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Interior designer

Interior designers plan the internal layout and decoration of public, commercial and residential buildings and spaces.

Annual Salary

£23,000 to £45,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

37 to 42 variable

You could work: evenings / weekends; attending events or appointments

0.5%
Future employment

There will be 0.5% more Interior designer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As an interior designer, you could:

  • work with clients to understand their ideas and what they want
  • advise on use of space, colour schemes, fabrics, fittings and furniture
  • prepare detailed 2D and 3D plans using design software
  • provide estimates for materials, work and timescales for different design options
  • find suppliers of fittings, furniture, fabrics, and wall and floor coverings
  • draw up instructions for contractors, or act as a project manager from start to finish

Working environment

You could work in an office, from home, in a creative studio or at a client's business.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
University

You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

  • interior design
  • art and design
  • interior architecture
  • spatial design

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
College

You could complete a college course, which may help you afterwards with applications for design assistant jobs or university courses. Examples include:

  • interior design
  • art and design
  • T Level in Craft and Design

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
  • guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Furniture Design Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, which may lead into an interior design assistant role.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work

You could start as an interior design assistant with a company. With further training and qualifications you could become an interior designer.

More information

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the British Institute of Interior Design for professional development and to make contacts in the industry.

Further information

You can get more details about careers and training in interior design from the British Institute of Interior Design and The Society of British and International Interior Design.

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With experience, you might move into related work, for example:theatre set design; visual merchandising; exhibition design; lighting design; furniture design; ergonomics

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Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

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
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