Interior Designer

Interior design is a very exciting field of work that is becoming more and more popular as people are increasingly spending money to improve their homes. The popularity of home improvement and renovation TV shows has increased the desire to work on our own homes and make them into something special, rather than sell up to buy something more extravagant. People hire interior designers to guide them on the latest trends and advice for what sort of interior decorating would suit their house. Interior designers are also employed in the commercial sector such as in hospitality and corporate offices.

There is no doubt that you must have a creative streak if you are to become a successful interior designer. You need to be able to take a bland room or space and turn it into something to suit the people, demographic, purpose and desires of the client. If you are not experienced with designing yet, studying courses, magazines, websites and other material will assist you on your way. In addition to the creativity, you also need the ability to plan well and to communicate with your clients. You will need to design the way they want their homes and buildings designed, not base everything on your tastes. So it takes a special kind of person to excel in interior design.

Getting an interior design degree shows that you have proven yourself to be dedicated to the field. If you wish to be employed by a design firm then they will look fondly upon your degree. Likewise, if you choose to run your own interior decorating business then your clients will be comfortable in knowing that you are qualified.

An interior design degree goes beyond teaching you the basics. It will teach you innovation, creativity, business skills, colors, concepts and more. It will also help you work well in a team and communicate with others. Most degrees also give you work experience in the field, working with professional interior designers so you can get a feel of what it is all about in a practical sense. This is crucial as it will help you build up a portfolio before you graduate and give you some vital experience. Making sure your degree offers this will be a big help when you graduate and begin looking for a job.

What exactly does an interior designer do?

He or she advises clients about the reorganizing, redecorating or initial decorating of internal spaces. This can be in new homes, old homes, offices, hotels and other locations. The interior designer generally sketches out design ideas and works with the client to perfect the layout. Colors are a major focus of interior designers as are materials.

The selection of fabrics, furniture, storage, colors and other aspects of a room are important parts of an interior designers work. A designer should have strong contacts with decorators, electricians, builders and upholsterers amongst others in order to be able to accurately quote prices and delivery estimates.

The Best Interior Design Schools

The best interior design schools are generally the ones which have the most graduates and most successful employment rate on completion of courses. Naturally it can be difficult to access this type of information as it is often considered confidential, but you will find top rating schools boasting about their graduation rate and this can be a good way to find a great school. You can also learn from other people in the field, they will often have a good idea of which schools are best.

There are more and more schools offering interior design classes than ever before and this is due to the rising interest in this field. People enjoy spending money redesigning their homes, and business and the commercial sector are in an ongoing need for creative and talented interior designers. This results in an abundance of opportunities for you after you complete your interior design certification.

What do interior designers do?
Interior designers have a goal of creating functional areas out of spaces in buildings. They design environments for living, working and functioning according to the needs of the client. Graduate interior designers can find work in architectural firms or as a freelance interior designer. Some speciality areas of expertise for interior designers include:

• Kitchen and bathroom design
• Lighting
• Retail store design
• Office planning
• Health care planning
• Universities and schools
• Locations

Interior designers by nature must be creative people. Although most of the skills can be learned at interior design schools, creativity generally comes naturally to someone choosing interior design as a career. Creative skills that will be studied in school include color choices and compatibility, textures, space, cultures, materials and more.

They must also work well with people as they will need to find out what their clients want and be able to provide it for them. Remember, it's not about what the designer wants, but what the client wants! Interior designers must also have the ability to plan well as it is often impossible to buy all the decorations and furniture and then return it. So to avoid hassles like these, interior designers often plan spaces with the use of a computer and decide everything before they buy anything.

The best interior design schools provide a variety of general courses and courses that are aimed at qualified designers who want to become an expert on a particular aspect of interior design. Most people start with an associate or bachelor degree in interior design before embarking upon a speciality subject of study, generally after gaining some employment experience.

Some schools offer interior design apprenticeships which let you study and work at the same time. This provides excellent practical experience so that you can more easily understand that theory that is taught in school. It will also give you excellent opportunity for employment on completion of your apprenticeship, with most people staying on in their current employer.

If you enjoy manipulating space and can see yourself creating outstanding indoor environments then an interior design career is for you. Make sure you research interior design schools before deciding on the one that best meets your needs.