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Learn to be an Interior Designer
By
Rhonda Layton of Myinteriordecorator.com
Editors
Note: This article has been written because numerous questions we receive
regarding entrance into this field. Ms. Layton has allowed us to publish
this information and regrets that she will not be able to answer personal
emails on this subject. If
you are wondering about schools, contact FIDER. If you want to know about being
a licensed designer versus a decorator, please contact NCIDQ. Thank You.
When I was 13 years old in my 9th grade English
class, we were assigned a theme: What I Want To Be When I Grow Up. From
early on in life, all that I ever imagined I would be was an interior designer.
So, that theme was easy for me. I began doing research on where I should go to
school, what I should study and how much money I would make.
I can say now that I made some really large mistakes in
selecting my school, choosing the wrong internships and associating myself with
the wrong companies. But I have learned, picked myself up and am a better person
and designer as a result of it.
I get letters everyday from students who are interested in
interior design as a profession. They ask me the same questions that I asked for
my theme project. From my experiences with bad choices, my knowledge as a
business owner and a life long student of interior design, I have pulled
together some ideas to help up and coming interior design students so they won't
make the same mistakes I did. I hope you find them entertaining and informative.
If you should have any questions or need further assistance, please do not
hesitate to contact me at: info@myinteriordecorator.com.
What Is Interior Design All About Anyway?
Interior design is a widely misunderstood profession.
People get the romantic notion this business is all about picking out colors,
working with lush beautiful fabrics, and being creative all the live long day.
That isn't so. It is about making the sale, organizing the details and making
sure EVERYTHING is perfect for Mrs. Smith's installation on Friday. It's about
negotiating with installer's, paying furniture manufacturer's, keeping accurate
billing records, ensuring you have met codes for your local municipalities,
getting more of that fabric you ran out of, making sure the wall paper hanger is
in the room when he needs to be, and making all of it seem effortless and stress
free.
If I had known that design was so much business and so
little creativity, I possibly would have never allowed the thought to enter my
mind. But it did and now I am addicted.
Interior design does have some major advantages, however.
There is a very small "community" that is created amongst designers
within a city or region. You get to interact with a wide variety of individuals
and you do get to spend time surrounded by innovative, creative people with
drive, passion and brilliance for what they do. Design allows the creative
genius in you freedom to play and be.
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