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Interior Designer

Quick Facts

Median Salary$59,408
Most Common EducationBachelor's degree
Projected 10-Year Growth-6.92%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment

What They Do

An Interior Designer plans and designs interior spaces for buildings, including houses, offices and commercial buildings. Recommends and selects material, colors and furnishings to be used, including fabrics, flooring and furniture. May specialize in lighting design, or designing kitchens, bathrooms or closets; may focus on improving energy and water efficiency in a building.


Core Tasks:

  • Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
  • Research health and safety code requirements to inform design.
  • Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function.
  • Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.
  • Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success.
  • Inspect construction work on site to ensure its adherence to the design plans.
  • Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans.
  • Render design ideas in form of paste-ups or drawings.
  • Subcontract fabrication, installation, and arrangement of carpeting, fixtures, accessories, draperies, paint and wall coverings, art work, furniture, and related items.
  • Select or design, and purchase furnishings, art work, and accessories.
  • Estimate material requirements and costs, and present design to client for approval.
  • Research and explore the use of new materials, technologies, and products to incorporate into designs.
  • Design spaces to be environmentally friendly, using sustainable, recycled materials when feasible.
  • Formulate environmental plan to be practical, esthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity or selling merchandise.

What to expect as an Interior Designer

1Earn a Bachelor's degree

38% of people achieve this level of education.

2Gain skills and experience

See Interior Designer related courses on Tallo

3Land a job

1648 openings for Interior Designers

Career Progression

in United States (Nation)

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