The Interior Design Handbook does not claim one title as the authoritative definition of Interior Design. Instead the collection of essays and chapters in this Handbook builds upon interior designs multiplicity and the evolving nature of the discipline. This Handbook does not limit Interior Design to one definition, rather, its scope is broadened as it permeates into architecture, decoration, technology, environment, demographics and new forms of media as seen in this collection of essays. Because the field is rapidly expanding to include emerging paradigms, Interior Design is increasingly becoming more inclusive of tangent disciplines outside of Architecture and Decoration.

The handbook ise unique and the first of its kind because of the original content never yet published. Interior design and its related disciplines are subjects that are quite often perceived as being intellectually undernourished. This is a factor that has led to a paucity of publications intellectually underpinning this area of study and practice. The teaching and understanding of interiors has had to rely on architectural theory and supposition, using ideas that never really quite fit. This has created a distinct lack of philosophical ‘identity’ or distinction from architecture, and a lack of a particular relevant body of knowledge that fits the subject matter. Thus creating a lack of material and a gap in the market for this type of book. The handbook addresses these shortcomings.