Have you always loved arranging furniture, working with color, and choosing décor? If so, a career as an interior decorator could be a great fit for you! When it comes to succeeding in this fast growing, multi-billion dollar industry, there are countless techniques and skills to be learned, and enrolling in an interior decorating school is an excellent first step. An interior decorating certification will provide you with plenty of opportunities for growth, and the assignments you’ll complete during your courses will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to start your career on the right foot.
So, what will you learn in interior decorating school? You’ll start with the basics of color theory and design styles, and then move on to in-depth units that cover color schemes, arranging furniture, and working with clients. Read on for a rundown of 6 things to be learned in an interior decorating course!
1. How to be organized
Interior decorating and organization go hand in hand—in order to bring your design to life, you need to have a deep understanding of the logistics of your project. Learning how to design floorplans, sketch layouts, and budget accordingly are just some ways interior decorators plan before a project even begins. This is where the case studies within an interior decorating course
come in—these assignments will allow you to gain practical experience by evaluating real-life scenarios that interior decorators face.
Time management is also a huge component of interior decorating, as you will likely be working on several different projects at once, while ensuring clients are satisfied with your work. A design program, such as QC’s Interior Decorating course, will require you to manage your time, prioritize your assignments, and work with a timeline.
2. How to work with clients
Building relationships with clients is extremely important for interior decorators, as your work in their home will directly affect their daily lives. Communication is key, as you’ll need to know which questions to ask during the consultation in order to create a customized decorating scheme for your clients’ homes. A large part of your role as an interior decorator will be creating spaces for clients that reflect their own personalities, wants, and needs, all of which can be determined during the consultation and as you get to know them on a personal level.
3. How to be creative
If you’re pursuing a career in interior decorating, you likely already have a passion for home décor and know that it says a lot about the person who owns the space! Interior decorators see the potential in whatever space they are working with, and can come up with a decorating scheme that is both creative, original, and also suits the client. Every client is different, so being able to think quickly on your feet and also having a trained eye that can quickly recognize what needs to be changed or added are part of the job description of an interior decorator. There are so many opportunities for interior decorators to be creative each day, as no two days are alike and each project will have its own challenges and requirements.
An interior decorating course will allow you to approach new projects with a both a trained eye as well as a creative flair, both of which are essential qualities for an interior decorator.
4. How to solve problems
Interior decorators need to be able to think quickly on their feet, and see the potential in whatever space they are working with. As mentioned above, building relationships with clients is extremely important, but being able to keep your client happy is absolutely essential. Interior decorators will undoubtedly work with clients who have a vision of a space that is not possible to create, as the room has certain limitations. As the professional, you will need to come up with a decorating scheme, and a solution, that will please your client.
Being able to build trust with a client and provide them with the best decorating solution available are skills that are acquired through training, specifically through an interior decorating course. Space planning, furniture selection and placement, as well as building relationships with different clients are all covered within an interior decorating course, so you can go into the industry confident and ready to offer solutions.
5. How to start your own business
Upon obtaining a certification in interior decorating, many graduates decide to start their own businesses! While this will not happen overnight, and requires a great deal of practice as well as clients, it is a great goal to work towards as an interior decorator. An interior decorating course will provide you with a guide to planning and setting up your own interior decorating business, and will teach you how to write a business plan in a simple, yet comprehensive format.
6. How to make things happen
There is a great deal of leadership involved in a career as an interior decorator, as you’ll need to be able to take control of situations and make big decisions. Being ambitious and driven to succeed are also excellent qualities to have, as you’ll be responsible for your own success within this role. Ensuring that you have a professional website and active social media presence, as well as disciplining yourself to work hard and find new clients are essential skills to have. Interior decorators, as a result, are strong and confident in their skills and this will only continue to increase throughout their career.
