Interior Design

Work Characteristics

Aesthetics, safety and function of interior spaces are enhanced by interior designers. They decide how different texture, colors, furniture, space and lighting come together to address the needs of a building's residents. They help in planning the interiors of all kinds of buildings ranging from airport terminals, offices, hospitals, movie theatres, restaurants, shopping malls, schools, hospitals, hotels and private residences.

Usually their work entails decoration but more and more they are involving themselves with details of architectural design such as planning layouts for buildings under renovation, location of windows, escalators, stairways and walkways.

Some work in furniture stores, home and garden stores. They help customers choose color and style schemes or suitable lighting and accessories.

Most specialize in a specific area of design such as commercial or residential buildings. Others specialize in a particular kind of design element or kind of client, for instance health care facilities.

Work Environment

Mostly work is carried out indoors usually for regular hours. Freelance interior designers work on a job or on contract basis. They work during weekends or evenings as per the client's deadlines and schedule.

Educational Requirements

A bachelors degree in interior design and in some states a license is required for entry level jobs in interior design. After formal training candidates enter a 1-3 year apprenticeship in order to gain experience before joining a established association or taking a licensing exam of national level.

Professional design schools, colleges and universities offer courses that take 2-4 years to complete. Holders of bachelor's degrees qualify usually for formal design apprenticeship program which includes computer aided design, perspective, drawing, spatial planning, fabrics and color, architecture, furniture design, ergonomics, psychology and ethics.

Job Prospects and Salary Expectations

Growth is predicted to be even with the growth in all other professions. Increasing wealth of individuals and revamping of cities spell out opportunity for interior designers. However there is stiff competition as the people in this field are very talented and are in it to stay.

Salary starts as low as less than $23, 440 and goes up as high as more than $71, 220.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.