Everything you need to know to become an interior decorator

If the answer is yes, then you will want to read it.

1) What are the job responsibilities of an interior designer?

The daily work of an interior designer is diverse and dynamic. The space you design for your clients is the culmination of months of planning, creative brainstorming, and hard work, ultimately culminating in lengthy consultations with the client to collaboratively select furniture and accessories. The main responsibilities of an interior designer include:

• Search for new clients and projects;
• Prepare summaries, sketches and budgets based on job specifications;
• Create a project timeline;
• Evaluate customer needs throughout the project;
• Prepare detailed drawings from initial sketches, usually made on a computer;
• Search and find furniture, equipment and accessories;
• Participate in periodic site visits and customer meetings.

Of course, that’s not all. An interior designer must be flexible, quick and attentive to changes and trends in design, furniture and decorations to react to any number of problems that may arise during the project. And what other qualities should an interior designer have? Here are the 5 characteristics that an interior designer should have:

• creativity;
• Organization;
• Excellent communication;
• Attention to detail;
• Sales spirit.

All interiors professionals highlight innovation as a fundamental piece in the toolbox, but it’s no news that having enormous organizational and communication skills is also important.

2) What qualifications should an interior designer have?

There are many things that inspire interior designers to enter the industry. As a general rule, interior designers must possess qualifications that demonstrate an extremely high level of design ability and artistic talent. The most common ways to demonstrate these skills are through:

• Higher education – Bachelor’s degree, covering topics such as furniture design, scenography and exhibition and event design, a master’s degree in which you develop interior designs and their techniques, virtual models among many other things.

​Take advantage of your free time to create a professional action plan to discover what kind of designer you want to be and how you can achieve your goals. .

3) How much can I earn?

The salary of an interior designer depends on the level of experience. Younger designers and those who have just graduated start to earn less than more experienced designers with more years of experience, they can earn much more, this also depends on the companies you work for.

4) How can I continue my career as an interior designer?

It’s always good to learn more, so look for new ways to gain new knowledge in the area. Consider enrolling in a professional institute, continue your training with other professionals in the sector by enrolling in training courses.

British Institute of Interior Design – BIID is a highly regarded association in the UK. If you’re thinking about becoming an interior designer, it’s worth considering this membership which offers 6 years of education and work experience.

Chartered Society of Designers – Whether you are a student simply looking to improve your opportunities at an early stage or a fully developed designer, the CSD membership is accessible to everyone in the industry. Participation levels vary depending on experience level, but all offer access to a network of like-minded people.

Keep learning – Interior design is a constantly evolving field and it is essential that designers always stay up to date. Attending conferences, signing up for courses, and networking with other professionals are great ways to stay up to date on the latest industry news.

Q&A

The best advice often comes from those who truly understand the situation. Therefore, we invited MOYO designers Cláudia Ferreira and Joana Rodrigues to complete a short questionnaire and share their experiences as designers:

1. How did you get into interior design?

Joana Rodrigues: “I’ve been fascinated by art since I was a child, from fashion to furniture, everything. I loved sewing clothes for my dolls out of scraps of fabric. So, after graduating from high school, I decided to study interior design because this field deeply attracted me.