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Learning Interior Design: Where To Look?

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Published: 09-23-2015

Becoming an interior designer is truly a rewarding experience. Not only will a designer's work directly impact clients, but also whoever happens to step into their home or business. There is instant gratification as a designer starts to transform a space with their creative vision. If you've always loved using your creativity to revamp your space, and have been thinking of trying your hand at being an interior designer, luckily there are now many tools are your disposal to learn.

Magazines and books featuring interior decorating are plentiful and can be a great tool for inspiration and gathering an internal database of ideas. Using a binder and some sheet protectors, you can cut out and save all your favorite color pallets and design examples and use it as your own reference.

One of the best ways to learn is by first-hand experience. Famous interior designer, Rebecca Robeson started out by designing for friends and family and slowly building her portfolio that way. Here is a motivating video where she speaks about going to thrift stores to find her pieces and slowly developing her skills by asking people if she could decorate for them. Getting hands-on experience will be invaluable in learning how to work around obstacles or working with clients. You will also get the satisfaction of seeing your skills grow.

Watching instructional videos online or interior design television shows will also help your learning process. Watching videos will allow you to witness how experienced professionals approach difficult floor plans and overcome other challenges you might not have thought of. Watching experienced designers come up with multiple solutions is inspiring and demonstrates the level of expertise in their profession. By watching and taking notes and you can learn the tricks of the trade and incorporate them into your own design protocols.

Reading interior decorating articles online or using simulation websites will definitely help. Websites like Homestyler offer free interior design software that allows you to design your own floor plans and choose your own colors and furnishing. It's a great place to practice visualizing and then experimenting with outcomes. You can even share your designs with other people for feedback.

And of course, seeking formal training from a school is another way to learn and also receive credentials. By doing a search online, you can find all the accredited schools in your state, or you can find classes to take online. New York School of Interior Design offers online courses and a design certificate. These programs cover a lot of material to make sure you're fully prepared for any job in design, including: theory and history, art and architecture from other cultures, business management, and more.

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into being an interior designer, but there are so many places to learn that anyone can get started no matter what stage of life they're in. Stay passionate and love your work and you're well on your way to being a successful designer.
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