life as an interior designer

The Perceptions

There are certain perceptions that do not fit the norm about life as an interior designer. I’ve learned this much over the past 38 years. Especially now, where the lines blur between job descriptions. I believe there is that daydream image of a jet set lifestyle floating about in the heads of some new interior design students. It seems to cloud the reality of long days, ruffled clothes, and those(consistent) moments of you slipping into a quiet space for some mental readjustments and controlled breathing. Truth is, that there is little of the posh living and a lot of daily stress.

It is important you (the student) come to grips with the facts before you commit to such a career. You have to be willing to accept the chaos and workloads, ups and downs as well as many other aspects of living most of your life is such an industry. Why waste your valuable life on something that you do not have complete passion for? Life will only become a prison.

Now, if you are one of those individuals who love the chaos and hurdles involved, and you have enough passion and desire to march on – then, you’re in the right place! Continue on!

life as an interior designer

Design is seldom free of obstacles

As I already alluded to, there is no such thing as perfection in this world! And, life in the Interior designer industry isn’t any different. It is passion that keeps us going on any career path. There is an inner joy and rewards to be had from our daily quests! We long to find things that stimulate our minds and heighten our senses. Without that passion and stimuli, your life would be incredibly boring and frustrating, to say the least. There will always be such obstacles lurking around each corner. Ones that throw havoc to the wind, scattering themselves among your well-prepared plans.

Is that a bad thing to have so many obstacles? No, it’s not. Some of us have quirky personalities that thrive for such challenges. I am one of them and perhaps you are as well. Whatever the case may be, you should know whether this fits you as a person, especially before committing to an education, and then a career path in such an industry.

The Interior Design Industry is always Evolving

In today’s industry, interior designers and interior architects are becoming harder to separate into different columns. There is a fusion taking place between job descriptions as each year progresses. I see it all for the better. It is evolving and changing with the times. And, we’re at a major junction of change in this world. Everything is morphing as the world shakes and cracks to accommodate a new way forward. Question is; are you ready?

We should be a bit psychologist, salesperson, artist, project manager, 3d modeler, photographer, lighting engineer, rendering guru, and AutoCad and then some. A person of many masks and faces. And, because we’re always adapting to industry changes, we have to be willing to add more skills all the time!

Alway keep in your mind that most months have periods that are emotionally taxing and frustrating. It takes the right person to handle these pressures when they swell. Always remember that “How well or badly you handle things, is often the difference between winning and losing”.

Know your Clients very well

An important trait is understanding the fundamentals of psychology. Understanding all of your client’s needs, even when they do not, is a hard earned skill for most designers. Patience is a must, as it can get complicated quickly with most projects. You can go through a whole bag of emotions is a single day if you’re not careful. So! Should you be a designer? Sure! If you have the passion, drive, and the ability to thrive on those roller coaster-ride days. If you are truly made for this industry you’ll end up on the side of “grateful”, especially when you know you’ve made it through the chaos together, along with your team -resulting in a happy customer.

Before we move on, I should point out, that not all client / customer marriages work out! There can be many reason for that to take place. Some will be far beyond your control. Having pointed this out, be prepared for such situations. You can’t be in such an industry, and expect difficult clients not to happen. The more projects you have, the more you will likely encounter them. Likewise you can’t stop personality conflicts from taking place between designers and customers, but at least you can adjust to it if the client is willing to.

Video by Karin Bohn

Designers enjoy moving around

The majority of young Interior Designers are hard to keep in one place for a substantial amount of time. It is the nature of the world we currently live in or have been living in for the past decade. Young adults like to travel and work, learn and grow. It’s all good! Only a small handful of designers will be looking for long term employment near a specific location.

An employer should understand that the world is vastly different, as should the student. We have to adapt to this global change and hire or seek employment with this in mind.

I suggest that you really examine your desired journey and find the right employer. One who supports the path you’re on or at least accepts it. Keep in mind that the more time you take to plan your path, the better off you will be in the long run.

So, the takeaway?

Be careful about your initial perceptions of living life and working as a dedicated designer. There are many unseen hurdles in every job. They’re often a sudden series of swift kicks from the school of hard knocks! But, if you really love what you do, it all is worth the white knuckle days.

Thank you for Reading!

Thank you for spending some time reading and sharing. I hope this made some of you want to live life as an interior designer. BTW, If you have questions please send by contact or leave a comment below. Also, please check back often or sign up for updates for new posts.