Interior Decorating
Interior decorating is a challenging job with tremendous rewards. You are an artist, and instead of using clay or an easel, the entire room (or rooms) is your canvas. A newly designed home becomes another addition to your living portfolio. But before you can reach that stage, you need home decorating training from an accredited interior design school.
Interior design school is the first major step
Although entry into interior design is relatively easy, most homeowners will only hire those who have graduated from interior design school. Home decorating is a costly venture for homeowners, and before they devote money to such an investment, they'll want to make sure that you possess the requisite skills.
Requisite skills for home decorating
Home decorating can be a complicated procedure; even with proper training. Not only must you master spacing, lighting, flooring, colors, fashion, and decoration, but you must also learn plumbing, wiring, fixtures, cementing, tiling, and other manual skills.
Addition skills for interior decorating
Interior decorating will also require that you understand permits and zoning laws if you intend to make substantial alterations to certain homes and buildings. All changes must comply with state and federal regulations. A good interior design school will prepare you for these tasks. You'll have a major advantage over novices who decide to skip interior design school and freelance.
Salary and employment prospects after interior design school
How much you can make depends entirely on your neighborhood, clientele, experience, and creativity. However, the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that interior decorators made a median income of $40,000 in 2002. This same study suggests that job opportunities in the next decade will grow as quickly as the national average for other jobs. However, competition can become quite fierce, making the need for interior design school that much greater.
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