Years Experience: Less than 1 year (Australia)

How to Become an Interior Decorator

An Interior Decorator decorates (or redecorates) interiors of buildings, with the aim of making rooms more attractive, comfortable and functional. Most interior decorators are hired to decorate homes (including yachts!), but they may also be hired to decorate interiors of businesses such as boutiques, restaurants, and offices. They may work on the entire interior of a building or a single room such as the living room, kitchen or bathroom.

An interior decorator’s work may involve a variety of elements, including:

• space planning or “layout”

• colour schemes

• furniture

• paint and wallpaper

• window coverings

• fabrics

• flooring and carpeting

• lighting

• art objects

• hardware fixtures

• accessories (e.g. vases, pillows, bookends)

• plants

A decorating job may be as simple as rearranging furniture yourself, or it may involve hiring and supervising contractors. As an interior decorator your tasks may include:

• meeting with clients to determine their wants and needs

• reviewing and taking measurements of the space you will be decorating

• preparing proposed room layouts

• obtaining cost estimates

• showing samples (e.g. colours, fabrics, tiles) to clients

• arranging and overseeing painting, wallpapering, flooring, etc.

• selecting and purchasing furnishings and other items

There are no formal educational requirements to enter this career. You can start calling yourself an interior decorator as soon as you start doing interior decorating.

$35,000 - $60,000

Average per year = $47,475