Skills Needed to Become an Interior Designer | Chron.com

Interior designers use their skills to make interior spaces appealing and functional. They work with clients and other design professionals to understand how the interior space will be used and what the ambience should represent. To be successful as an interior designer, you need education, communication skills and a bit of innate creativity.

Most employers and clients prefer an interior designer who completed a formal education program, and interior designers can earn an associate, bachelor's or masters degrees in interior design. Many programs are accredited by organizations such as the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Council for Interior Design and the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Some states require a license to practice professionally, which typically requires passing the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam.

Interior designers should possess strong creative and artistic skills to make their designs aesthetically pleasing for their clients. They select a variety of colors, textiles, fabrics and interior furnishings with the clients interests and tastes in mind. Although many design aesthetics are learned through education and training, a natural creative talent helps interior designers to be successful.

To successfully find clients and understand their needs, interior designers require excellent interpersonal skills. Interior designers often work with a variety of other professionals to design and construct interior spaces. They must effectively communicate with architects, engineeers and contractors -- everyone involved with design projects -- to be successful.

Between 2010 and 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 19 percent growth for interior designers, more specifically for large design projects such as hospitals, schools, hotels and corporations. Interior designers can work for a variety of employers including retail stores, specialized design service firms, architectural and engineering firms, as well as consulting services firms. The average salary was $52,810 per year, according to the BLS.

Interior designers earned a median annual salary of $49,810 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, interior designers earned a 25th percentile salary of $36,760, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $68,340, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 66,500 people were employed in the U.S. as interior designers.

Read the original post:
Skills Needed to Become an Interior Designer | Chron.com