How To Pursue A Career In Interior Design

21 Apr How To Pursue A Career In Interior Design

More often than not, people believe that being a professional interior designer is all about creativity. Without denying that imagination plays a certain role in this profession, pursuing a career as an interior designer also entails formal education, discipline, determination and adequate business skills. Designers are also responsible for making a space functional, healthy, sustainable, safe and beautiful. Therefore, they use the formal training and knowledge of intelligent spatial design criteria, colours, materials and lighting to beautify homes in accordance with building codes and regulations.

Skills required for becoming an interior designer
First and foremost, interior designers need to be open-minded and flexible, so they can adapt to the customer’s needs and schedule. In general, most designers end up meeting with their clients during the day and evening. In addition to adaptability, the other interpersonal skills necessary for this line of work include:
• A strong knowledge of spatial requirements and building components and their compatibility to each other
• The ability to visualize how various components will blend in together at the end
• Effective communication skills that permits you to discuss with engineers and clients
• Strong problem-solving aptitudes that allow you to complete a project on time and within the confines of the pre-established budget
• A strong sense of style and sustainability
Steps to becoming an interior designer
Regardless of whether you intend to work for a specialised design service, furniture store, architectural company or be self-employed, here are the steps to follow:
1. Obtaining a qualification in interior design
To increase your chances of employability, you should have at least a qualification, preferably one in a specific field. General fields are also acceptable, as long as they include classes like drawing and/or computer-assisted design (CAD. As a rule of thumb, before signing up, make sure the training program has an accreditation of recognition by the building and design industry.
2. Gain some experience by working pro bono
Unfortunately, it is relatively challenging to find a paid position without having some previous experience. The simplest way of gaining experience as an interior designer is to offer your services to friends and family. You can also volunteer to assist local non-profit organizations. Alternatively, you could even offer to decorate small business offices or even your own home. The paramount aspect at this point is to develop the necessary skills, and prepare for paying jobs.
3. Work on your portfolio
While working pro bono, it is advisable to take quality photos of all your projects and start building a portfolio. Considering the nature of this job, a professionally compiled portfolio will help you create a trademark that can impress potential clients and employers.
Molyneux Designs is a school for home interior décor and design in Perth, Australia. Contact us today and find out more about our programs and specialisations.

What Types Of Specialisations Can You Take In Interior Design?

To pursue a career as an interior designer, first you must obtain a qualification in this area of expertise. Once you have obtained your qualification, there are plenty of career paths to choose from. Following are some of the most popular alternatives to consider.
• Furniture designer
A specialised area of interior design, this professional’s job entails working with both clients and suppliers. An example of suppliers you’re likely to collaborate with in this profession are carpenters. Carpenters manufacture the design elements that will constitute the decor of your clients’ homes or offices, according to your specifications. Working with clients entails arranging furniture within the premises of showrooms, offices and houses. Take note that the arrangements must be made in accordance with a predefined theme and using the full potential of the available space.
• Lighting designer
In addition to obtaining certification as interior designer, those seeking to build a career as lighting designer need to know basic wiring. Alternatively, you could consider working with a licensed electrician, a professional who can help you bring to life a vast array of creative lighting effects suitable for the theme of the project. In addition to comprehensive knowledge in different lighting effects and types, the career entails knowing schematic design and staying updated on the latest decorative products.
• Kitchen designer
The primary role of a kitchen designer is to design, beautify and style the cooking space, so that it’s sustainable, practical and elegant. This line of work implies working closely with constructors to determine the adequate floor plan, although it’s not uncommon to focus on a suitable arrangement after the floor work is completed. Working as a kitchen designer also requires familiarity with the effects of temperature and humidity on the materials used as well as many other aspects of design.
• Interior designer
By far one of the most obvious routes, becoming an interior designer means you will be in charge of beautifying the interiors of offices and homes. The skills required for this line of work are a good understanding of colour theory, creativity and the willingness to keep up with emerging interior design trends. This career path allows you to choose between becoming a commercial or a residential designer. Commercial interior designers typically work in offices, hotels, educational institutions, offices and retail facilities, whereas their residential counterparts are focused mainly on styling residential properties.
Irrespective of the specialisation you prefer, The School of Interior Décor and Design offers great programs to help you kick start the career of your dreams.

The Biggest Mistakes That Homeowners Make In Interior Design

Electing to handle the next renovation project on your own may appear to present the benefit of personalizing your home’s new decor and tailoring it to your own preferences. However, in reality there are numerous problems that aren’t evident to the untrained eye until the project is finalized.
Creating the optimal environment in your living space – functional, aesthetic and comfort wise – requires an excellent sense in terms of scaling, colours, shapes and patterns. In addition, it also implies avoiding the following list of faux pas, which many homeowners tend to commit.
• Choosing form over function
It’s very tempting to select a piece of furniture simply because it looks great and matches the rest of the interior design, but let’s not forget that it should also serve a functional role as well as be sustainable. For example, don’t invest in an uncomfortable couch or armchair; rather, test it’s comfort levels at the furniture store before purchasing. Other important functionality features to base your decision on comprise of durability and cleaning ease.
• Going with a wall colour before evaluating it in context
Unless you’ve graduated art school and you possess extensive experience with colours, it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to determine how well a certain shade compliments the room in absentia. You should also remember that lighting – both natural and artificial – alters the appearance of colours. Select a few paint samples and apply them to a patch of the walls before reaching a final decision.
• Randomly placing various art pieces
Art is a great way to confer your home a sophisticated appeal, but only if you can establish a theme and arrange various pieces to complement each other. Try out various grouping combinations and determine which one works best before you start drilling holes in your drywall. At the same time, keep in mind that the recommended hanging height is approximately 1600mm above floor levell, to provide an optimal viewing experience while standing and seated.
• Adopting short-lived trends
We may certainly come across a number of flashy designs in home decor magazines, and they may seemed like a good idea at the time. Don’t give in, because like in the case of contoured rugs, they will go out of fashion relatively fast. Select a theme with a timeless appeal for your home and you won’t have to redecorate for years.

• Perhaps forgoing the window treatment
Bare windows can convey a sense of incompleteness. You can choose between curtains, blinds, valances and drapes; often anything is better than leaving the windows exposed, both functionally and aesthetically should there be a privacy or environmental problem.
If you would like to find out more about home design information and services in Perth Australia, then don’t hesitate to contact Molyneux Designs. We can make your interior design dreams come true and help you steer clear of common mistakes homeowners make.

What Do People Look For In An Interior Designer These Days?

The skills of interior designers allow them to optimize the functionality and aesthetic appeal of both private residences and offices. There is a lot of demand for these professionals nowadays with the continuous expansion of cities and living areas.
Interior designers are also integral parts of construction teams and they perform alongside architects in the planning and implementation phase of building projects. Considering their importance, selecting the best interior designer or team cannot be taken lightly. Let’s find out more about the attributes that should be part of the decision making process.
1. Excellent communication aptitudes
Optimal communication between all the parties involved is pivotal to any design or renovation project. The interior designers should be able to comprehend the vision of the client regarding the new space and suggest potential improvements in a way that the client understands their intentions. Afterwards, the designer must detail the concepts to the team in an intelligible manner and ensure that the instructions are respected to the letter. Overall, working with an interior designer with great communication skills is a guarantee that you, as a client, obtain exactly the desired outcome from the renovation or construction project.
2. Abundance of creative ideas
Creativity is perhaps the most important quality to look for in your next interior designer. An ingenious mind brimming with great ideas implies that your new space can be improved to a significant extent. Without creativity, you might as well perform the planning yourself. It’s important to know that creativity is also a product of years of experience in the field and exposure to hundreds of interior design concepts, which is why you should pick a designer who has been around the block a few times and can boast a quality education.
Let’s not forget that interior decorators are responsible for selecting everything from the window treatments and the type or placement of furniture to the colours and texture of the walls. To put it simply they virtually decide the appearance and functionality of the space. Consequentially, you’ll want to collaborate with the best in the field.
3. Experience and knowhow in digital rendering software
With the advent of 3D hand generated and rendering software, your interior designer is able to visualize the exact appearance of a space before the actual renovations commence. Furthermore, he/she is able to show clients what the finalized project will look like, without requiring them to possess extensive knowledge of reading blueprints. Therefore, customer satisfaction can be directly linked to the designer’s ability to create 3D drawings and models using available software programs.
The bottom line
Creativity, communication skills and expertise in 3D rendering programs are all vital skills for an interior designer. Evidently, developing and mastering them necessitates years of studying and hands-on practice. When you are planning to remodel or renovate a space, the assistance of a professional interior designer is not an expenditure you can eliminate from the allocated budget, unless you want to obtain subpar results. Shop around, ask for quotes, interview the team, and then decide who would be suitable for your project.
Molyneux Designs has produced many skilled home interior decorators and designers over the years through its School of Interior Décor and Design and will continue to do so. If you want to be an interior decorator today, talk to us!