10 Things to Consider if you want to be an Interior Designer
Home is where you come to rest after a long day. Therefore, it should be a comfortable space regardless of the design of your house. You may not have control about the outside because maybe, you may have bought a house or you are a tenant. However, you can design the interior of your house.
If your new home is empty and you want to make the perfect interior design, you may choose to hire an interior designer if you can afford, or you can do it yourself. It is possible to gather tips from people who have done it before either among friends or on the internet.
Journey to be an interior designer
Alternatively, you could design the interior your house too well to the point of getting more work from immediate friends after they see what you have pulled in your home.
There are certain rules that change the interior design of various places. For example, the purpose of these rooms – a home setting will have a different design from an office.
In addition, the orientation of a building will influence the decisions you make as a designer.
In order to fashion yourself as an interior designer, the following are some of the things you need to consider;
Are you a people person?
Being a people’s person means, you have to endure a lot. You will meet customers who have an idea of what the product should look like. Most times, these are good clients to work with because once you complete the work; he or she pays you and they are happy with your work.
On the other hand, you may meet some over-particular clients. These ones show dissatisfaction with your job regardless of the effort you have put in.
Of course, there are those who do not know what they want and all they crave for is change. To them, whatever you come up with is perfect, and they get you referrals for your business. It takes a peoples person to work with all these clients. It will help you notice a client’s personality and adjust accordingly.
Consider their style more than yours
As an interior designer, you want your work to have a touch of your likes and wants. This is good because it reflects passion in the work you do. You should always remember that your client has their likes and preferences, and your part is to guide them using your experience in design.
Codes and Laws
You should know something about load-bearing walls, electricity and plumbing codes. This will help you to know the legal boundaries that pertain to design and other disciplines. It may not be enjoyable, but it will help you stay above most designers and most importantly know how to keep the law.
You can work remotely
Technology has influenced design too. As a virtual designer, you can get an overseas client and work with them. This is a great opportunity for people who are working from home and have design skills.
Fierce Competition
When starting out, you will face challenges because there is stiff competition in the market. Consistency and persistence will help you rise. You also have to ensure you keep abreast of the trends in design.
You can do this by enrolling in a design school where you will learn new trends in the design industry.
Portfolio
Like in other professionals, you need to have a portfolio that is great to share with potential clients. It is not enough to talk about what you have done. A colorful portfolio in design is like ‘a picture that talks a thousand words.’
The potential client immediately identifies with the work you have done, the brands you have helped to create, and can evaluate whether you can match what they want.
You determine what you earn
You want to quit your day job and get into design because it looks fancy and it has more money than you are making currently. Unfortunately, this may be untrue.
You may be interested to know that unlike employment where you get a monthly paycheck, you have to determine what you earn by working hard and smart. Sometimes, you go through low phases of the businesses, but with consistency, you grow your earnings.
All Rounded
Designers should be all around. This means that, if you want to be a great interior designer, you should go out of your way to learn; computer-aided drawing, psychology, ethics, spatial concepts, ergonomics, and building concepts.
This helps you to have better chances of getting contracts about interior design from professionals in other occupations.
Have an interest in design
While the product in the interior design is awesome to look at, the work that is put therein is too much to enjoy. When drained, all you need is appreciation in terms of words and in payment.
An interest in design will help you to go through both uptimes and low moments with grace, courage, and enthusiasm to keep your brand growing.
Differentiate between design and decoration
Anyone can do decoration because it is simple, but interior design is not for everybody. The decoration is part of a design, but design can exist without décor. The design is broad and needs lots of knowledge and information to help you grow.
Accurately, it is the reason why great designers go to school to learn interior design. Even if you do not do a degree, you may get certifications from online sessions, and that will differentiate you from a basic designer and a decorator.