Should I be an interior decorator?

Fancy a room makeover?

An interior decorator can make your dream room come true!

What does an interior decorator do?

An interior decorator furnishes and arranges decorative elements to bring a space to life.

Interior decorators work with the client to:

• decide on the look of the space

• set the budget

• plan the schedule for the room makeover

• shop for items to decorate the room

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

The interior decorator then carefully selects elements like:

• paint palette

• lighting

• furniture

• home accessories

Design firms: as part of a team in a design company.

Independent contractors: at their own business designing for clients.

Retail industry: in a store specializing in interiors.

Film industry: as a set decorator on a movie set.

Photo by Theme Photos on Unsplash

While it's possible to call yourself an interior decorator without any training, certification is highly desirable in a competitive industry.

There are different ways to train as an interior decorator. You can enroll in:

• a university degree or diploma program at an approved school — this can take up to a few years to complete

• a certificate program that can be completed in a much shorter period

Once you've completed your certification, you can join a professional decorators association to keep abreast of the latest developments in the industry.

You also need to have lots of practice to build your portfolio — even if it's for free.

• You're artistic and have a passion for design and colours

• You're interested in home decorating

• You're detail-oriented

• You're personable and enjoy talking to people

• You're computer literate and proficient with using design software

• You don't find decorating enjoyable

• You prefer to sit behind a desk in a 9 to 5 job solving mathematical problems

• You don't enjoy meeting people and chatting with them

The average interior decorator salary in Canada is CAD $40,558 per year . 

The average interior decorator salary in the US is USD $42,272 per year .

Anna

• likes reading the finance section of the newspaper

• loves working with numbers and data

• prefers to have a desk job

Layla

• loves going fishing on a boat with her father

• likes spending time in the library reading

• enjoys growing vegetables and flowers

Sōsuke

• likes watching home makeover shows on tv

• loves shopping for home decor items in thrift stores

• enjoys meeting new people and finding out about their interests

When you're ready to plunge into the world of interior decorating: