cooperation with the interior industry.

The Word "Interior"

"Interior" means "inside" in English, and in Japanese it refers to interior decoration and furniture and the indoor spaces they create. By contrast, decoration outside a building, such as gates, fences and gardens, is called "exterior."

• Elements of an interior: Furniture, lighting, curtains, flooring and wall materials, rugs, accessories -- everything that makes up a room is part of its interior.
• A broad field of study: Interior knowledge covers color, materials, furniture dimensions, types of lighting and storage planning, involving both design and livability.

Qualifications in the Interior Field

The interior field has a variety of certifications and qualifications from different organizations, including "interior coordinator" (administered by the Interior Industry Association), for professionals who advise on homes and propose products and coordination. Some people study not only for work but also to improve their own rooms.

Fun Facts About Interiors

• Focal point: The spot your eye goes to first when you enter a room is called the "focal point." Creating one deliberately with a painting, a plant or a light fixture is said to help pull a space together.
• Mirrors for a sense of space: A mirror on the wall creates an illusion of depth and is a common trick for making a room look larger and brighter.
• Chairs designed by architects: Many classic chairs were designed by architects, such as Mies van der Rohe's "Barcelona Chair" and Le Corbusier's "LC" series.
• Color temperature: The color of light is measured in kelvins (K); the lower the number, the warmer and more orange the light, and the higher, the more bluish-white.

Ways to Spend Interior Certification Day

• Collect photos of rooms you like from interior magazines or social media, and list ideas you could bring into your own room
• Try a simple makeover, such as changing cushion covers or moving artwork
• Change the color or brightness of your lighting and see how the mood of the room changes
• Tidy up your desk at work and think about a more convenient layout

Even small changes to the room you spend time in every day can change how you feel. On January 10th, why not take a fresh look at your surroundings with an "interior" eye?