How to Become an Interior Decorator – About.com Home

Updated December 15, 2014.

A successful decorator does much more than pick out pretty fabrics and rearrange furniture. In a typical day, an interior decorator may deal with cabinet spacing, steer a homeowner away from a budget-blowing item, track down a missing tile installer, work on a seasonal installation for a business storefront, make a presentation in front of an architectural review board and the list goes on.

This is a small sampling of a decorators daily duties.

As you can see, he or she needs vast knowledge to perform the various skills required, and lots of experience doesnt hurt either!

But how does a decorator or a person get to this point, and what does it take to become an interior decorator?

(Note that an interior decorator is not an interior designer.

These are two different fields requiring different degrees and certification. For further clarification, see our article.)

If you think you are interested in becoming an interior decorator, the information below will help you understand how to become a decorator and what it takes to be a successful one. However, good decorators know that decorating is a wonderful journey of a lifelong pursuit of knowledge!

Is there a way to tell if I will enjoy decorating or be a good decorator before I begin? Sure! When you walk into a home or a business, do you often visualize or imagine what would make the space better? Do you have a good eye for color and/or strong color memory? Do you like working with people?

Have you extensively decorated your own home or have had other hands-on experience and enjoyed it? These are just a few of the questions that you will need to ask yourself. Our article can help you further evaluate your personal talents and desires to see if they line up with a career in interior decorating.

Do I need a degree? Technically, no. But again, knowledge never hurt anyone. Plus, clients and firms are usually more receptive to hiring someone who has taken the time to secure a degree. Degrees are available at various levels, and some certification programs take little time. If you are interested in or able to pursue an education, look for programs that have been accredited by the CID and/or the IDS.

Do I need to be artistic? Again, its not necessary but it certainly doesnt hurt. Drawing skills are typically more advantageous for interior designers than decorators, but are useful in both fields. Great computer skills are almost necessary, as they are for almost any field in this day and age. Many clients arent great at visualizing, so its important to be able to show your clients a potential floor plan or room colors in 3D whether in a drawing or on a computer before you begin the actual work.

What professional organizations are available, and should I join? The two main organizations for decorators are the IDS, or Interior Design Society, and the CID, or Certified Interior Decorators. Joining is not mandatory, but these societies offer great ways to keep a finger on the pulse of the design industry, plus they offer opportunities for further education, networking and more. Should you join? These organizations provide a service at a cost so it is up to you to decide if either (or both) of these programs would be beneficial to you.

What kind of jobs can I do in the field of decorating? Most decorators are residential designers, but many work in the commercial field, such as the hotel or restaurant industry. If you would like to specialize in these industries, additional education or experience may be required.

However, the decorating field goes beyond being a designer. Many decorators enter the retail industry or work in sales. Furniture stores, home stores, fabric stores, window/blind stores and home supply centers are only a few examples of industries that often employ decorators.

There is also a growing field of crossover careers. For example, my field requires me to be a writer, editor and designer and is fast becoming known as "interior design journalism." Many decorators also work in the specialized service industry and become decorative painters, window covering designers and more. As one can see, there is a wide range of career opportunities in the design field.

So how do I get started? This is a big question, and has lots of answers. My best advice to you is to start slow and be patient. The tips below may help you to get going in the field of decorating and open up jobs and opportunities to you. Always remember, you and your work are your best tools of advertising. And best wishes!

Here is the original post:
How to Become an Interior Decorator - About.com Home