How to become an interior decorator

Pathways to this career

1. Complete a recognised certification, an undergraduate course in interior design or an interior decoration short course. Industry-based courses may give you an employment edge.
2. Advance your skills as an interior decorator through postgraduate qualifications in interior design or architecture.
3. Seek out assistant roles or internships to gain hands-on experience. You'll be able to grow your expertise under the guidance of well-established, professional interior decorators.
4. Build a striking portfolio of your best work, your passion projects and small jobs. Appeal to design agencies or private clients by creating a professional website to showcase your work.

What does an interior decorator do?

Duties and tasks

• Collaborate with clients to understand their requests and offer decoration ideas that meet all aspects of clients desires including overall effect and budget.
• Create drawings, sketches or visual images of decorations for clients to review.
• Evaluate the relation between technical and visual applications of furniture, lighting, decor and layout of spaces to create the ideal balance between functionality and appearance.
• Manage the decoration process, using a variety of art, colour schemes, patterns, furniture and accessories to create visual effect and atmosphere of rooms and spaces.
• Plan budget for furniture and decorations according to clients budget and create working schedules for delivery and decoration of spaces.
• Recommend or meet with clients to pick out best materials and decoration to create and enhance interior environment according to desired atmosphere of living or work space.
• Understand how to use colour schemes, patterns, fabrics and material options to create ideal interior environment based on client satisfaction; stay up-to-date on latest decor and popular themes, colour patterns and decorations.

Industry bodies

• Design Institute of Australia
• Interior Designers Australia
• The Australian Design Alliance

Related jobs

• Architect
• Graphic designer
• Interior designer
• Painter and visual artist