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. Page 2 | 
