How to Become an Interior Designer
An interior designer creates beautiful and practical spaces in places like homes, offices and hotels. They work with clients to understand their style and needs, then plan the layout, colours, furniture and lighting to bring the vision to life.
A Day In The Life
If you were an Interior Designer, you’d spend your day…
Visiting project sites, taking measurements, and discussing ideas with clients to understand their needs and style.
Creating design plans, choosing colours, furniture, and materials to bring the space to life.
Working with contractors and suppliers to make sure everything runs smoothly and stays on budget, then adding the final touches like lighting and decorations.
Wanna see an Interior Designer in action? Check out this video!
Is This Career Right for Me?
According to the Holland Codes, people in this career generally possess the following traits:
Challenges & Skills
No job is easy, but if you’ve got the right skills, you’ll be ready to handle anything that comes your way!
Challenges & Skills Needed to Overcome Them
Constantly changing trends
Skills: Continuous learning, attending industry events, and following what's new and popular
Clients can expect too much
Skills: Clear communication, setting realistic goals, and regularly updating them
Sticking to a budget while being creative
Skills: Innovative thinking by getting creative with cheaper options and focusing on what matters most
New tech is always coming in
Skills: Learning design software, try out new apps and design tools to stay ahead
More people want eco-friendly designs
Skills: Learn about green materials, sustainable practices and help clients make better choices
Intense competition with lots of other designers out there
Skills: Building a strong online presence, showcasing unique designs and networking
Managing everything in a project
Skills: Use planning apps, delegate tasks and time management
Sound like you? Then you might just have what it takes to tackle these challenges and thrive as an Interior Designer!
Career Pathway
Thinking long term? This career path shows you how you can grow your role (and salary!) in the world of interior design.
With every step, you’ll gain more skills, responsibility and opportunities. If you’re passionate about computer & multimedia, this career path could be your perfect match!
Global Opportunities
Pros in this field are in demand everywhere—your career could literally take you places!
Top countries hiring professionals in this field:
Switzerland
Interior designers in Switzerland earn high salaries and enjoy great job satisfaction, making it one of the best places to work in this field.
Luxembourg
With lots of wealthy clients and high demand for luxury design, interior designers in Luxembourg are paid well to match the cost of living.
Norway
Norway offers great pay for interior designers because there’s strong demand, excellent design education, and not enough local talent to fill the jobs.
We hope this guide has helped you understand what to expect and inspired you to explore a path that fits your strengths and passions. Good luck—and have fun discovering your future!
Students
© 2025 Afterschool. All Rights Reserved.
