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- Beginners Guide to Becoming an Interior Designer
01. interior design is not decorating!
Sometimes, people can be confused about these two professions, but let me tell you—they are definitely not the same. As humans, we spend most of our time indoors, so as interior designers, we need to be mindful of how we design our surroundings. Our job is to gather information about the site we are working on and assess what the client’s vision and needs are.
There are certainly many details and problem-solving involved in the job, and to handle that, designers need to know some construction details, fundamental lighting, plumbing, millwork, and local building codes to communicate effectively with builders, contractors, and architects.
So, what about interior decorators, you might ask?
Think of interior decorators as style experts. While they don’t knock down walls or redesign floor plans like interior designers, decorators are solely responsible for transforming rooms through the careful selection of colors, furnishings, and decorative elements. They’ll sit down with you to understand your personal style and will consider your preferences, budget, and lifestyle when planning your space.
Unlike interior designers, decorators don’t need formal education or licenses to practice. However, many pursue certifications to enhance their expertise. They focus on making spaces beautiful and inviting rather than dealing with technical aspects like building codes or structural changes.
02. improve yourself & constantly learn new things
After I graduated from university, I wanted to continue my education, so I chose to move to Canada and finished my postgraduate degree in kitchen and bathroom design.
After my second graduation, I have to say I was pretty confident in my knowledge. Of course, I knew I would be starting as a junior when I joined a design firm, but maybe not so junior, you know? Oh boy, in my first firm, I felt like a small kid. Everything was completely new, and theoretical knowledge sometimes meant nothing!
What truly mattered was dealing with real-world deadlines, managing work environments and supervisors, understanding technical details, and solving problems.
What I’m basically saying is, after a standard education—and to be honest, university isn’t that big of a deal in this regard, so let me change my phrasing to “after a decent education”—you shouldn’t stop and should add more and more to your knowledge basket everyday. You need to constantly learn new things. Be the nerd everyone looks up to!
You can become the person your peers and family approach for recommendations and everyday advice. With each new thing you learn, you’ll become more confident in what you can achieve.
03. learn sales!
I know it might sound strange. Sales doesn’t necessarily mean selling a certain product; it’s all about commission-based life and constantly trying to make a profit. These are of course important if your livelihood depends on it.
What I am trying to emphasize is: learn how to sell your ideas. Learn how to talk to people and analyze different characteristics. There are millions of them, and it’s truly interesting to learn how to cope with each individual. Do not just think about clients; think also about who you are dealing with in your daily life – maybe tradespeople, managers, new connections who might be very beneficial for you.
It can be an overexaggeration, but everything in life is a SALE. If you have this particular skill, you can eventually become very successful.
04. being a good designer is not enough
I have to tell you, you can have the most brilliant design ideas, excellent communication skills, and even be a great salesperson. However, to become a successful interior designer, I have a little secret for you.
Please don’t start working for yourself right after graduation.
This might be a bit controversial, but the reason is whether you work for a large or small design firm, a cabinet maker, or a construction company, your first job will provide invaluable insights into the industry, making you more qualified to work independently.
Many people try to start their own businesses too soon. Instead, focus on building a strong network of tradespeople and potential clients. Gain at least two to three years of experience in the field. If possible, consider pursuing relevant licenses like NCIDQ, NKBA, or ARIDO (in Canada).
The key is to learn and practice design skills if you don’t already have them. The safest and most effective way to do this is by working for someone else first.
05. know which industry you want to lean towards
There are couple different niches under the name of interior design. One of the most common is residential, multi residential and good old commercial.
You might ask what is the main difference between them. Well there are quite A LOT.
For example in Canada there are good number of of condominium buildings constructed every year. These are the building types in many countries more accustomed calling as apartments.
The main difference is actually the ownership. Condos are owned by individuals and rented privately in contrast to apartments which generally owned by property management companies. Nevertheless what I am trying to say is actually if you are dealing with this kind of niche versus a typical 2 storey house; the planning, trades and labour standpoint will be entirely different. For more on that I will explain on later posts.
Commercial design is the term we call for retail spaces, hotels, hospitals, gyms, airports, restaurants and so on.
This is entirely a different form of art itself.
A major distinction between commercial and residential interiors is their intended purpose. Commercial spaces are designed for public use and often take up more room, while residential interiors focus on the needs of private individuals or families. In commercial design, the emphasis is on brand identity and enhancing the user experience, whereas residential interiors are crafted to showcase personal style and taste.
It’s also important to note that different building regulations and material standards apply to these two types of interiors. Generally, public spaces are subject to stricter regulations, which means that materials need to be more durable and fire safety measures must be robust.
As a result, designers need to be well-versed in the relevant codes to ensure compliance with all necessary requirements.
