Interior designer

Career path and progression

With experience, you might move into related work, for example:

• theatre set design
• visual merchandising
• exhibition design
• lighting design
• furniture design
• ergonomics

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• design skills and knowledge
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• knowledge of building and construction
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to work well with others
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Art and Design - Interior designers use visual skills every day – choosing colour schemes, selecting fabrics and materials, and creating aesthetically pleasing spaces. A strong foundation in colour theory, composition, and visual communication is essential for developing design concepts that work for clients.
• Design and Technology - Interior designers need to understand materials, construction methods, and how things are made and assembled. They work with fittings, furniture, and fixtures, and need to know how different materials behave in real spaces – from flooring to wall coverings.
• Mathematics - Interior designers calculate room dimensions, material quantities, and project costs on a regular basis. They work with scale drawings, spatial measurements, and budgets, so being confident with numbers and geometry is essential for producing accurate plans and estimates.

Also relevant

• Computer Science - Interior designers use specialist software like CAD programmes to create detailed 2D and 3D plans of their designs. Understanding how design software works at a deeper level helps them produce more complex visualisations and solve technical problems with digital models.
• Business - Interior designers manage project budgets, source suppliers, negotiate prices, and often run their own design practices. Understanding how to manage finances, market services, and handle client relationships is important for building a successful career.
• Physics - Interior designers need to understand how light behaves in a space, including natural and artificial lighting, reflection, and colour temperature. They also consider structural loads when specifying heavy fixtures or making changes to the layout of a room.
• English Language - Interior designers write detailed design proposals, project briefs, and instructions for contractors. They also need to communicate ideas clearly to clients who may not have a design background, and present their concepts persuasively in meetings and pitches.
• History - Interior designers often draw on historical design movements, architectural styles, and period features when working on projects – especially in older buildings. Understanding the history of design helps them create spaces that are sympathetic to a building's character or reference a particular era.