Interior designer
Interior designers plan the internal layout and decoration of public, commercial and residential buildings and spaces.
- Starter salary£23,000 a year
- Experienced£45,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 42 a week
What you'll do
As an interior designer, you could:
- work with clients to understand their ideas and what they want
- advise on use of space, colour schemes, fabrics, fittings and furniture
- prepare detailed 2D and 3D plans using design software
- provide estimates for materials, work and timescales for different design options
- find suppliers of fittings, furniture, fabrics, and wall and floor coverings
- draw up instructions for contractors, or act as a project manager from start to finish
Working environment
You could work in an office, from home, in a creative studio or at a client's business.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- design skills and knowledge
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- knowledge of building and construction
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to work well with others
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a interior designer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:
- interior design
- art and design
- interior architecture
- spatial design
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
College
You could complete a college course, which may help you afterwards with applications for design assistant jobs or university courses. Examples include:
- interior design
- art and design
- T Level in Craft and Design
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Furniture Design Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, which may lead into an interior design assistant role.
Entry requirements
To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Work
You could start as an interior design assistant with a company. With further training and qualifications you could become an interior designer.
Career path and progression
With experience, you might move into related work, for example:
- theatre set design
- visual merchandising
- exhibition design
- lighting design
- furniture design
- ergonomics
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the British Institute of Interior Design for professional development and to make contacts in the industry.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleExhibition designer
- Job roleSet designer
- Job roleArchitect
- Job roleFurniture designer
- Job roleVisual merchandiser
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