Are you interested in the idea of becoming an interior designer but not sure how to make that happen? In this guide, we’ll lead you through the steps to get you on this exciting career path.
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If you’re looking for a creative, rewarding, and impactful role that can lead to a high salary and the possibility of working for yourself, then interior design might be the perfect industry for you.
If you want to know what you need to do to launch a successful career in this field, then read on. We’ll be covering the benefits, skills, tools, and learning routes of interior designers, before providing you with a comprehensive, five-step guide to becoming an interior designer yourself.
By the end of this article, you’ll have the answers to all your burning questions about what it means to be an interior designer in 2026 and how to become one.
Contents:
- Who are interior designers and what do they do?
- Why become an interior designer?
- What skills and qualifications do you need to be an interior designer?
- How to become an interior designer (5-step guide)
- What next? Starting a career in interior design
- Conclusion and next steps
1. Who are Interior Designers and What Do They Do?
Interior designers work with clients to create attractive, ergonomic, accessible, safe, and functional indoor spaces, employing space planning and color theory to enhance the aesthetics and usability of various environments. By following the principles of interior design closely and keeping in mind their client’s specific wishes or preferences, they make key decisions about how a space should be decorated and furnished through the selection of light fixtures, color schemes, furniture, accessories, and textiles.
A large part of working as an interior designer is building relationships with clients in order to better understand their motivations for the design project, their goals for the outcome, and their needs for the space. In addition, interior designers need to be able to comply with health and safety legislation and accessibility standards, as well as combine a love of aesthetics and design with a desire to provide a highly functional and accessible environment for those who live or work there.
2. Why Become an Interior Designer?
There are a range of reasons why someone might choose a career in interior design. Let’s take a look at some of the main benefits of working in this industry.
Creative
If you have a love of art, design, or aesthetics, working as an interior designer might provide a chance to professionalize this passion and make a living from it. Working in interior design is an opportunity for you to express your ideas, use your imagination to solve problems creatively, and implement innovative solutions. You’ll be working directly with different colors, fabrics, textures, and materials every day, perfectly suited to an individual who likes to put different elements together to create a beautiful space.
Engaging and challenging
Every project that you take on as an interior designer is both engaging and challenging, testing your project management and people skills as much as your creative or technical ones. As you grow professionally, you’ll learn how to handle different client needs, manage difficult or unusual project requests, and work with multiple contractors and stakeholders.
Professional opportunities
Those with interior design skills aren’t limited to a single role their whole careers. Some choose to go freelance or start their own interior design firms, while others do further training to specialize in a niche area such as sustainability design or healthcare interior design. With construction projects in both urban and rural areas increasing at a global level, demand for interior designers is higher than it’s ever been, meaning for those with these sought-after skills, professional opportunities abound!
Make an impact
If you’re looking to make a positive impact on the lives of others by enhancing and beautifying their homes and workplaces, then the role of the interior designer is definitely one you should consider. In addition to making living and working environments more aesthetically appealing, interior designers improve the accessibility, functionality, and sustainability of a space, in doing so boosting the quality of life for those who use it.
3. What Skills and Qualifications Do You Need To Be an Interior Designer?
Let’s take a closer look at the skills, tools, and qualifications that will help you have a successful career in this field.
What skills and tools do you need to learn?
Skills
Interior designers require hard and soft skills, such as 3D visualization, ergonomics, sustainable design knowledge, and client consultation techniques, to successfully manage projects, collaborate with stakeholders and contractors, create compelling designs, and build strong designer-client relationships. Below are some of the most important ones:
Creativity
Interior designers are expected to use their sense of creativity, imagination, and flair to design beautiful spaces that will appeal to a wide range of clients. Many will use their knowledge of photography, fine art, and graphic design when looking for inspiration for their designs.
Knowledge of interior design principles
Interior design principles are the backbone of the practice. These principles are not only concerned with the aesthetics of a space, but also focus on functionality, accessibility, and the well-being of inhabitants and visitors.
Attention to detail
To best reflect the preferences and personality of a client, an interior designer will pay special attention to the details of a design. Attention to detail can be shown through the placement of particular plants, kitchen equipment, or decorative accessories, or by drawing attention to unusual details in the building, such as wooden floorboards or French windows through the arrangement of furniture or fabrics.
Knowledge of current trends
With trends in interior design changing all the time, a designer will be expected to stay up to date to remain sought after by clients. Not only will clients want to know about interior design fashions related to color palettes or furniture design but also about sustainable interior solutions and the latest technology that can be harnessed to optimize a space.
Planning, management, and organization
A large part of working in interior design is project planning. As well as coordinating timelines and managing budgets, interior designers need to collaborate with clients, contractors, and project stakeholders.
Communication skills
With collaboration playing such a major part in an interior designer’s working life, excellent communication skills are needed to ensure that teamwork goes to plan. Diplomacy and clarity are some other soft skills that ensure everyone on a project is aligned from day one.
Knowledge of sustainable practices
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to both businesses and individuals, as the human impact on climate change becomes more widely recognized. The knowledge of sustainable practices, materials, and technologies, can help design interiors in an environmentally-friendly manner, making this an essential skill for interior designers to have.
Sketching skills
Sketching by hand is still a valued skill in interior design. Through sketching, designers are able to quickly demonstrate preliminary ideas and make suggestions to clients before any further work is invested in the project.
Knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD)
Computer-aided design (CAD) is when technology helps interior designers visualize projects and designs for their clients. Thanks to this software, designs can be adjusted, enhanced, and shared with colleagues and contractors who can then collaborate on the designs.
Tools
There’s a huge range of both paid and free interior design tools out there for newcomers to the industry, as well as those with more experience. Here’s a list of some of the most important interior design tools available today.
SketchUp
SketchUp is a 3D modeling and rendering software that is used by interior designers of all levels.
Floorplanner
Floorplanner is an in-browser, online editor for 2D and 3D floor plans that’s perfect for beginner or intermediate-level interior designers.
Autodesk AutoCAD LT
Autodesk AutoCAD LT enables the creation of multi-layered drawings and drafts using 2D geometry. Best suited to beginner or intermediate-level interior designers.
Homestyler
Homestyler is a free, online home designing and 3D rendering tool for all levels.
Sweet Home 3D
Sweet Home 3D is a free, 3D floor planning and furniture addition tool for all levels that offers 2D planning and 3D previews.
For more information, check out our more in-depth article: A complete list of the best Interior Design software (free & paid).
What qualifications do you need? Is it possible to become an interior designer without a degree?
There are numerous routes to a career in interior design. While some budding interior designers choose to go to university to study for a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the subject, others begin with a degree in a related field such as architecture or graphic design before learning interior design skills later via an online course, a college evening class, or on-the-job training.
If you’re considering this career choice, it’s important to know that you do not need to have a degree (or qualification) of any kind to become a professional interior designer. Many learn the required skills for the role via an accredited interior design course which teaches the theory and practical skills needed in this career, while often also assisting with career advice, job applications, and work placements. What you certainly will need is a professional portfolio that demonstrates your experience, skills, work process, and eye for design, which can be used when meeting potential clients or in job interviews. Luckily, many interior design courses help their students create portfolios of their projects for this very reason.
Is it possible to transition to interior design from an unrelated field?
Put simply: yes! While it can be helpful to have a background in a related subject, it is certainly not a prerequisite for succeeding in interior design. Many individuals go into interior design later in life with no previous experience and are able to learn the skills they need and also garner an enviable amount of experience.
4. How to Become an Interior Designer (5-step guide)
If you’d like to become an interior designer, then these are the five steps you’ll need to follow. Let’s dive in!
1. Learn interior design theory and fundamentals
Your first step to becoming an interior designer is to thoroughly learn about the theory and fundamentals that govern this field. This will involve getting to know the interior design principles of balance, unity, rhythm, proportion and scale, emphasis, contrast, and details, and learning how these can be applied to your designs. It will also be important to learn about the major interior design styles such as Traditional, Minimalist, Modern, and Bohemian, and to get to grips with the latest software in the field, such as Planner5D, Autodesk, SketchUp, and Homestyler, which enable a more streamlined approach to the planning and designing of residential and commercial interiors.
If you’re not quite ready to start an interior design course, there are other learning routes you can take to get to know these principles, styles, and tools before you embark on a more formalized learning program:
- Interior design blogs are a great way to onboard knowledge of the industry at your own pace. We’d recommend:
- Podcasts from interior design experts will keep you up to date with the latest trends and techniques in the field:
- The Great Indoors
- The Interior Design Business
- Dear Alice | Interior Design
- Interior design books are a great investment for those who want to dive a little deeper into interior design theory. Our favorites include:
- Social media can provide interior design inspiration and ideas. Take a look at these popular interior designer accounts:
2. Take an interior design course
An interior design qualification is the ideal way to onboard the skills, knowledge, and experience you’ll need to become an interior designer. Whether you decide to embark on a three-year undergraduate degree, a one-year master’s degree, a college evening class, or an online course or bootcamp, a structured program of learning can be highly beneficial to onboarding the right skills and information, keeping your motivation levels high, achieving your desired employment outcomes, and boosting your networking opportunities. Here are some of the most popular options for studying interior design.
Undergraduate degree in interior design
An undergraduate degree in interior design is typically around three years long and will consist of a combination of project work and theory. While some universities make online study an option for students, many still use a more traditional, full-time, in-person teaching model that involves lectures and seminars. Those who choose to study interior design this way benefit from structured seminars and lectures, input from experienced lecturers, recognized certification upon course completion, a completed portfolio of work, and, often, the opportunity to take part in work placements with established interior design firms.
Postgraduate degree in interior design
A postgraduate degree in interior design, such as a master’s, can be a route into the field for those with a design background who wish to build on their existing skills. Usually consisting of one year of study (in addition to a degree in a related subject), a postgraduate degree in interior design teaches designers how to refine their skills for this particular industry, acquire the knowledge required to set up a business in interior design, work on interior design projects, and put together a professional portfolio.
Online course
An online certificate program in interior design is a popular learning option for those who seek flexibility in how and when they learn. As well as teaching the theory of interior design and the tangible skills needed to work in the field, many online courses are career-focused; assisting students in creating portfolios of their projects, helping them with job applications, and prepping them for interviews. Online courses are often suitable for those with other commitments and who wish to study at time slots that suit their schedule. These courses typically enable 24/7 access to course materials, video tutorials, and an online student community.
3. Learn industry tools
Knowing the right interior design tools will be crucial to your success as an interior designer. The latest software in the field will assist in the creation of high-quality designs, help you organize your projects, and support your collaboration with stakeholders, colleagues, and contractors. Luckily, there are a whole host of paid and free interior design tools that can help you with the following facets of interior design:
- Multi-layered drawings
- 3D modeling
- Team collaboration
- Project management
- Floor planning
- Animation
- Photo-realistic rendering
- Furniture and accessory customization
- Virtual reality simulation
Apply your interior design skills to real projects
Getting real-world experience is an important facet of becoming an interior designer. After all, this is a very hands-on profession! There are numerous opportunities out there for those still looking to apply their skills to interior projects and gain some real-world experience. If you’d like to put what you’ve learned into practice, we’d suggest trying one of the following:
- Offer to shadow a professional interior designer
- Apply for a work placement with an interior design company
- Offer your interior design skills to friends or family who might be looking to redesign or rejuvenate their homes
- Volunteer to do a redesign of a space that may not have the funds to hire a professional interior designer, such as a community space, charity office, school building, or church hall
- Redesign your own living space. Be sure to take before and after photos, document your process, and publish your results on your blog or social media accounts
Learn More: Top 9 Interior Design Websites and Ideas to Inspire Your Next Project
Build your interior design portfolio
Your interior design portfolio is your ticket to attracting clients as a freelancer or landing an in-house position or even your next permanent role. It’s a document of how you work, what you’ve achieved so far in your education and profession, your personal style and preferences, and, most importantly, contains the very best examples of the projects you’ve worked on. Before you check out our actionable guide to creating your interior design portfolio, jot down these important best practices to help build an interior design portfolio that will get you noticed (and hired) by potential employers.
- Only include the projects you’re most proud of. Remember, quality over quantity matters here. Take a look at AND learner Vinay Prajapati’s Interior Design Portfolio for reference.
- Document your process–clients and employers will want to know how you work.
- Lead with visuals and be concise and impactful with your text
- Keep your portfolio updated
- Include high-quality photos or CGI renders
- Consider including testimonials from previous clients
- Make it easy for interested parties to get in touch
5. Starting a Career in Interior Design
After you’ve put together a professional portfolio and mastered interior design theory and practical skills, you’re ready to start looking for your first position in the field.
Here are our top tips for landing your first interior design role.
- Get to know the interior design job market.
With numerous job titles falling under the header of “interior design”, which role do you think you’re most suited to? If you’re just starting out, it would be wise to consider “assistant” and “junior” interior design positions which will give you a chance to hone your skills and build up some more experience.
- Polish your CV, online profiles, portfolio, and application letter.
Is your CV up to date? Does your LinkedIn profile contain your most recent qualifications and skills? Have you curated your Instagram to contain your most recent interior design projects? Does your portfolio only contain your very best work? Now’s the time to go over your application documents with a fine-tooth comb to ensure they are looking their very best for potential recruiters, employers, and clients.
- Apply for positions and prepare for your first interviews
When getting ready for your first interior design interview, run through potential interview questions with a friend or family member, do your research on the company or client, and remember why you got into interior design in the first place–you won’t lose any points for being passionate about your new career.
6. Next Steps
In this ultimate guide to becoming an interior designer, we’ve provided you with the skills, benefits, tools, and learning routes of successful interior designers, before rounding off with a complete, five-step guide to launching your own career as an interior designer. If you follow our advice, you’ll be ready to apply for your first position in the field in no time.
If you’re curious about where the best place is to start learning about interior design, onboarding the relevant skills, and building your portfolio, then check out AND’s Interior Design Course which comes with dedicated placement support and a job guarantee.
For further assistance, here are some resources you can consider before making a final decision:
- Watch this session by Snehanshu Mukherjee, Founding Partner at T.E.A.M and Mansi Almadi, an Interior Designer at Studio Lotus
- Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of our courses.
- Check out our Interior Design courses - all courses are taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts.
- Take advantage of the scholarship and funding options that come with our courses to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
