If you’re considering becoming an Interior Designer from home, you’ll want to consider several factors. You’ll need to decide what your preferred training method is, understand your own strengths and limitations, and be aware of what resources are available to you. It’s also helpful to know what this path can look like, from start to finish. This article will outline all of this and more for you, so that you can feel confident in your decision to learn interior design from home.
What Interior Designer Training Method is Right for Me?
When it comes to learning interior design from home, there are three main methods. Live online classes are considered the best way to learn from home. You get face-to-face time with your instructor while still learning from the comfort of your own home. Live online classes have set times to provide you with structure but may not be the best option if you need more flexibility. On-demand virtual classes allow you to learn at your own pace while at home. You won’t have instant access to your instructor, but you will be able to set your own schedule. Finally, you could choose to utilize free resources, like training videos on Youtube and informative blogs. Each of these options is outlined in more detail in this article.
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.
Can I Learn to be an Interior Designer from Home?
While it may be more difficult than learning from a classroom, it is possible to learn to be an Interior Designer from home. It will take personal accountability and strong time management and organizational skills, but you can definitely master interior design with the right dedication and passion.
What are the Advantages of Learning from Home?
There are many advantages to learning from home. You can forget about the hassle of commuting, saving money on gas and unnecessary parking fees. Learning from home can often work better for your schedule, too. You can squeeze your learning in from your living room, office, or favorite coffee house. And, if you choose an on-demand course, you can also dictate when you learn, providing the most accommodation for your busy schedule. By learning from home, you can keep on your pajamas, not have to find care for your children, and save valuable time.
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What are the Disadvantages of Learning from Home?
It is important to consider the disadvantages. Firstly, learning from home requires a high level of accountability. If you lack the responsibility to keep yourself on track, you may struggle to keep up in a remote course. Additionally, if you find value in working with others, you may find the solitude of remote learning to be difficult. Limited hands-on learning and a lack of socialization can present challenges for students who thrive in a highly interactive environment. Finally, technical difficulties can sometimes interfere with your education. Should your internet go out or computer break, your access to your course can be temporarily blocked. While these disadvantages are relatively small, it’s still worthwhile to factor them into your decision making.
What Resources are Available to Help Me Become an Interior Designer at Home?
Free Resources
You could take advantage of free resources like YouTube making the most of the insights, tools, and short tutorials made available by industry experts. Coursera boasts hundreds of various training sessions and videos lasting from just a few minutes to a few days.
While free resources are financially helpful, this method can take the most time. You’ll be responsible for sourcing all your learning materials and ensuring that you’ve covered all the important subjects of interior design, and this process can take a substantial amount of time. Additionally, like on-demand courses, it’s easy to lose motivation and fall behind with free resources.
On-Demand Classes
Also known as self-paced, on-demand classes offer the most flexibility of any class option but don’t win any awards for speed. They do have quite a few benefits for busy professionals, though. Not only can you learn from wherever you want, you can also learn whenever you want. There are no due dates or scheduled class times, so you can take your time on challenging topics or skip over ones you’ve already mastered.
These classes are ideal for learners with complicated schedules who need to squeeze their studying in around their work and other obligations. You’ll need to be an independent and self-motivated student to succeed in an on-demand class. It’s very easy to lose momentum or fall behind when you don’t have any outside accountability, so these courses tend to take longer than a structured live course.
Live Online Classes and Bootcamps
Live virtual courses are considered the middle ground between on-demand and in-person classes. You’ll attend scheduled class times from the comfort of your own home (or wherever you choose) to learn from an expert instructor. Live online classes offer instant feedback from your teacher and interactions with other students, creating the opportunity for a deeper understanding of the coursework. These classes are ideal for students that thrive in a structured learning environment but perhaps don’t live near any in-person offerings. Or, if you simply prefer online learning, then a live virtual class could be for you.
Live online classes do have some downsides, though. If you rely on the accountability of attending things in-person, you may struggle to stay focused in an online course. These classes can also vary in cost, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the length and depth of the program. Financial assistance is rarely available for these courses, but you can typically set up a payment plan to help make these courses more accessible.
How to Find Interior Designer Work at Home
If you’re wanting to find interior design work from home, there’s a few things you’ll need. Most important will be a stand-out portfolio that highlights your best projects across a variety of design styles. Client references are also extremely useful, as is a resume that showcases your educational and professional experience. You’ll also need to know where and how to find the right job opportunities for you, which will be discussed in detail below.
Freelance Opportunities
Working as a freelance designer is a great way to pursue a career from home. The most common way this is done is through e-design, a virtual interior design service that allows you to work remotely with clients to create beautiful interior spaces. To work in e-design, you need to develop strong design skills, master interior design software, effectively communicate with clients virtually, create detailed digital design plans, and market your services online to attract clients.
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. It is ideal for clients seeking a designer’s expertise, yet who are able to implement the plan on their own. Clients receive a design package devised specifically for them that is both accessible and affordable. If you’re looking to meet with clients virtually and develop design plans all from the comfort of your home, then e-design is the perfect freelance path for you.
Finding Remote Jobs as an Interior Designer
Finding a remote interior design job will require both technical savvy and interpersonal skills. When looking for virtual roles, there are three main industries for you to direct your focus: specialized design services, furniture and home furnishings retailers, and architectural services. These three industries will have a need for qualified Interior Designers to help them develop their products and design for clients in both commercial and residential markets. While designer firms will often be on-site and in-person, working for larger corporations may provide more remote opportunities.
Your best bet for finding these roles is through online job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. There are also job sites specifically for freelancers which can be helpful for finding work, too. Additionally, networking organizations like the American Society of Interior Designers can be great resources for available positions. Finally, it’s important to not forget the power of word-of-mouth. Personal recommendations from previous clients can be the best way to find new, exciting projects.
How Will Remote Work as an Interior Designer Differ from On-site work?
The biggest difference between remote and on-site work in interior design is in the implementation stage. For remote work, the final stage is left entirely up to the client. They take your plans, moodboards, and recommendations, and then source the furniture and decor themselves, arranging it all in their home on their own. On-site Interior Designers tend to be very hands-on in the implementation stage (and even before). They will check in on their design sites in person and be there to provide guidance and assistance when the rooms are painted, assembled, and decorated.
Additionally, on-site Interior Designers may have more interaction with their clients. While remote interior design work will still involve email, phone, and video communication with clients, on-site work may involve more frequent interactions with the bulk of them being face-to-face. So, when deciding between remote and on-site interior design work, it’s important to consider these differences.
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.