Creative Career Options in Interior Design

 Guest Blogger #357, Entry #940, February 6, 2012

You might not think that there are a lot of options for careers when it comes to interior design; either you’re one of the people creating designs or one of the people installing them. Right? While it is true that you will probably have to choose one of these overall routes (although there are designers that also help with the real-world implementation of their plans) there are many ways in which you can specialize within the field. So if you’re interested in a career in interior design, here are just a few options you may want to consider.

You can specialize in interior design for specialty rooms

Image via: Decor8.Flickr

1.     By room

Although many homeowners have several home renovation projects in mind when they seek the services of an interior designer, there are probably an equal number that only have the budget (or the inclination) to tackle one room at a time. And as you are probably aware, kitchens and bathrooms are the most popular. So if you want to specialize only in certain room remodels you could achieve a targeted clientele.

2.     By style

Are you interested primarily in a certain style or era in the design world, like French antiquity, ultra-modern, or Asian design? If so you can certainly specialize in the area you prefer. If you become an expert you will probably have no trouble finding a spot at an interior design firm (although you may have some trouble starting your own business without a well-rounded style portfolio).

3.     Eco-friendly

The demand for green construction is on the rise, so if you value the environment and you would like to make every effort to preserve it through the course of your work, then perhaps a career in eco-friendly design is right up your alley.

Eco friendly design is a growing trend in careers

4.     Feng shui

This school of design features an emphasis on creating a harmonious and balanced interior space. And luckily for you, the concept has been around for ages, so it’s not like you have to reinvent the wheel to create the holistic home your clients are looking for.

5.     Outdoor spaces

Even though exterior spaces might not seem to fit under the rubric of “interior” design, more and more people are looking to turn their yard into an extension of their home, by way of creating an outdoor room. And if you are interested in mixing the design aesthetics used for interior spaces with natural elements, then this could be the specialty you’re seeking.

6.     Exhibits

You don’t necessarily have to design interior spaces solely for living inhabitants. In some cases, you can turn an interest in interior design into a career arranging exhibits for museums, theaters, films, trade shows, or even zoos. Any space that requires function and form can use the expertise of an interior designer.

7.     Corporate/commercial spaces

Although it could help to have a background in the particular type of building you’re looking to design for, you don’t exactly have to get an online masters in health administration, hospitality, or retail in order to design interior spaces for these industries. What you may need, in addition to training in design, is a basic understanding of marketing so that you can suss out what image a business is seeking to promote and how you can translate that into a three-dimensional space.

For more career ideas on Stagetecture, click here.