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Interior designer

Alternative titles for this job include

Interior designers plan and supervise the layout and decoration of the inside of buildings.

Average salary (a year)

£18,000 Starter

to

£45,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 42 variable

You could work

evenings / weekends attending events or appointments

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become an interior designer

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a relevant subject like:

  • interior design
  • art and design
  • interior architecture
  • spatial design

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

You could take a college course to get started, for example:

  • Level 3 Diploma in Interior Design
  • Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design
  • A Level in Art and Design

Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and a creative subject

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could do a furniture design technician advanced apprenticeship to get into interior design.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start as a design assistant with a company and take further training and qualifications on the job.

More Information

Further information

You can get more details about careers and training in design from the British Institute of Interior Design and from The Society of British and International Interior Design.

You can get information on working in this and other creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • 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

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day tasks, you may:

  • meet clients to discuss their requirements and ideas
  • develop designs to suit clients' needs, their budget, and the type of building
  • prepare initial sketches and mood boards for the client to approve
  • advise on use of space, colour schemes, fabrics, fittings and furniture
  • work out costs and prepare estimates
  • create detailed drawings from the initial sketches, usually on a computer
  • find suppliers of fittings, furniture, fabrics, and wall and floor coverings

Working environment

You could work in an office, from home, in a creative studio or at a client's business.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

You could move into related work like theatre set design, visual merchandising, exhibition design or furniture design.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Kitchen Sales Designer

  • Wage: £10,500.00 Annually
  • Location: BOURNE

Design Apprentice L3 (Kitchen and Bathroom)

  • Wage: £156.00 Weekly
  • Location: Hull
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Interior Design Level 1

  • Provider: THE TRAFFORD COLLEGE GROUP
  • Start date: 09 January 2023
  • Location: Stockport

Interior Design Introduction

  • Provider: EASTLEIGH COLLEGE
  • Start date: 27 September 2022
  • Location: Eastleigh
Find courses near you

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