Thinking of Becoming an Interior Designer...?       Becoming an Interior Designer If you've been thinking of becoming an interior designer, take a few minutes to read through this site because Becoming-an-Interior-Designer.com is packed with free information, advice and guidance on becoming an interior designer. Becoming an interior designer is a glamorous way to earn a living, but it can also be very  profitable career choice. Its important to understand the difference between becoming an interior decorator and becoming an interior designer - they are not the same thing. People often think of the job of an interior designer simply entails picking out colors and fabrics for a room. This is more the role of an interior decorator as opposed to an interior designer. An interior designer has a broader job description. An interior designer does the same more basic interior decorating tasks that  an interior decorator would, but goes much beyond that into more complex and advanced responsibilities. This can include light management, space planning, color coordination, and subcontracting. Subcontracting refers to hiring in other tradespeople to install flooring, light fixtures, draperies, paint, wall coverings, furniture, etc. Today it is becoming more and more common for the interior designer to even be involved in the architectural aspect of building of a home. More and more architects and home builders are consulting interior designers before the blueprints are even drawn up for interior design input to that the interior designer's ideas can be accommodated into the home design when it is build. So if you are thinking of becoming an interior designer, you will need to be able to read blueprints and to understand  building codes. A good interior design course will teach you this. Whether you take online interior design courses, or you go to an interior design school, if you are planning on becoming an interior designer, make sure they include these subjects in the curriculum. If you are planning on becoming an interior designer, be prepared also to have to learn how to use CAD software and home design software in order to prepare blueprints or presentations for clients. Educational Requirements for Becoming an Interior Designer There are distance education courses for becoming an interior designer, home study courses, college programs and university degree programs. Until quite recently, there were no accredited interior design courses or schools in the United States for people interested in training for becoming an interior designer. Now there are a number of interior design courses and schools accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. These programs typically run from two to five years and most often lead to an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree in interior design. Courses for these programs may include color and fabrics, space planning, ergonomics, architectural courses,  CAD, furniture design, and even psychology since an interior designer has to work with people all the time and, more importantly, has to understand how a person's environment can affect their mood and emotions. If at this point you are thinking, "Whoa! This is more complicated that I was looking for!  I only wanted to pick colors and make rooms look pretty!", then instead of becoming an interior designer, what you actually want is to become an interior decorator. As you are beginning to see, there really is a huge difference! Follow this link if you are more interested in becoming an interior decorator as opposed to an interior designer. As the last stage in the process of becoming an interior designer, the typical new interior designer will enter an apprenticeship after completing their interior design courses and formal education. During their apprenticeship recent graduates of interior design schools work under the supervision of an experienced interior designer. This gives the new interior designer the opportuity to build a portfolio and get hands-on experience as an interior designer before going solo. An interior designer may also choose to become a Certified Interior Designer by passing a certification exam administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). To become a certified interior designer, the interior designer must have both a formal education in addition to hands-on work experience as an  interior designer to even sit for the NCIDQ exam. The NCIDQ has defined six various routes that can be found on their site. Note that this certificate is a requirement for professional registration in 26 of the U.S. states and Canadian provinces that require licensing. You must also possess an NCIDQ certificate if you wish to become a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, International Interior Design Association, and other similar organizations. Interior Designer Working Conditions If you are thinking of becoming an interior designer be prepared to work either  as a part of a larger design team, or on a freelance basis. There is also a possibility that you might get hired by an architectural firm or home-furnishing store. As an interior designer, your clients may range from people wanting to renovate their homes, to corporations planning to open a new business location, or restaruants or retailers needing to renovate. Good people skills and relationship management skills are key requirements if you are interested in becoming an interior decorator. Becoming a successful interior decorator requires building relationships with clients. This is true regardless of where you work because one of the major responsibilities of an interior designer is to identify the wants and needs of a client and integrate them into both the aesthetics and function of the interior. If you are planning on becoming an interior designer, be willing and prepared to work weekends or long hours in order to fit a client's schedule, because as an interior designer you have to serve the needs of the client. While an interior designer does spend a lot of time in his or her office, if you are planning on becoming an interior designer you will still need to have a vehicle (or be prepared for very large taxi expenses) because as an interior designer you will frequently need to meet with your clients on site to discuss plans and ideas and to oversee contracted work. Before becoming an interior designer, you should also be aware that the job of an interior designer can sometimes be stressful since you will continuously be managing deadlines and budgets. Its also important to note that when people are rennovating or building, it can be a time of considerable stress for them as well, so you'll sometimes be dealing with people who are stressed out, and that can add to your own stress level. Interior Designer Salary The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wages for interior designers were $44,950 as of May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between The lowest 10 percent earned $27,230, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $82,750. Still Deciding on Becoming an Interior Designer? If you are creative person with an interest in home interiors, decorating, and design, becoming an interior designer may be the opportunity for you to do what you love. If you want to get a little experience to see what its like before you decide to pursue becoming an interior decorator you can redesign the interior or your own home, or offer to help a friend or neighbour who is interested on rennovating or redecorating. Its a great idea also to purchase some home design software and play around with it a little to get a better feel for the type of work you will be doing if you are still undecided on becoming an interior designer. See Also: How to Become an Interior Designer: Tips   Contact  |   Privacy Becoming an Interior Designer © Copyright 2011.  All Rights Reserved.