5 Skills Needed for an Interior Designer

A career in interior design could be perfect for creative individuals looking to help others express themselves. A background in interior design can open doors for corporate jobs or for owning a business. You could even work freelance from the comfort of your home. That doesn’t mean such a job would be easy, however, and some individuals may be better suited to the position than others. If you’re thinking about a career in interior design, here are some skills needed to fill the position.

Creativity

This one may go without saying, but it is an essential skill set for such an artistic job. When it comes to interior design, you need to be prepared for any type of challenge that could come your way. You may have to design a small space or a space with a strange or inconvenient layout. You may have a client on a small budget with no room for compromise. You may have a client that wants a pretty home but isn’t able or willing to give you much guidance. Not only would there be some pretty high-pressure situations, but you’ll also need to come up with creative solutions for all of them, usually within a timely manner. Thankfully, these types of tasks are usually exciting to creative individuals, and this probably isn’t a skill you need to worry too much about. Still, it’s never a bad idea to look for inspiration regularly to fuel your passion and keep your ideas fresh.

what should be included in an interior design portfolio

Aside from how a room looks, you’ll need to design for function, which means utilizing available space and creating the right ambiance. Chances are, the spaces you’ll be designing need to serve more than one function, so the look will need to compromise with things like appliances.

An Eye for Trends

Just like fashion, interior design trends change often, but now often do people really want to spend the time and money redesigning their homes and businesses? You’ll need to be able to combine people’s individual tastes with current styles and classic pieces that will retain their value and charm for years to come. This should keep the client happy, and get them the most value for their money. When you’re staging houses, you’ll have the difficult job of making a home inviting for a wide audience. You’ll need to appeal to the general population with just enough personal touches for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there.

Communication

This is a big one. If you don’t know how to ask the right questions or consult a client when it comes to the tough decisions, there’s a good chance no one will be happy at the end of the process. Your vision of shabby chic or minimalism could be very different from the vision of your client. If you don’t already have one, put together a portfolio of your work, and make sure there’s variety in the styles and price ranges of your services. It’s better to find out the two of you want two completely different color palettes in the planning stages than any time after. Make sure you’re upfront about your process and prices as soon as possible. The sooner the expectations are set, the better. This also sets the tone for dealing with setbacks later on.

Flexibility

Flexibility is important, especially if you’re working for yourself. You’re likely to serve a wide range of clients (at least until you’ve established yourself/your business and can comfortably settle into the desired niche) with a wide range of budgets. Situations can change, and change quickly. If you’re the type to enjoy a creative challenge, you’ll do just fine in this career.

Aside from working with your typical clients, you may have the chance to work with a number of professionals, like real estate agents and business owners. This will likely include working with vendors on behalf of your clients, so good relationships and networking are key.

Business Management

what to include interior design portfolio

This includes anything from budgeting your own finances to scheduling, email tasks, marketing, and contracts. You may benefit from a business license for design software or hiring someone for customer service. You may even want to look into certain types of certification programs. Even if you don’t want extra certifications, you should be aware of other professional areas you may cross into. For example, you may need to be aware of safety codes for homes and businesses, as well as structural designs for certain projects. You should be aware of staging tactics, as well as the process of appraisal and consignment. You could wind up scoring some amazing deals for yourself and your clients. Look into conventions and expos, since those events, as well as a number of other expenses, can be deducted from taxes.

These skill sets are just the beginning of the skills an interior designer needs to be successful in this industry. Even if you don’t think they’re all a personal strong suit, you can always work to hone the skills you find lacking.

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