The Industry of Interior Design

If you have ever walked into a restaurant, office or home and immediately felt comfortable, that was because someone planned it that way. That person was an interior designer, the professionals in charge of putting together space planning, lighting, furniture, colors and materials.

Interior design is a broad and diverse field with many rewarding career avenues. Interior designers may work for hotel or restaurant chains, department stores, furniture stores, architecture firms, interior design firms, or they may operate on their own as consultants.

For those who are creative and artistic and who enjoy working with people to help create great spaces, interior design is a challenging and rewarding profession. It is truly unique in how it combines the artistic world with the human element. This creates many challenges specific to the industry. And it is this convergence of how human beings live and work and mingle amid an artistically created space that makes this field so appealing to interior designers.

How You Will Spend the Workday

As an interior designer, you will be expected to be part artist, part business associate. You will be responsible for developing appealing aesthetic designs and spaces in homes and businesses, but you will also be responsible for strict reconciliation of expenditures and budgeting.

You are also likely to have an extensive network of vendors for supplies and labor (for everything from painting to furniture to flooring and fixtures and beyond), so in addition to spending your day sketching ideas and being creative, you will also meet with your team of subcontractors. You will negotiate prices and help secure schedules. You will also continually meet with your client to not only convey your creative vision, but also communicate your budget and expenses.You will also manage a staff of professionals and be expected to be familiar with building codes and technical requirements.

In most cases, you can expect to work a standard "nine to five," Monday through Friday week. In some instances, larger projects will require longer hours or an extended work week.

Career Opportunities for Interior Design

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that all design fields are currently growing in terms of employment opportunities, and interior design is no different.

The field is unique because it requires a special kind of left brain/right brain combination. You must be equal parts manager and artist.This is a rare combination, which is part of what makes great interior designers in such high demand.

You may start out working for a company with an in-house interior design department, or for an independent firm. Internships are highly recommended as a way of getting your foot in the door.

There is one important step you must take before embarking on your career, however: getting a license. Many states currently have legislation that requires individuals to be licensed before operating as an interior designer. In most cases, obtaining your interior design degree is one of the requirements to being granted this license. It is important to research the licensure requirements in your state.

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