Interior design is the process of creating or enhancing the aesthetic and practical design of the inside of a building, office or home. This includes everything from the furnishings, paint and decorations to the physical space, such as where doors and internal windows are placed and what support columns will look like. If you’re wanting to become an Interior Designer, it’s helpful to know what tools you’ll need to use, the steps to becoming an Interior Designer, and what your career path could look like. These things are outlined below to help you get a better idea of your future career.
What is an Interior Designer?
Interior Designers are professionals who are hired to create floor plans and layouts for the interior of various buildings, including offices, homes, hotels, businesses and virtually any other building. As more and more research is done into how the spaces in which we live and work impact human mood and productivity, learning interior design is about more than just learning how to create layouts and floor plans that are aesthetically pleasing. Learning how to design an open concept workspace is very different from designing a kitchen, though professional Interior Designers are likely to need to know how to do both.
Interior Designers are almost always either freelancers, independent contractors or employees of a company that specializes in interior design, meaning that these designers will work on a wide range of different projects (though they may be working in specific niches or sub-fields). They will be brought into projects when their services are required and they will often be given a basic outline of the kind of space that the client is looking for, though they may have increased creative freedom depending on the individual project. Interior Designers may find themselves working on a purely theoretical level (in so far as they will provide mock-ups and designs but not actually handle any of the physical furnishing) or they may find themselves tasked with going to the physical space.
Many interior design professionals will also have to work within constraints involving time, budget, logistics and the affordances of physical space. A 17th floor office renovation project, for example, can only cost so much and make so many changes to the physical building. This means working alongside contractors, estimators and other design professionals to get an understanding of the limitations of the project and what can and cannot be done during each stage. While being a professional Interior Designer offers a lot of opportunities for creativity and unique design decisions, learning to work within constraints is an essential part of the job.
What Tools Do I Need To Get Started?
Generally speaking, interior design tools can be divided into a few main categories. These are outlined below so you can get an idea of the supplies you’ll need on hand for both your training and professional career.
Software
This will include things like computer-aided design (CAD) software, 3D visualization tools, project management tools, color palette tools, and analysis tools. It’s important to note that software applications often come with either an upfront cost or a subscription fee, and may require updating to the most current versions throughout your career.
Sketching supplies
All the basics like mechanical pencils, rulers, compasses, protractors, graph paper, colored markers, charcoal, and tracing paper. While much of interior design is done digitally these days through software applications, the old fashion method is still useful and sometimes preferred. Hand-drawn visuals can be a great way to woo potential clients and market your business.
Measuring tools
These will be critical for ensuring you’re ordering the right supplies and furniture. This category can include measuring tapes, triangles, levels, and various other tools. You’ll use these more often than you may think: from getting accurate measurements of the spaces that serve as your canvas to ensuring you order enough paint or wallpaper to saving you from the hassle of unnecessary returns, you’ll always want to measure first (and measure more than once).
Learn Interior Design
- Nationally accredited
- Create your own portfolio
- Free student software
- Learn at your convenience
- Career placement assistance
- Authorized Autodesk training center
Miscellaneous tools
There are a handful of other tools that don’t fit into the above categories. You’ll most likely use things like moodboards (to brainstorm), documentation tools (to keep you on track and communicate with clients), and material palettes, swatches, and samples (so you and your clients can get a better feel for the products you’re selecting).
Steps to Become an Interior Designer
It can seem daunting when you’re first beginning your journey to becoming an Interior Designer, so it’s best to break it down into individual steps. Outlined below are the main ones but, depending on your education, location, and experience, these steps can vary.
Get an Education
The traditional pathway is to earn a bachelor's degree in interior design, architecture, or a related field. An associates degree is also acceptable, as is a professional training program offered in-person or online. What matters is that you learn the needed skills and obtain some sort of certificate of completion to prove your competency.
Learn Specialized Software
As an Interior Designer, you’ll need to be adept in various software applications, like AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Revit. Each of these applications will require you to master various tools so you can design 2D and 3D models of your interior spaces. You can take specialized training courses in each of these programs, or gain experience in all of them through an interior design degree or certificate course.
Gain Experience
This is both the most important and challenging step of the process. After completing your education (or while pursuing your education), you’ll want to intern at a design firm, or work in a related field like construction, furniture design and sales, or architecture. Gaining professional experience will help you develop both the hard and soft skills needed to succeed. It’ll also help you with the next step, which is building a portfolio.
Build a Portfolio
Your portfolio isn’t just for potential employers like design or architecture firms; it’s also for potential clients. Showcasing your previous work, whether that’s from a training course, internship, or previous job, will allow potential clients and employers to get a better idea of your design style, the ways you’ve handled past projects, and how you’ve navigated challenging spaces, timelines, and budgets.
Pass the NCIDQ Exam and Get Licensed
The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) tests your knowledge of building codes, construction standards, and more. This may or may not be required for you, depending on the job you’re applying for and the area you work in. Additionally, depending on your state, you may need to get a license to practice interior design.
Network
Interior design is all about connections. You’ll need connections to get jobs, find clients, and hire the best contractors and suppliers for your projects. You can attend industry events, get involved with professional organizations, and promote your work on social media to form these valuable connections.
Interior Designer Career Path
There are multiple career paths you can take as an Interior Designer. You could become a freelancer so you can work from home (or wherever you choose) and select your own clients and projects. Similarly, you could pursue e-design, a virtual interior design service that allows you to work remotely with clients to create beautiful interior spaces. E-design as a service provides a step-by-step plan for creating a space that meets each client’s individual style, tastes and budget.. Clients receive a design package devised specifically for them that is both accessible and affordable.
Finally, you could pursue an in-house interior design role. In-house interior design offers all these things that freelancing lacks, but it comes at the cost of flexibility. Working for a design firm means you aren’t responsible for sourcing your own clients and don’t have to worry about where your next paycheck will come from. You can also typically make substantially more money as an in-house designer. This path will lack some of the creative freedom that freelancers have, but the trade off is worth it to some.
Why Become an Interior Designer?
Are you a creative person who enjoys working with others to design things that create enjoyment while serving a function? Interior design can be a very rewarding career field, offering you the flexibility to choose your own clients and projects if you work independently, or the stability of a regular nine-to-five if you work for a design firm. Additionally, the nature of the work allows for a lot of creativity and autonomy, giving interior designers the opportunity to work independently and manage their own projects.
Job satisfaction tends to be high among Interior Designers, too. As an interior designer, you will have the opportunity to work on projects that can have a significant impact on people’s lives. Whether you are designing a home, an office, or a public space, you will have the chance to create environments that are functional, beautiful, and inspiring.
Learn the Skills to Become an Interior Designer at Noble Desktop
AutoCAD Certification Program
In this Noble Desktop course, you'll learn beginner through advanced AutoCAD skills from a live instructor. You'll start with basic drawing and editing commands, then progress to higher-level techniques like using collaboration tools, customizations, macros, and more. You'll be able to ask questions, receive real-time feedback, and interact with fellow students in a supportive classroom environment. As a bonus, you’ll receive six hours of private AutoCAD tutoring and dedicated 1-on-1 time with an instructor, ensuring you're fully prepared for the certification exam. You can finish this course by taking the Autodesk AutoCAD exam, since this program includes the exam's cost, proctoring, and a free retake. Passing the exam and earning this professional certification will help you stand out in the competitive world of architecture, drafting, and design.
Interior Design Bundle
Offered by VDCI, this course combo will cover the main software applications used by Interior Designers to create drafting floor plans, 3D models, render realistic visuals, and design polished presentations for their clients. You’ll master computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D modeling (SketchUp) software to plan, design, and furnish rooms or buildings. You’ll also learn to use Photoshop to prepare additional visuals for their presentations. This course bundle is 100% online and self-paced with no live class sessions. Course materials are accessible immediately after purchase and you can choose when to start the training, offering the most flexibility possible.
AutoCAD Fundamentals Bundle
Also from VDCI, this programconsists of two courses that introduce you to the basics of using AutoCAD for Computer-Aided Design (CAD). You’ll learn how to create drafting symbols, kitchen and bath fixtures, a floor plan, and deliverable sheet files. All courses are taught by practicing professionals through hands-on, real-world, project-based training. This course bundle is online and self-paced with no live class sessions, making it ideal for those with busy schedules.
SketchUp Pro Fundamentals Bundle
This program from VDCI consists of two courses to develop your SketchUp skills for 3D modeling and rendering from the very beginning. You’ll learn the fundamentals of SketchUp to create individual 3D models, components, and topography in a series of professional projects. All courses are taught by practicing professionals through hands-on, real-world, project-based training. While offered on-demand, scheduled due dates help to keep you on track while you learn at your own convenience.
Revit Fundamentals Bundle
Consisting of two Revit classes, this VDCI program is designed to develop your understanding of Revit and its involvement in Building Information Modeling (BIM). You’ll be introduced to Revit and how information is interrelated throughout the Revit (BIM) model to design 3D models, generate 2D architectural drawings and create 3D perspective views. You’ll master Revit with the help of an expert instructor and hands-on, real-world, project-based training.