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Sydney Schubert

Professor Pettay

English 111

28 October 2021

Choosing the Path of Interior Design

Interior designers provide the finishing touches that any space needs. While many people

use Pinterest or Youtube to design their homes, an interior designer has the knowledge to create

a space that not only reflects a client’s desires, but adds their own personal flair. Their designs

can provoke emotion, and be seen as an art form. Since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of

designing people’s homes to reflect their personal style, and to make their homes truly shine.

Interior design is more than beautifying a space - it requires the knowledge of how to make a

space accessible and livable, and a creative mindset that is persistent.

Many people think of interior design as changing the color of paint on the walls, and

revamping furniture. While that is an important aspect of their job, interior designers do much

more than decorate. The Society of British and International Interior designers, an organization

setting the standards for interior design worldwide, conveys that an interior designer also has the

responsibilities of “operating across a variety of sectors with different laws for product use and

specification between residential and contract use,” and they must “comply with all building,

health & safety and product regulations'' (“What does”). Ensuring that a space is safe for people

is an interior designer’s most important task. Clients may ask for an extravagant design that is

unsafe, so the designer must find a happy medium where the space will be safe for a client but

also aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, American designers must ensure that their spaces are
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accessible for all people. O*net, a career information database, states that designers must “be

compliant with the Americans [with] Disabilities Act (ADA)” (“Details”). Those who are

disabled deserve to enjoy the same spaces as able-bodied people. Interior designers must be

mindful of this when executing their ideas in public buildings. Maintaining a reputation of

creating beautiful, yet safe spaces is a crucial responsibility many designers face.

Interior designers often acquire a bachelor’s degree before pursuing their careers. If a

person has not graduated with a degree in interior design, they are considered an interior

decorator due to the lack of structural knowledge and certification. “A degree from a CIDA-

accredited program is increasingly important,” relays Virginia Tech’s department of design

(Virginia Tech). A CIDA-accredited program will ensure that students obtain the knowledge

they need before pursuing a career as an interior designer. When a designer is unaware of

electricity and structural codes, something is bound to go wrong, and safety concerns will arise.

Designers also need to be highly creative in order to execute designs for clients with different

needs. Each person has a different preference for the style of their home (or building), so it is a

necessity that a designer is able to work with all styles, and come up with the best design

possible. The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, an art-based institution located in

California, says that interior designers need to be “highly creative,” and are expected to be able

to “design spaces for all sorts of clients'' (“6 Essential”). Someone who is detail-oriented and a

rule follower would do quite well in this field.

A great benefit of being an interior designer is that it is not usually a 9-5 office job.

Designers who start their own firms can choose which projects they take on, and the hours they

work. Additionally, designers can work from home! Alot.com, a website that provides a wide

array of information on any topic imaginable, emphasizes that a “self-employed designer has the
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power to move up in the industry without the hassle of having to impress a boss” (“The Pros'').

Being self-employed means there are no higher-ups to report to or set rules to follow. Dressing in

business casual is not for everyone, and being able to work on a design for a client while

watching Netflix in pajamas is definitely one plus of this career. Unfortunately, becoming self-

employed is a difficult path. Designers may need to work for a large firm and get their name out

before starting their own business with its own set of rules. While many designers love their jobs

and the creative outlet it provides, working with difficult clients proves to be a great downside of

this career. Alexandra Bee, a writer for the website Career Trend, which analyzes which career

may be right for its readers, states, “A disadvantage to being an interior designer includes tough

clients to work with when it comes to the overall design process.” Clashing ideas with clients is,

unfortunately, something that all designers face. It is important for a designer to be able to

overcome personal preferences and work with ideas provided by the client. Someone who is a

good communicator and mediator would thrive as a designer.

Interior design is a desirable career that requires much more work than expected.

Regulations and persistent clients may steer some away from this profession, but the creative

possibilities and opportunity to become self-employed are alluring. I feel a connection to this

career, as I was raised in a creative household, and often reconfigure my own home. The

challenges that come with interior design, such as ensuring a space is accessible for all people,

do not scare me. I truly enjoy helping people, and problem-solving on the fly is one of my many

skills. A creative career such as interior design is a dream for someone like me because it permits

the mind to grow and thrive.

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Works Cited

Bee, Alexandra. "The Disadvantages of Interior Designing." Career Trend, 14 Dec.

2018, careertrend.com/info-8049748-disadvantages-interior-designing.html.

Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

"Details Report for: 27-1025.00 - Interior Designers." O*NET OnLine, 12 Oct.

2021, www.onetonline.org/link/details/27-1025.00. Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

"How to Become an Interior Designer." NewSchool of Architecture and Design,

NewSchool, newschoolarch.edu/blog/how-to-become-an-interior-designer/.

Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

"Interior Design Career Outlook." allARTschools, All Star Directories,

www.allartschools.com/interior-design/interior-design-career-outlook/.

Accessed 20 Oct. 2021.

"Interior Designers." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department

of Labor, 8 Sept. 2021, www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/

interior-designers.htm. Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

"Interior Designer || Salary in Virginia." salary.com, 27 Sept. 2021,

www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/interior-designer-i-salary/va.

Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,

U.S. Department of Labor, 31 Mar. 2021, www.bls.gov/oes/current/

oes271025.htm#(9). Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

"The Pros and Cons of Interior Design." alot, Apr. 2015, careers.alot.com/

career-paths/the-pros-and-cons-of-interior-design--3057. Accessed 22 Oct.

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2021.

"6 Essential Skills Every Interior Designer Needs." Fashion Institute of Design

& Merchandising, fidm.edu/en/news/

Six+Skills+for+Becoming+an+Interior+Designer. Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

Virginia Tech school of architecture + design. archdesign.caus.vt.edu/itds/

accreditation/. Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

"What does an Interior Designer do?" The Society of British International

Interior Design, www.sbid.org/what-does-a-designer-do/. Accessed 22 Oct.

2021.

"What is the Advantage of Being an Interior Designer." International Institute

of Fashion Design, www.inifdpune.co.in/

what-is-the-advantage-of-being-an-interior-designer.php. Accessed 22 Oct.

2021.