what is an interior decorator?

As an interior decorator, you are a professional trained to design and decorate interior spaces in homes, offices, commercial buildings, or similar. You aim to create visually appealing designs that remain functional and meet the customer's needs.

You work closely with your clients to understand their preferences and, more importantly, what they need from their space. You require good communication and collaborative abilities, as miscommunications in this line of work can be costly and cause a project to be drawn out much longer than it should.

Where necessary, you work with contractors who can carry out specialist work, such as electrical, plumbing, and other tradespeople, to complete a project. In some cases, bringing in contractors will speed up the project, while in others, it may be necessary—as would be the case with electrical matters.

To succeed in this profession, you use good time-management and organisational skills to ensure your projects remain on time and within budget. You display strong creative and technical skills and an eye for design. Knowledge of relevant laws and building codes is also necessary, and part of your job is to ensure you are up to date with such things.

Does a career as an interior decorator sound like it would appeal to your creative but organised personality and your excellent communication skills? If so, read on to find out what skills and qualifications are needed to succeed as an interior decorator.

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average salary of an interior decorator

According to Payscale, the average salary of an interior decorator in India is approximately ₹27,50,000 per year. This figure is more or less central to the average pay scale for this profession. At the entry-level end of the scale, interior decorators can earn upwards of ₹3,00,000, while the highest paid can earn as much as ₹60,00,000 per year.

factors that affect interior decorator's pay

Several factors can influence salaries. Education is important during the hiring process, but experience plays a much bigger role. Employers like being able to see past examples of your work. Location is also a factor in your potential earnings, with urban areas and large cities tending to offer higher salaries for interior decorators than less densely populated and rural areas.

Another factor in how much you can earn is the type of projects you work on. If most of your work revolves around high-end residential or commercial projects, you are likely to earn more than if you are working on budget-conscious projects

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types of interior decorators

As an interior decorator, you possess the skills to perform your function in a wide range of settings and scenarios. However, it is possible to specialise in specific areas of interior decoration. Here are the most common types of interior decorators:

  • residential interior decorator: as a residential decorator, you work primarily in homes—be they houses or apartments—often dealing with the person who lives in the property you are decorating.
  • commercial interior decorator: working on commercial properties, you design and decorate retail spaces, hotels, and even office spaces. While the basic premise of the role is the same, a different methodology and design language apply when dealing with commercial properties.
  • corporate interior decorators: you work in corporate environments, designing and decorating spaces like meeting rooms and offices.
  • kitchen and bathroom interior decorators: naturally, working with bathrooms and kitchens requires some specialist knowledge as you factor plumbing into your designs.
  • healthcare interior decorators: working as an interior decorator in a healthcare setting requires a different approach when compared to decorating a home or retail outlet, as medical concerns need to be taken into account.
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working as an interior decorator

Are you wondering what a interior decorator does daily? Read on to find out a interior decorator's work routine and duties.

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education and skills

Some of the academic qualifications for interior decorators include:

  • 10 standard: there are no hard rules about what qualifications are needed to become an interior decorator. In theory, you can enter into this profession with no education at all. In practice, most employers will require at least a basic education, if not more.
  • 12 standard: there are no specific subjects to aim for if being an interior decorator is your intended path, but some higher education can be extremely beneficial. To reach that higher education, you must have completed 10+2 in any stream with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
  • undergraduate degree: pursuing an undergraduate bachelor of science degree in interior design will give you a thorough grounding in the field you are entering. It will also help you stand out when applying for interior decorator jobs. A degree should be considered even if you are planning to start an interior decorating business of your own, as clients are more likely to hire an inexperienced interior decorator with qualifications.

skills and competencies

Some of the qualities of an interior decorator include the following:

  • creativity: you can certainly be a successful interior decorator if you are not a naturally creative person, but having that creative flair can help you in the design stages of your work.
  • technical skills and knowledge: as an interior decorator, you are not always the one doing the physical work. However, you understand what goes into every aspect of the decoration process. This prevents your design from being unworkable due to physical constraints, building codes, or other things that a less knowledgeable interior decorator might have missed.
  • organisation: an interior design project—especially one that involves contractors—requires a good deal of organisation to keep things on time and within the agreed budget.
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FAQs about working as an interior decorator

Here are some common questions about working as a interior decorator:

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