You have a lot of options when you graduate from college. You can go into business for yourself, work at a design firm, or become an interior designer. But how do you know which one is the best option?
The answer will depend on your skills and interests. As an interior designer, you would be responsible for designing and decorating rooms in private homes as well as public spaces such as offices and restaurants.
You’ll also need to be able to speak with clients about their needs and desires so that they’re happy with the final product. If this sounds like something that appeals to your creative side, then it might just be the perfect career path for you! To learn more about what it takes to become an interior designer, read on.
1. What Is Interior Design?
Interior designers are responsible for designing and decorating rooms in private homes, public spaces such as offices or restaurants, and even other types of buildings, including banks, museums, and libraries.
Interior designers can work independently or for a design firm and work closely with architects and engineers to ensure their designs match the needs of the building and its occupants.
Many interior designers also furnish homes, offices, restaurants, and other public spaces with furniture, fixtures, and decorative items such as draperies, rugs, and wall art.
An interior designer, also known as an ID or architecte d’intérieur (AI), is responsible for the design and decoration of rooms in private homes, public spaces such as offices or restaurants, and even other types of buildings, including banks, museums, and libraries. Many clients come to us when they want to refurbish or redecorate their homes after moving in, when moving out, when hosting a party (wedding decorations), when looking to add value to the property (by selling it), and also for advice regarding renovations.
2. How to Become An Interior Designer?
If you want to become an interior designer, you’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree in interior design or a related field such as architecture. You can earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university offering programs in the field of interior design. There are also certificate and master’s degrees available for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in a non-related field.
However, you can also learn about interior design through an apprenticeship program offered by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). You’ll need to have a high school diploma or equivalent GED in order to participate in the program.
Once you meet these requirements, it’s time to consider what type of interior designer you want to be. There are several specializations in the field, including architectural interior designers, commercial interior designers, and residential interior designers.
There are also a number of designations or certifications that can help set you apart from your competitors in the industry. For example, the Certified Professional Interior Designer (CPD) designation is available through the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).
You can earn this designation by passing the CPD exam, which requires at least seven years of interior design experience and a bachelor’s degree in interior design or an equivalent program. You’ll also have to complete coursework through an accredited college or university covering concepts that are essential to the profession. In addition to satisfying these requirements, you’ll have to pass a background check and provide references from your employers in the interior design field.
If you don’t want to go through all of these steps, you can earn a Certified Interior Decorator (CID) designation by passing a one-day test covering topics such as color, space planning, and lighting.
There are also other optional courses you can take if you want to earn a higher degree in the field or gain more knowledge about specific areas of interior design. For example, if you want to become an architectural interior designer, you’ll typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in that discipline.
3. Standout Skills and Qualities
Since interior designers work in a variety of settings, it is essential to be able to understand and communicate with clients from all types of backgrounds.
This can include understanding their needs and providing suitable solutions.
A successful designer will also need strong creative and problem-solving skills in order to develop design concepts that satisfy those needs. This can include creating several options, selecting the most suitable one, and sequencing the entire design process.
In addition to having a strong handle on space planning and color according to their surroundings, interior designers should also have a sound understanding of fabrics and materials.
Aside from being able to work with clients in a professional manner at all times, they should also be able to understand their needs and draw on their expertise when it comes to selecting appropriate materials or solutions.
Interior designers who work in the commercial field should also have excellent communication skills. This is because they may need to give presentations on design concepts, manage budgets, and meet deadlines for completing projects.
4. Job Outlook And Salary Info
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that the American population is expected to grow by nine percent between 2012 and 2022. As a result, they expect there will be strong demand for interior designers during this time period as well. This is because residential and commercial buildings need to be equipped with updated designs in order to accommodate changing needs.
In addition to having a strong knowledge of space planning and design, the BLS says that it is important for interior designers to stay on top of any changes in technology as it relates to their field. One such example is e-commerce, where there may be a need for them to create guidelines and standards for online stores and other forms of e-commerce.
Although the BLS does not report national average salaries for interior designers, they do list the following salary ranges for some of the different areas of the field:
- Commercial and industrial – $36,000 – $75,000
- Educational and other institutions – $51,000 – $108,000
- Government agencies – $41,000 – $77,000
- Healthcare facilities – $40,000 – $72,000
- Hospitals and clinics – $33,000- $76,000
- Hotels and other places of lodging (including casinos) – $32,000-$70.000
5. What are 4 Careers Related to an Interior Design Major?
An interior design degree can lead to a variety of careers.
Some common career paths for someone with this degree include working as an interior designer, an event planner, a home stager, or a color and space consultant.
Each of these positions needs an eye for detail, creativity, and an understanding of people.
An interior design degree will provide the student with a strong foundation in color and space, art history, and furniture styles and construction. The program would give them extensive knowledge in fabrics, floor coverings, window treatments, architectural millwork, and lighting equipment. They would also learn how to manage construction projects, make client presentations and create floor plans.
Among the more common positions are home stager, interior designer, color consultant, and event planner. An interior design major would be good preparation for any of these careers.
- 1) Interior Designer
- 2) Event Planner
- 3) Home Stager
- 4) Color Consultant
They also need computer knowledge in AutoCAD, Photoshop, or Adobe Creative Suite, which are used by most companies in some form or another. The internet has opened up the job market to include positions that allow an individual to work from home utilizing their skills while still needed to meet with clients in person on occasion.
5. Interior Design Programs
There are many different Interior design programs that are available to students. Some of the most popular programs include those offered at the following schools:
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Parsons The New School for Design
- Pratt Institute
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- Kansas State University
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Auburn University, Montgomery
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Brigham Young University
- California College of Arts and Crafts
Depending on where you live or plan to move, there may be other excellent programs available in your area. The important thing is that you research any program thoroughly before signing up for it. You will want to make sure that the school is well known and respected, that you can advance in your career when you leave the program, and that you are able to afford the tuition fees associated with it.
6. Is Interior Design in Demand?
Yes, interior design is in high demand. There are many reasons for this, but perhaps the most important one is that people want to feel good in their homes. They want to be surrounded by beautiful things that make them happy and comfortable. And they want to be able to express their own unique personalities through their home décor.
A large part of interior design is about helping people achieve this. Of course, there are the basics, like designing kitchens and bathrooms so that they work well and meet people’s needs. But there is also more creative work, where you can really use your imagination to come up with fun things for people to enjoy in their homes.
If you are a creative person and you want a career in interior design, studying at a college or university is essential. There you will learn about the history of the industry, important concepts in design, and how to create plans for different types of spaces in a home. You can also find out if there are any scholarships available that help students pay for their education.
7. Is Interior Design Harder than Architecture?
Interior design and architecture are two very different disciplines. While architecture is more focused on the structural elements of a building, interior design is all about the decoration and aesthetic aspects. So which one is harder?
The answer to this question is not easy to determine. On the one hand, interior design requires a lot of creativity and artistic flair, while on the other hand, architecture must deal with complex mathematical formulas and calculations. In the end, it really depends on the individual’s skills and abilities. Some people may be better at designing interiors, while others may be better at designing structures.
In addition, if someone decides to go into architecture, he/she must deal with more than just one aspect of the building. They must focus on all aspects of the project, including the structural elements and the looks. Interior designers usually work inside a specific area or room. However, architects may work in many different places and face many different challenges.
8. Pros and Cons of Being an Interior Designer
Some of the pros of being an interior designer include:
-Creativity
-Variety of projects
-The potential for growth in the company is huge
-Career independence allows you to work on your own time and have more control over the projects you are involved with.
-Lifestyle flexibility, being an interior designer means different hours depending on the project, so it can allow you to have a flexible schedule.
-Being able to work from home can be a benefit as well as meeting new people and gaining an understanding of the industry.
Some cons of being an interior designer include:
-A steep learning curve. It takes time to learn your craft and make your designs better. This means you will probably go through a period in your career where you are just getting comfortable and beginning to understand the field and how it works.
-This line of work is not always high-paying at the beginning, but with time and practice, you can be paid well.
-There will be times when things get stressful depending on what type of assignments you take on.
-There is a lot of responsibility when you are working with clients and making designs for their homes.
-If you have a family, it might be hard to manage the time with them depending on how busy your schedule becomes. It will also add more stress if children become involved in your work; they may not understand the importance of deadlines and will want your attention.
-Sometimes, you may not be in full control of the project; when working with others, e.g., investors, owners, etc., they may have certain requests which you will need to meet.
9. Top Recruiting Companies for an Interior Designer
If you’re looking for a job as an interior designer, you’ll be happy to know that there are many great companies out there that are always on the lookout for talented and creative professionals like you. Here is a list of some of the top recruiting companies for interior designers:
- – Benjamin Moore – home decor and paint company: http://www.benjaminmoore.com
- – Design Tree Home: http://www.designtreehome.com
- – Johnson Wax – manufactures a variety of interior design supplies, such as glues, brushes, pastes, caulking compounds, and other related products: https://www.johnsonwax.com
- – United Designers: http://uniteddesignersinc.com/
- – The Designer’s Studio: http://www.thedesignerstudio.net/
- – Interior Design Jobs By Monster: http://interiordesignjobsnow.monster.com/
Conclusion
The interior designer career path is a fulfilling one that you’ll enjoy for many years. It may be challenging at times, but it can also be very gratifying when you see the final product and how happy homeowners are with their new space. If this sounds like something you want to pursue, make sure to research different schools in your area or online so that you can find what suits your needs best.
