What does it take to be an Interior Designer?
When trying to decide if Interior Design is right for you, it helps to know what that really means. Interior Design is not simply the profession that makes rooms and places pretty; it takes a little bit more than that. You need to know how to do some of the technical aspects of design also. Some of these technical things include:
Designing and reading blueprints: This is particularly for the projects that require a great change in the areas structure like wall removal etc. This is also required in order to make additional rooms, build gazebos, and adding extra rooms. You will need to draw up blueprints of the entire house or read the originals copies, so that you can do your job without causing much disturbance to the rest of the house or environment.
Environmental Analysis: Once you can read blueprints, you will have to analyze the information that is listed so that you can best decide where to go with your ideas. You need the ability to effectively create or remove space in a particular environment so that you can cause little or no disturbance the environment as a whole when making your changes.
Environmental Lighting: Many people forget that lighting is included in any space changing project. You must have knowledge of how lighting works, and have a general idea of what is needed to install light fixtures in areas that do not have them already. Many homes are not equipped with lighting fixtures in some rooms. Of course, if you wish to change the lighting fixtures from general lamps to say, track lighting, you may have a problem if you do not understand how to install it.
Basic Plumbing & pipe structure: If adding or changing spaces in kitchens and bathrooms, plumbing fixtures are often changed or re-organized. You will need to understand their basic functions in order to effectively plan a change that involves them, or is to be done around them.
Before you consider Interior Design as a profession, you should ask yourself these questions.
Interior Designers do more than just decorate a space.
Interior Design Portfolios
Education is the biggest and most useful tool when you choose to specialize.
Offer to do small jobs for free with the addition of a paid space. Ive made a list of places and jobs that you could do if starting your own business is just not right for you right now. Have business cards and your portfolio on hand. Review the tasks ahead of you before hand, and work on one item at a time.
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