Posted September 11th, 2019
By Kris Powers
Do you love putting together different colors and patterns? Deciding how to rearrange a room? Did you know that you could make a living and career out of these very things?
What do Interior Designers do?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a list of the most common tasks of an interior designer including:
- Searching for and biding on new projects
- Determining the client’s goals and requirements for the project
- Considering how the space will be used and how people will move through the space
- Sketching preliminary design plans, including electrical and partition layouts
- Specifying materials and furnishings, such as lighting, furniture, wall finishes, flooring, and plumbing fixtures
- Creating a timeline for the interior design project and estimating project costs
- Placing orders for materials and overseeing the installation of the design elements
- Overseeing construction and coordinating with general building contractors to implement the plans and specifications for the project
- Visiting the site after the project is complete to ensure that the client is satisfied
Some interior designers decide to take their education further and specialize in a specific area of design. There are corporate designers, healthcare designers, kitchen and bath designers, sustainable designers and universal designers. To learn more about these specialized interior design programs, visit the BLS.gov website.
Interior designers often work in an office setting but spend a lot of time out on the job site of the area they are designing. They have a flexible schedule and may also be able to do some work from home.
Important Qualities of an Interior Designer
The Brewer Smith Brewer Group identified the top ten important qualities of an interior designer:
- Embrace Diverse Styles- remember that it isn’t always your preferences that the client may be looking for. Listen to their wants and ideas to make the space exactly what they are looking for!
- Take Inspiration from Everything and Everywhere- you can draw inspiration from almost anything. Take in different textures, patterns and colors.
- Never Stop Studying the Art Form- what’s trending is always changing. Stay current on the different trends and styles that the clients may be interested in.
- Be Courageous- do not be discouraged if a client passes on your idea of a design. Design your spaces with confidence and if the client is not happy, go back to the drawing board and make sure to take listen to their ideas. Not everyone will like your style and preferences and that’s ok!
- Take Your Time with Color and Lighting- look at the space at different times of the day if possible before making a final decision on lighting and colors. These two things can drastically change a space for the best or the worst!
- Take the Lead in Coordinating the Project- many different people may be involved in the design of an area. Show the client you are able to take control of the project and make sure the overall design gets done correctly.
- Look to Embrace New Technology and Ideas- embrace the technological advances in design. While your preference may be to draw your designs, using these technologies can give the clients a 3D interactive model of the space.
- Understand the Space and its Function- make sure the space is not only beautiful, but functional as well.
- Invest Early on in Getting a Strong Concept- take this concept and be sure to involve the client in every step along the way to ensure a beautiful space with a happy client.
- Retain your Passion for Design No Matter What- remember why you wanted to get into design in the first place. Every career has challenges, but don’t let those challenges make you forget why you love interior design.
In our Ed4Career Interior Decorating and Design program we offer the Interior Decorating and Design course and the Starting Your Own Business course. Upon successful completion of our Interior Decorating & Design course, students will be prepared for an entry-level position in the field and to sit for the NCCB national certification exam to become a Certified Interior Decorating Specialist (CIDS).
What are you waiting for? Contact Ed4Career today!
