So you’ve decided that you want to try your hand at interior design and decorating. However, you may not be sure where to begin. Perhaps you’ve heard pieces here and there or read articles online, but it’s overwhelming trying to figure out where to start learning about this type of work. It can seem like a complicated field with many rules, techniques, and jargon that might feel inaccessible as someone who isn’t in the industry. But don’t worry! You aren’t alone in feeling this way. Many people start their interior design career by taking small steps. While it may seem scary at first and perhaps even impossible if you don’t have a background in art or design, it is much easier than you think. You just need the right information before getting started.
What Is Interior Design?
Interior design is the process of choosing and arranging the furniture, decorative elements, and fabrics in a space to create a functional, purposeful, and aesthetic atmosphere. A professional interior designer is trained in design principles and the psychology of human behavior. They have experience in understanding what styles work best in certain spaces, how to best use a space to create functionality, and how to use color, pattern, and texture to create a specific mood or feeling. Interior designers vary in their focus. Some may specialize in residential design while others work in commercial design or even furniture design.
How to Become an Interior Designer
There are a few different ways to become an interior designer. If you already have a degree in design or architecture, you can apply for jobs as an architectural designer or interior designer. If you don’t have a formal degree in design, you can still try to start a business as a residential or commercial interior designer by taking classes and learning the trade through an apprenticeship. A third option to become an interior designer is to get a job in a design firm. You may not be able to start out as an interior designer, but you can gain experience in the field while learning from more experienced designers. This is a more traditional path as many designers start out in a firm before going out on their own and starting their own design business.
Decorating Techniques for Beginners
There are many different ways to get started with interior design, depending on what is most comfortable for you. You can start by trying different styles of design. For example, you can research Asian or tropical-style interiors, Mediterranean or Tuscan-style homes, or Scandinavian-style interiors. After you’ve selected a style that you like, you can explore different design elements that can be used in that style. Depending on the style, you can explore colors, textures, patterns, fabrics, and furniture pieces that you can use in your home. You can also try to start with a room in your home and think about what you want it to be like. How do you want people to feel when they are in that room? What function or purpose does it serve? What design elements would you like to include? You can also do a mood board, which is a collage or board with pictures and items that represent the mood that you would like to create with the design in that room.
How to Choose the Right Color for Your Room
One of the most important things you can do when decorating a room is choosing the right color. The color of your walls can completely transform the way a room looks and even influence the feelings you have when you are in that space. A good way to start choosing the right color for a room is by doing a color analysis. You can complete this by making a color wheel by using paints or paints on a computer. Then you can select three or four colors from your color wheel that you like. You can also try picking colors by feelings. For example, if you want a relaxing space, you can pick blue or green colors.
How to Become a Decorator
One easy way to get your feet wet in the field of interior design is to try decorating a room in your home or picking out furniture or decorations for another space you frequent. You could decorate your dining room, living room, bedroom, or any other room in your home that you want to spruce up. If you are picking out furniture, you can read reviews online to see what other customers like or dislike about the pieces you are considering. You can also try visiting furniture stores and looking at the pieces they have to see what inspires you. You can also decorate your desk at work or your desk at home. You can use various items such as pictures, decorative items, plants, or anything else that inspires you.
Summary
If you want to start decorating your home or working as an interior designer, you don’t have to go to school for years to do so. There are many online courses that teach the basics of interior design and some even allow you to earn a certification when you’re done. Be sure to do your research though, as not all courses will be useful. You can also read blogs and books about the field and attend design conferences to learn more. Once you have a grasp on the basics, you can start experimenting with your own designs and styles. From there, who knows where your career will take you!
