Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
4 years
Credit Hours:
120
Make yourself more marketable by exploring your options in the fashion category of furnishings and décor where creativity and commerce converge to impact a global marketspace.
The Furnishings & Décor program concentration in the Merchandising & Digital Retailing Department at UNT is one of the few programs nationwide focusing specifically on companies and careers in this innovative industry. Creativity and commerce converge as professionals constantly transform ideas into products and services that help shape and define home environments, hotel and restaurant spaces, and more. In this program, students will be involved in designing and developing, sourcing, manufacturing, and merchandising within the broad categories of furnishings and related fields used by architects and interior designers. Students who complete our courses are introduced to topics related to decorative accessories, drawing and planning, computer-aided design, consumer behavior, buying, sourcing, aesthetics, furniture products and processes, fabrics and textiles, furniture selection and arrangement, and trends in interiors and furnishings. Marketable skills Include competencies in creative problem solving, written and oral communication, trend analysis, consumer behavior, and more that transcend industries and make graduates of this program competitive in this dynamic field.
RequirementsAdditional RequirementsTuition & AidHow to apply

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Why Earn a Furnishings and Decor Merchandising Degree?

Think of all the furnishings and décor objects people depend on in homes, at work, and in hotels and restaurants. Every piece of furniture, upholstery, fabrics, wall coverings, decorative accessories, tabletop items, flooring, wall treatments, rugs, lighting, lamps, window treatments, cabinetry, countertops that is selected and placed in environments to enjoy and use begins life in the furnishings and décor industry. So where do these objects originate? Who creates them? We are the industry that “designs the products that designers choose and use,” and we are involved in every aspect of the life of those products.

These fashionable and functional objects are constantly changing, and innovations are continuously happening. Product development and design, trends and forecasting, manufacturing, merchandising, visual display, and buying and selling are the core of this multi-billion dollar industry.

We are ideally located at UNT because the North Texas region is home to the Dallas Market Center and many companies that design and produce furnishings and decorative accessories in the U.S. and abroad. The increasing global demand for home furnishings products means great career opportunities for our graduates.

Marketable Skills
  • Quantitative analysis of merchandising strategies
  • Oral and written communication
  • Analyze target consumer behavior
  • Teamwork
  • Apply fashion product knowledge

Furnishings and Décor Merchandising Degree Highlights

Our dynamic program emphasizes product development, merchandising, and residential aesthetics and it is a program uniquely different from, but related to interior design.
Courses in products and processes, decorative accessories, drawing and planning, consumer behavior, buying, sourcing, aesthetics, furniture industry, textiles and historic architecture, interiors and furniture help develop marketable skills that transcend industries.
Competencies in creative problem solving, written, verbal, and visual communication, trend analysis, consumer behavior, and flexibility make graduates of the merchandising program competitive in this fashion-based field.
We provide many professional development events for students featuring industry executives, field trips, and career fairs.
We offer learning experiences beyond the classroom in areas including New York City, Europe, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. These study tours allow you to earn credit hours while experiencing international exposure to the industry.
As a furnishings and decor merchandiser, graduates may be involved in creating, developing, sourcing, manufacturing and merchandising products within the broad categories of furnishings, furniture, and decorative accessories.

What Can You do With a Furnishings and Decor Merchandising Degree?

Graduates can pursue careers such as:
  • Product development and design of furnishings and décor products
  • Home accent and decorative accessory companies
  • Home builders and home centers
  • Digital retailing and e-commerce related to furnishings and décor products
  • Furniture retailing
  • Retail buying and planning for home décor products
  • Working with manufacturers and wholesalers of furniture and accessories
  • Showrooms and wholesale market centers
  • Visual merchandising
  • Kitchen and bath design firms
  • and many more...

Furnishings and Décor Merchandising Degree Courses You Could Take

Managing a Diverse Workforce (3 hrs)
Workforce diversity provides strength in the current global business environment. Investigates the concepts, policies and practices facing professionals in the global workplace. Effective workplace interactions result when personnel hold a global perspective that incorporates an appreciation and understanding of human diversity.
Historic and Contemporary Styles of Home Furnishings (3 hrs)
Survey of furnishings in the built environment from the 16th century to the present. Emphasis on technological, cultural and social influences on historic and contemporary styles.
Drawing and Planning for Home Furnishings (3 hrs)
Development of basic drawing and drafting skills. Emphasis on incorporating hand drafting techniques specific to the planning of cabinetry/fixture placement and home furnishings arrangements.
Effective Leadership Communication (3 hrs)
Principles of effective leadership communication will be explored as students develop, deliver, and evaluate professional presentations.
Global DiscoveryEurope (3 hrs)
Experience fashion and home furnishings industries through visits to manufacturing facilities, retail establishments, museums, historical structures, and industry support organizations in Europe, primarily in Paris and London. Pre-trip and post-trip class meetings required.
Creating Consumer Experiences (3 hrs)
Exploration of the dynamic merging of retail merchandising, hospitality, and entertainment industries to create total consumer experiences. Topics include evolution of consumption, symbolic consumption, ritual consumption, sensory consumption, consumer efficiency; entertainment, thematic, lifestyle and value experiences; branding, brand extension and strategic alliance; and global experiential retailing.

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Related Programs

Merchandising B.S.
Digital Retailing B.S.
Similar Areas of Study
Arts & Design
Business & Industry
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College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
Department of Merchandising and Digital Retailing
940-565-2536
cmht@unt.edu
Chilton Hall, Room 331