How to Become an Interior Designer

As people increasingly focus on the quality of their living environment, interior design—a profession that merges aesthetics, functionality, and creativity—has become more popular and respected. Whether it's a residential space, commercial venue, or office environment, interior designers play a key role in enhancing the value and comfort of spaces. Many people are intrigued by this career path but wonder: how does one become a qualified interior designer?

Becoming an interior designer is not an overnight process. It requires structured learning, practical experience, a wide range of skills, and ongoing creativity. Here, we will outline the key steps and essential elements needed to pursue a career in interior design, including education, software and skill development, portfolio creation, hands-on experience, certification (optional), and career direction.

1. Pursue Formal Education: Build a Strong Foundation

The first step in becoming an interior designer is choosing a relevant academic path. Common majors that lead into the interior design field include Interior Design, Architecture, Environmental Art Design, Spatial Design, and Decorative Arts. These programs usually cover topics such as spatial composition, architectural basics, ergonomics, design theory, materials, color theory, and lighting design—equipping you with a solid foundation for future work.

It is highly recommended to enroll in a full-time undergraduate or associate degree program. While some roles may not strictly require a high level of academic qualification, having a relevant degree significantly boosts your employability and provides systematic training in the field.

If you do not have a design background, don’t worry. There are many reputable training centers, studio-based workshops, and online courses that offer comprehensive instruction in design theory, software skills, and project simulation—making it possible for beginners to enter the industry.

2. Master Design Software and Core Skills

Interior design is a highly technical and software-driven profession. AutoCAD is the most commonly used 2D drafting software, essential for creating plans and construction drawings. SketchUp is widely appreciated for its ease of 3D modeling and is ideal for building quick spatial structures and visual presentations. For high-quality renderings that simulate realistic lighting and materials, designers often use 3ds Max along with the V-Ray plugin. Photoshop plays a key role in post-processing, image editing, and enhancing renderings. As Building Information Modeling (BIM) becomes mainstream in large-scale design, mastering tools like Revit is increasingly important.

However, software skills alone are not enough. A truly capable interior designer must understand space planning—how to arrange rooms, pathways, lighting, and circulation based on functionality. You should also develop a strong grasp of color theory, composition, proportion, and other design principles to create visually pleasing and harmonious spaces.

In addition to aesthetic sense, interior designers need to understand material selection, construction processes, budgeting, and lighting systems. This requires more than just artistic ability—it demands practical knowledge, project management skills, client communication, and coordination with construction teams.

The combination of theory and software training must be reinforced through practical application. Whether through academic projects, simulated exercises, design competitions, or real-world assignments, hands-on experience is critical for developing true competence and problem-solving ability.

3. Build a Personal Portfolio: Showcase Your Design Strengths

In the interior design field, your portfolio is often more important than your diploma or certificates. It’s a direct reflection of your skills and creativity, and the most powerful tool when applying for jobs, pitching clients, or applying to graduate programs. A strong portfolio demonstrates not just your design style, but also your problem-solving ability and technical depth.

Your portfolio should feature several representative projects, including school assignments, personal work, studio exercises, or real-world internships. Each project should include context and objectives, design concepts, hand-drawn sketches, floor plans, elevations, 3D models, rendered images, and material analysis. Brief descriptions should be included to explain your design thinking and process.

Visually, your portfolio should be clear, organized, and appealing. Avoid cluttered pages or overly ornate layouts. Each page should focus on a theme and maintain a consistent visual style. Depending on your application needs, you may want to create multiple versions—such as a job-seeking portfolio, a graduate school version, or a presentation version—to emphasize different strengths.

As your experience grows, remember to regularly update your portfolio. Remove weaker early works and add more mature, high-quality projects to better reflect your development and potential.

4. Gain Experience and Improve Professionally

Before officially entering the workforce, seeking internships at design firms is a great way to gain hands-on experience and understand how the industry operates. Internships give you the chance to engage with real clients, explore project workflows, and learn how designs are brought from concept to completion.

During your internship or early employment, try to participate in as many different types of projects as possible—residential spaces, retail environments, office interiors, hotels, restaurants, and exhibition spaces. Each type has unique design requirements, budgets, and aesthetic expectations, offering valuable exposure and well-rounded development.

In addition to workplace practice, participating in design competitions is an excellent way to grow quickly. Many competitions cater to students and young professionals, such as those organized by the China Building Decoration Association, Red Dot Design Award, and iF Design Award. Competitions help build your portfolio and, if you win, offer prestige, cash prizes, and industry recognition.

Workshops, lectures, design expos, and networking events are also valuable for expanding your professional connections and staying updated on emerging trends and technologies.

5. Consider Getting Certified (Optional)

Although not all regions require certification to practice interior design, obtaining professional credentials can be a strong asset—especially if you plan to work in specific countries or high-end firms.

In the United States, the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) is one of the most respected certifications in the field. It verifies your ability to independently manage large-scale design projects, from concept to implementation. Applicants must meet strict education and work experience requirements, followed by passing a professional exam.

In China, designers can pursue national vocational qualifications or credentials offered by design industry associations. While not always mandatory, these certifications can help with job applications, promotions, or bidding on public projects.

In addition, as sustainable and green design becomes more important, many designers pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or WELL certifications. Those specializing in home styling and furniture curation may benefit from becoming certified in soft decoration or furniture design.

That said, keep in mind that certifications are not everything. Most employers place more emphasis on your portfolio, practical skills, and problem-solving ability. Therefore, whether or not to pursue certification depends on your goals and the requirements of your target market or firm.

6. Choose a Career Path: Explore Diverse Opportunities

Once you’ve completed your training and built up a solid portfolio and experience base, it’s time to consider your career direction. The most common path is joining an interior design firm. Starting out as a design assistant or draftsperson, you can gradually work your way up to lead designer, project manager, or even creative director. These firms vary in size and specialization, from boutique studios focused on home interiors to large companies that handle commercial and public spaces.

Another route is to work for architectural firms or real estate developers. In such organizations, interior designers are often responsible for specific components of large architectural projects, focusing on detail design, material specifications, and implementation coordination. These positions usually offer structured workflows and large-scale project experience.

As your skills and network mature, you may consider becoming a freelancer or starting your own studio. Freelancing offers greater flexibility and the potential for higher income, but it also requires excellent time management, client acquisition, budgeting, and business skills.

Interior design expertise is also transferable to adjacent fields. You might find exciting opportunities in furniture design, soft furnishing curation, exhibition or event design, stage and set design, space branding, or design education. In today’s digital age, many designers also use social media, blogs, or online courses to convert their knowledge and portfolio into content and services—diversifying both income streams and audience reach.

Conclusion: Interior Design Is a Lifelong Creative Journey

Becoming an interior designer is a long-term, skill-driven journey that demands dedication, adaptability, and a passion for design. From studying the fundamentals, mastering software, developing creative thinking, and building a strong portfolio to gaining real-world experience, certifications, and ultimately choosing your career path—every step matters.

This profession isn’t just about drawing or aesthetics; it’s about creating meaningful spaces, solving problems, and improving how people live and interact with their surroundings. It blends rationality and emotion, logic and beauty.

If you’re someone who loves creating, enjoys communication, and dreams of transforming everyday spaces into something unique and inspiring, then interior design is a path worth pursuing. With patience, passion, and professionalism, you can craft a fulfilling and rewarding career—one beautiful, functional space at a time.