Kitchen and bathroom designer
Kitchen and bathroom designers create plans to transform spaces based on customers' ideas.
Also known as: Kitchen and bathroom sales designer
- Starter salary£24,000 a year
- Experienced£40,000 a year
- Typical hours35 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a kitchen or bathroom designer, you'll:
- discuss design ideas, layouts and styles with customers
- help customers choose appliances, cabinets and worktops
- create 2D and 3D plans, using design software
- calculate costs, and provide estimates and timescales for customers
- oversee installation work, track progress and check quality
- meet sales targets
- keep up to date with design trends and products
Working environment
You could work at a client's home, at a store or visit sites.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- design skills and knowledge
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a kitchen and bathroom designer
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
College
You could learn some of the skills needed to get a job as a trainee with a design company. Courses include:
- interior design
- art and design
- computer-aided design
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Fitted Furniture Design Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
This can take up to 2 years to complete and combines on-the-job training with classroom study.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Work
You might be able to start in a kitchen and bathroom sales or installation role, then train on the job to become a kitchen or bathroom designer.
Restrictions and requirements
You may need a driving licence to travel to clients' premises.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a senior designer, leading a project team. You may move into sales management, developing business and co-ordinating several design projects at the same time.
You could use your skills to work in related areas, such as residential, commercial or retail interior design.
You might set up your own company, providing bespoke designs for clients.
Career tips
Salaries on some job vacancies can be made up of a basic wage plus commission on sales.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleInterior designer
- Job roleCAD technician
- Job roleSales manager
- Job roleSales representative
- Job roleFurniture designer
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