If you have a passion for furniture and a special talent for arranging furniture and choosing decorations and colors, a career as an interior designer may be perfect for you. Unlike interior design, specific training and certification is not required. Anyone who has the skills and the ability to present themselves on the market can start working as an interior designer. Since there is a lot of competition and some practices are required to get started, it is important to learn both how to become an interior designer and how to market effectively.
Steps
Step 1. Assess your skills, strengths and weaknesses
If people regularly compliment your decorating skills and often turn to you for advice, that's a good sign, and it shows that you have a natural knack for being an interior decorator. However, when you work for others, you need to know how to interpret the different style and taste of customers. You must be able to demonstrate thorough knowledge in the organization of spaces, fabrics and materials, and you must also show different personalities. Make a list of the things that seem most difficult to you, and start working on those.
Step 2. Get training
You don't necessarily have to have a degree to work as an interior designer, but if you have attended some courses or obtained certifications you can have more credibility. You can search your local colleges or universities for interior design courses. You can also check online if you find any home staging lessons that may be useful to you. In addition to all this, you can also learn on your own by doing self-study right away. Learn the basics of decoration, the various materials, the history of furniture and styles.
Step 3. Practice as much as possible
Offer to help friends and family with home decor. Look for volunteer projects among local organizations. Check if there are solidarity organizations in your area specifically aimed at the construction and / or arrangement of houses for the needy. Decorating spaces for special events can also be a good experience.
Step 4. Create a portfolio of your work
Make a collection of all the works you have made. Make sure you take photographs of all the projects you have completed. Keep hard copies as well, as well as post an exhibition of your work online. Groups such as Flickr, Linkedin and design sites, such as furniture blogs offer the possibility to showcase your work, as well as create a network with others who share your interest and who can give you more information on how to become an interior designer.
Step 5. Find suppliers
If you don't have a license, you are not eligible for designer discounts. However, you can start negotiating with suppliers if you shop in large volumes. You can also find inexpensive retailers, such as liquidation stores and thrift stores.
Step 6. Look for a job in interior decoration and visual merchandising
Competition is high, so it can be difficult to find a well-paying job. However, you can start in a furniture store, design center, or department store. If you get a job that allows you to do some decoration and visual merchandising (that is, to organize the elements in a way that is both pleasant and with the purpose of attracting customers' attention), you can add it to your portfolio.
Step 7. Start your own business, if time and funds allow
The costs of your start up could be minimal, you will need a business license and an office. If you do not have time to work in this field, you can start a business as a virtual decorator, where you can evaluate a client's home through images, discuss online the indications of the works that need to be done, and provide them with links to items to buy..
