If you have always had a keen interest in interior design and love watching home makeover programs, you might be wondering how you would go about becoming an interior designer. However, the experts at Triple Heart Design tell us there is more to interior designing than just decorating homes. In fact, the role requires you to have an in-depth knowledge about building regulations as well as how to be an effective communicator.
Table of Contents
What Attributes Should an Interior Designer Have?
If you are thinking of a career in interior design, you should have certain personality traits and interests. For example, you must have artistic ability and a creative mind as you will need to be able to use your sense of style to imagine the finished look of a room you are designing. You should have good attention to detail to ensure that the image in your head will look good in the space that you have to work with.
Interior design means knowing how to solve problems and work under pressure. For example, you will need to be able to work out the costings of the materials you are using in order to provide clients with an accurate quote. You should also be able to deal with challenges you encounter, such as delays to building projects and unavailability of products or materials you have chosen.
Being a good communicator is another important attribute. You will need the ability to communicate with your clients as well as suppliers and, at times, contractors working on the same project as you.
Training to be an Interior Designer
Before starting work as an interior designer, you will typically need a bachelor’s degree in a field such as art and design. Most interior design companies require new hires to be educated to at least this level. The course should have a focus on interior architecture or design and include classes such as drawing and composition, CAD (computer aided design), building practices and codes, color theory, principles of interior design, and interior lighting.
Depending on the state where you live and/or plan to work, you may or may not require a license. In some states, you are prohibited from working as an interior designer in commercial spaces without first passing the National Council for Interior Design examination.
In many of the states that do not require you to obtain a license, the option to become a registered or certified interior designer is available. Unless you do register, you are prohibited from referring to yourself as an interior designer. Many of those who work in the field choose to register as this can enhance their reputation as a designer and provide more job opportunities, leading in turn to better rates of pay.
Benefits of Working as an Interior Designer
Interior designers earn a competitive wage and the more experience they have, the more they can earn. In addition, when you have been working in the field for some time, you can look to set up your own company.
Another massive benefit of working as an interior designer is getting the chance to do something you love. People who work as interior designers get to express their creative side every day, bringing their passion to the fore on each project they work on.
For the most part, the hours of an interior designer can be fairly flexible, especially for those working for themselves.
Nevertheless, as with all jobs, there are some challenges you might face, particularly if you are working with a client who has completely different tastes to you. If you work for a company, you probably won’t have a choice about which projects you work on.