Do you enjoy decorating your surroundings? Some people have a natural talent for design. If you enjoy decorating rooms and arranging furniture, a career in interior design may be for you.
Interior Designers are in high demand today, whether in corporate or residential settings, and it has become a promising career path. Interior Designers can transform ordinary office spaces, homes, and hotels into works of art by using creative thinking and imaginative skills.
Do you aspire to be an interior designer or are you just exploring the field? In either case, you’ve come to the right place! This blog discusses about how to become an interior designer and the skills required, colleges and courses, salary, and what else it takes. Follow the step-by-step guide in the blog to become an interior designer.
Who is an Interior Designer?
Interior designers determine space requirements and select essential and decorative items, such as colours, lighting, and materials, to make indoor spaces functional, safe, and beautiful.
Learn more: How to become a Ceramics Designer- Detailed Guide
How to become an Interior Designer?
Step 1: Stream to select
Due to the versatility of the field, you can select any stream to pursue interior design.
Step 2: Certification courses and project courses
After finishing your 10th, you can pursue the following certification courses to become an interior designer:
- Interior Design Course Online
- Certified Interior Designer
- How to Work with Interior Design Styles Like a Pro
- How to Design a Room in 10 Easy Steps
- How to Use Color Like a Pro
- Design is in the Details: How to Accessorize Like a Pro
- How to Use Lighting Design to Transform your Home
- Intro to Interior Design Course
- The Complete Sketchup & Vray Course for Interior Design
- Design your Room Using Sketchup
- Certificate in Interior Design
- Certificate in Interior Design and Decoration
Step 3: Educational qualifications
While a formal education is not required, most interior design firms prefer designers to have a bachelor’s degree. There are also interior design programmes at the diploma, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels.
How to become an interior designer after 10th?
If you want to be an interior designer, interior design games will allow you to unleash and nurture your creative side. There are also diploma courses in interior design that students can pursue after finishing class 10. Some universities require applicants to pass entrance exams. Some of the entrance exams are UCEED, AIEED, NID, BHU UET, MET, SOFT SET etc.
- Diploma courses to become an interior designer in India:
Course | Duration |
Diploma in Interior Design | 1-2 years |
Diploma in Interior Design and Architecture | 1-2 years |
Diploma in Interior Design and Display | 1-2 years |
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How to become an interior designer after 12th?
Many students choose an interior design career after 12th because of the numerous opportunities it provides. To meet the demand for interior design in the job market, top universities are developing a plethora of interior design courses after 12th.
- Diploma courses to become an interior designer in India:
After completing 12th, students with a minimum of 50% in any stream can pursue a bachelor’s degree in interior design or enrol in diploma programmes. Some colleges also give admission based on the qualifying examination merit list. Some of the entrance exams are MRNAT, NICC, SEED, IIAD, AIEED, UID Design Aptitude Test, MUSAT etc.
Course | Duration | Course Fee (per annum) |
Diploma in Interior Designing | 3 years | ₹15,000 – ₹2,00,000 |
Post Graduate Diploma in Interior Design | 2 years | ₹30,000 – ₹3,50,000 |
Diploma in Interior and Space Design | 3 years | ₹3,96,000 |
Diploma in Interior and Furniture Design | 3 years | ₹3,00,000 |
Want to start early? Check out Clever Harvey’s JuniorMBA in Design&Branding program for hands-on experience.
- Top diploma colleges to become an interior designer in India:
Name of Institution | Location |
Apeejay Institute of Design | Delhi |
LISAA School of Design | Karnataka |
Institute of Design Environment and Architecture | Maharashtra |
Parul Institute of Design | Gujarat |
SAGE University | Madhya Pradesh |
ITM University | Madhya Pradesh |
Poddar International College | Rajasthan |
RIMT University | Punjab |
Royal Global University | Assam |
Sir Vithaldas Thackersey College of Home Science | Maharashtra |
- UG courses to become an interior designer in India:
Course | Duration | Fees |
B.Des (Interior and Furniture) | 4 years | ₹2,00,000 to ₹12,00,000 |
B.Des Interior Design | 4 years | ₹3,00,000 to ₹12,00,000 |
B.Sc (Interior and Furniture) | 3 years | ₹1,00,000 to ₹9,00,000 |
BA (Hons) Interior Design | 3 years | ₹90,000 to ₹9,00,000 |
BA Interior Design | 3 years | ₹90,000 to ₹9,00,000 |
B.Sc in Interior Design | 3 years | ₹2,00,000 to ₹9,00,000 |
B Sc (Hons) Interior Design | 3 years | ₹1,00,000 to ₹9,00,000 |
- Top UG colleges to become an interior designer in India:
Name of Institution | Location |
INSD PUNE – International School of Design | Maharashtra |
CEPT University | Gujarat |
Vishwakarma University | Maharashtra |
MSU Baroda – Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda | Gujarat |
ITM Institute of Design and Media | Maharashtra |
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology | Karnataka |
World University of Design | Haryana |
Nikalas Mahila Mahavidyalaya | Maharashtra |
JNAFAU SPA Hyderabad – Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University School of Planning and Architecture | Telangana |
Arch Academy of Design | Rajasthan |
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- UG courses to become an interior designer abroad:
You will be exposed to new techniques and styles while studying interior design courses from abroad. While studying, you will have the opportunity to create a global portfolio of work to demonstrate what you have learned and how you can help your future employers or clients in India or abroad.
Course | Duration |
BFA in Interior Design | 4 years |
Bachelor of Interior Design | 4 years |
BA (Hons) Interior Design | 3 years |
- Top UG colleges to become an interior designer abroad:
Name of Institution | Location |
Florence Design Academy | Italy |
The Interior Design School, London | United Kingdom |
Pratt Institute | United States |
The Visual College of Art and Design | Canada |
Savannah College of Art and Design | United States |
Rhode Island School of Design | United States |
Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London | United Kingdom |
University of Technology | Australia |
Dublin Institute of Design | Ireland |
New York School of Interior Design | United States |
Step 4: How to prepare for the job?
- Nurture Your Creativity: Developing your creative skills will give you an advantage by allowing you to innovate and offer something unique rather than following a ‘copycat’ formula.
- Internships: An interior design internship is required for aspiring interior designers because it will familiarise them with the technicalities, knowledge, and skills involved in a career in interior design.
- Build a portfolio: Take high-quality photographs of your work and compile them into a professional portfolio.
- Look for continuing education opportunities: There are numerous professional certifications available to designers, as well as attending interior design conferences to stay current on trends and changes.
- Create Connections: Word-of-mouth referrals are a valuable source of new business.
- Understand the market: Subscribing to online industry newsletters, reading interior design magazines and digests and following influencers on social media are excellent ways to ensure that your design approach is in sync with what’s going on around you.
- Identify your niche: Examine what your competitors are offering and what you can do differently. This can include the services you provide or how you work and charge your fees.
- Toot Your Own Horn: Join social media platforms such as and share examples of your work there. Because competition is fierce in this industry, every bit of good PR helps.
Read more: How to become a Public Relations Officer in India
10 most important skills for becoming an interior designer
- A creative eye and attention to detail
- Vision
- Trend identification
- Knowledge of sustainable practices
- Superior communication
- Sketching ability and computer knowledge
- Organization
- Color basics knowledge
- Understanding of Spatial Balance
- Time Management Skills
Salary of an interior designer
Salary in India
An entry-level Interior Designer with less than one year of experience can expect to earn an annual compensation of ₹2,37,455 (tips, bonus, and overtime pay).
Salary Abroad
The following are some entry-level interior designer salaries from around the world.
Country | Annual Salary |
United States | $42,587 |
United Kingdom | £20,226 |
China | ¥117,110 |
Japan | ¥3,600,000 |
Denmark | 357,301 KR |
Canada | C$40,558 |
Top 10 recruiters in India
- The Karighars
- Morph Design Co. by Prestige Constructions
- Design Qube
- Carafina
- De Panache
- La Sorogeeka
- Morph Design
- Pinakin Design
- Raja Aederi
- Rajiv Saini and Associates (RSA)
Top 10 recruiters abroad
- Gensler
- HOK
- Perkins + Will
- Jacobs
- HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates
- IA Interior Architects
- Stantec
- CallisonRTKL
- Nelson
- HKS
More about interior designers
If you’ve arrived at this point in the blog, it can only mean one thing: you like interior designers and may one day become one yourself! As a bonus, a few Instagram accounts of a few interior designers are included here. Check them out and have fun exploring more!
- @1508LONDON
- @aerostudios
- @stac_architecture
- @o_plus_a
- @decoraid
- @ckda.inc
- @eastlakestudio
- @mmosersocial
- @justinablakeney
- @malene.barnett
Patience is an important factor to consider in interior design. Building your knowledge, portfolio, and brand takes time. Now that you have a step-by-step guide on how to become an interior designer, you can go out there and live your dream of becoming an interior designer in your own right. Best wishes for making those creative ideas a reality! Have fun designing!
FAQs about how to become an interior designer
What qualifications do you need to be an interior designer?
Ans: While formal education is not required, most interior design firms prefer designers to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Interior design programmes are also available at the diploma, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels.
How do I start my interior design career?
Ans: It is necessary to be creative and good at drawing/sketching to pursue a career in interior design, and it is necessary to have a good portfolio. You can also pursue an interior design diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s degree.
Can I become interior designer without degree?
Ans: It is possible to work as an interior designer without a design degree. It is more important to have the necessary skills and knowledge to land projects than to simply have a degree. To become an interior designer without a degree, follow the steps outlined below.
1. Observe and learn
2. Study interior design with a diploma or certification course
3. Seek out formal training
4. Keep upgrading your skills
Do interior designers get paid well?
Ans: The average salary for an entry-level interior designer is around INR 2.5 lakh per year, while a senior interior designer can earn up to INR 30 lakh per year.
Is interior design a stressful job?
Ans: Meeting a client’s specific requirements is a difficult task. Regardless of the industry, no one wants to hear their client say, “I didn’t like it.” The stress level can rise even higher when it comes to interior design because you may not be able to edit or delete mistakes.