Essay on Profession: Pursuing Interior Design

I am skilled with many artistic features that would assist me while I move forward through schooling to prepare myself for a future career in Interior design. I have all the traits that an interior designer should have including, organization and color matching. Decorating is a passion of mine that I would love to include in my everyday life. Although I have some knowledge about this career, I need more information about how to succeed. Learning more about the education, skills, and design trends is beneficial to understand. 

People hire interior designers for all sorts of things from sketching room layouts to calculating costs and predicting timelines. Many interior designers are self-employed, but others may start at another company to gain experience and customers. “Interior designers also make a number of decisions about space, color schemes, furniture styles and appropriate materials." They can look at a room and turn it into their client's dreams by adding the correct amount of color and texture (Williams). To be the best possible, interior designers need at least an associate's degree in interior design or architecture. It is also required to have at least two years of professional experience. Depending on how long and what level of education you want, the process can take up to 6 years. Not only is college needed, but most states require the Industry’s gold standard certification. The three-part National Council for Interior Design Qualification, also known as the NCIDQ exam, proves whether the student should be certified (Williams). While getting a degree, interior designers will learn many topics like “construction, design theory and history, communication and business”(Williams). 

Critical skills are needed to develop success in this career. Drawing a floor plan is one skill that interior designers use a lot. A floor plan is a diagram of a room or many rooms. When creating a floor plan, the measurements of appliances and furniture should be in mind as they play important roles. People use floor plans for different situations; they are “useful to help design furniture layout, wiring systems, and much more”. Interior designers are responsible for creating a comfortable living space for their clients, so rooms should be in areas that make life easier. Bigger is better in this situation. A room needs to be accessible to clients and allow them to have a comfortable life (“Floor Plans”). Precise decision-making is an essential factor in this plan, and the needs of clients should be the main priority. Drawing a floor plan involves many steps to make it perfect for less work and a smaller chance of mistakes. First, an area is chosen, either existing or not. Measuring is an immense skill needed for this project because of walls, furniture, and doors. They need to be accurately measured for the best outcome. Drawing to scale is as critical as measuring, allowing others to see the most accurate depiction of how the designed area is going to appear. Next, the walls of the chosen room are drawn to scale, which creates a better boundary of where work is being done. At this point, architectural features that are not easy to change are added to the drawing including, windows, doors, and significant appliances. Lastly, the best part is adding furniture, which will make space look livelier and more welcoming. During this time, interior designers can have fun and test out different furniture options to please their clients (“Floor Plans”).

There are so many different trends that have taken place throughout the years. The history of home décor is fascinating to observe. Nowadays, houses are very modern and minimalistic, but years ago, houses were more colorful and adventurous. In the 1940s, “hardwood floors became “old-fashioned” as stylish homeowners turned to wall-to-wall carpeting. This more affordable option imparted a sense of comfort that made spaces cozier and more inviting, perfect for gatherings of friends and family” (Noonan). Families all over the United States found that carpet was a better fit and made their houses look more comfortable. Looking at this trend and many others, you can see that they do not always stay in style. In 2020 interior designers and homeowners get excited when they remove carpet to see beautiful wooden floors. Through the 1950s and 1970s, home décor was all about colors from pastel toilets to floral wallpaper. Homeowners desired a brighter look for their home, and “light pastels of the 1940s gave way to brighter shades in the '50s, with mint green and cotton candy pink popping up in paint, tile, bathroom fixtures, and kitchen appliances”(Noonan). This colorful trend has died off, but wallpaper is still a hit allowing easy installation of walls that add a pop of color to any room. There have been many trends throughout the decades, and home design trends are the ones to remember as they might come back. 

I have struggled in the past with what career I would like to pursue, and interior design would be an eye-opening experience that I would love to take part in. There are an unlimited amount of options to choose from when designing a house or building that I cannot wait to explore. This job is beneficial because every day, I get to make my clients' dreams come true. Interior designers give people the homes they customized themselves, which makes a home even more special. This career will supply me with the ability to keep a budget, make tough decisions, and manage time effectively. These traits can help me with my career and life outside of work.