How To Become An Interior Decorator

One of the most important factors of building a house is how to go about the design. Any home owner would love to work with someone who possesses a good eye for beauty and design. An interior decorator’s job is to help their clients choose paint colors, type of windows, floor coverings, lightings and accessories to use.

How to become an interior decorator

Keep in mind that interior decorators are different from interior designers. Designers have the power to make changes to a client’s floor plan or furniture placement and spacing. They can also suggest installing walls or divisions in a house. Designers are also required to understand and interpret blueprints and other technicalities involved in architecture. On the other hand, interior decorators are more focused on adding the final touches of a house. While both professionals work in the same industry, they differ in a lot of things.

Becoming an interior decorator is quite easy. As long as you love working with colors, furniture and design, you are good to go.

First, you would need to finish your high school education. You cannot enroll in any secondary or vocational course without your diploma or a GED.
Apply for an Interior decorator training program in community or vocational schools within your state. It is very important to check with the Certified Interior Decorators International (CID) if the program you chose is accredited. CID also runs a school in Florida, which is the Decorator Training Institute (DTI). Another accredited school in the US is Penn Foster Career School in Pennsylvania.

CID-approved Interior decorator programs:

An interior decorator has the option to study online or by direct mail workbook program. Both programs can be done from home and cost $795 and $1025 respectively.
As soon as you finish the training program, apply for certification. You would need to pay a test fee of $95 including the test guide. The certification test could be done online or from home. Training certificates and other documents may be required before you can take the exam. Test results are available after a week from exam date.
Passing the exam can give you the designation of “Certified Interior Decorator” or CID. Membership with the CID costs $295 and is annually renewable.
Join seminars and workshops that you think could help you become a better decorator. Watch decorating shows, read interior decorating magazines. Do your homework to keep up with latest in designing. The architecture and design industry is competitive. You cannot afford to settle with outdated designs and ideas.
Market your skills by offering free advice to friends and family who are in the process of building or renovating their property. As an interior decorator, you would need to establish yourself to the public before you can land a job with an architectural firm. You would also need a stable client base if you are planning on starting your own business. There are a lot of ways on how to market your skills:

Use the Internet and social networking sites to promote your work. If your previous clients permit, post photos of your projects to showcase your ideas.
Tell friends and family that you offer decorating services for a reasonable rate
Be ready with business cards. And to boost your reputation, indicate that you are “certified” by putting the acronym CID after or below your name. This will assure your clients that they are working with a certified professional.

An interior decorator must love to play with colors and decorations. Not only that, he or she must be open-minded about all the possible design ideas a client has in mind. Decorators can suggest and assist, but cannot make major changes in the construction. But interior decorators enjoy the same benefits as interior designers. And according to BLS, the average income levels for both professionals are about the same in a year.

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How To Become An Interior Decorator

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