Interior designer
Interior designers plan the internal layout and decoration of public, commercial and residential buildings and spaces.
Typical Salary
£23,000 – £45,000
per year
Working Hours
37–42
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As an interior designer, you could:
- work with clients to understand their ideas and what they want
- advise on use of space, colour schemes, fabrics, fittings and furniture
- prepare detailed 2D and 3D plans using design software
- provide estimates for materials, work and timescales for different design options
- find suppliers of fittings, furniture, fabrics, and wall and floor coverings
- draw up instructions for contractors, or act as a project manager from start to finish
Skills needed
- design skills and knowledge
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- knowledge of building and construction
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to work well with others
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
Career progression
With experience, you might move into related work, for example:
- theatre set design
- visual merchandising
- exhibition design
- lighting design
- furniture design
- ergonomics