How to Become an Interior Decorator

To become an interior decorator may be the best decision for you if you have a burning desire to decorate people's homes or if you receive constant flow of compliments regarding the way you design your  home and how good your taste is when it comes to shaping up interiors.

 

If you are the one who everyone comes to when they need help figuring out what color to paint or how to design their bedroom or kitchen.  No special education or experience is necessary to break into this career and succeed. (Unlike becoming a certified interior designer which has strict requirements including two to five years of post-secondary education in interior design.) 

Do you long to have a career that will allow you to use your
creativity? Here are some simple and easy tips that could help you start  your journey towards a whole new career…

A good interior decorator has a natural talent for picking up what is right with the room, which stuff looks out of place  and what could be improved. No matter how good you are, you can continually train yourself by studying what people consider to be good design. Whenever you walk into a room from now on, just observe what you like, what you would change and how you would improve its beauty. Start the practice for now in your own mind. Flip through the pages of design or architecture magazines,hang out in show homes,art galleries and browse the internet for more new ideas.

If you are setting a big goal and wish to go completely professional in interior decorating, then you must obtain an appropriate degree or certification to get started. The education will not only polish your existing talent, but it will open your mind up to new ideas. Interior decorators are expected to know about the various elements involved in decorating such as:  color, lighting, texture, finish, furniture, windows, and space work with each other to meet the needs and window treatments, and use of accessories such as pillows and art. 
Before you  start  marketing your services to others or apply for a job, you should spend sometime educating yourself.

Learn as much as you can not only from school, but from TV,reading books and internet sources. Next, get plenty of practice. Practice at your home, volunteer to help family and friends decorate their homes or offices for free. Make sure when decorating your own home or someone else's that you take plenty photographs of before and after features, this will be need for your portfolio.

Play around your home with and try out new styles. See how a new color of paint or just rearranging the furniture creates an entirely new look for your living environment. Even experienced decorators often use their homes as “labs” to test out concepts before suggesting them to clients. Practicing will really help you on your way to becoming an interior decorator.

 When you start looking for work, the first thing clients and decorating firms will ask for is your portfolio – A portfolio is a collection of samples of your best work, plus any other documents that can help show why someone should hire you. You should have plenty of before and after photos of each decorating job that you have done. If you have no formal work experience, you can put together a portfolio showing completed projects you’ve done for yourself or friends.

You have to take a job in the industry because this will help you to gain valuable experience, you can learn about the business and meet potential clients by starting with a job in the industry. Doing this will help your resume, that will emphasize your experience with decorating plus any other skills the employer is looking for, such as customer service.

After having all these experiences, you may decide that you are  ready to embark on your own business venture. During the setting up stage, it is crucial to establish a working relationships with  other interior decorators who can refer business to you such as art and antique dealers, home renovators, architects and real estate agents. To stand out as an interior decorator  you must continue to learn new decorating techniques and to further develop skills, to do is by attending trade shows and joining professional associations.