Why Interior Design Jobs Can Suit Anyone With a Passion For Design

There’s a common misconception that being an interior designer means selecting a few throw cushions and a window dressing or two, but interior design ideas go much further than that – it’s about creating spaces that flow, giving people room to flourish and grow in their homes and workplaces, and being an interior designer is suitable for anyone with a love of design.

There are interior design schools all over New Zealand, and there are opportunities for work all over the country, from Canterbury to Wellington to Christchurch, and beyond to Australia and other international destinations.

Studying interior design courses can be a fantastic way to get started in a career, or develop specific interior design skills that can be a real benefit to an already established career.If you’ve always been a part of a design studio that focussed on bathroom design, but you’re looking to branch out into private practise or join a larger company, completing a short course in becoming a kitchen designer or in selecting exterior colours can give you those skills.

Equally, if you’re just getting started, a more extensive interior design course can give you the skills you need, such as space planning, lighting design, and working with floor plans, as well as more practical business skills such as knowing what hourly rate to ask for with clients and finding your best match in terms of which design studio you want to work with.

To work as an interior designer you will need some sort of formal training such as a Diploma from the Interior Design Institute NZ. You could also choose to complete training internationally, such as completing an online Diploma with the Inchbald School of Architecture and Design.

If you’re interested in completing a course, check out our interior design courses available in New Zealand here.

Beyond studying, there are a huge number of opportunities for any creative person looking to make a career out of their natural attributes.

You can of course focus on a specific area, and specialise in something like living room design, and how to make the spaces at the center of the home both functional and beautiful, but you could also choose commercial interior design – looking at how to make work spaces both inspire and encourage hard work, or focus on space planning in large areas, such as shopping centers, safe for everyone, but still look fantastic.

Alternatively, interior design can be a jumping off point for going into home renovation as a business, or real estate and home staging. Interior Design NZ is a broad and varied industry that covers a vast range of jobs and careers, with designers working from a home office, studio or business office, working full time or part time, and with a wide range of study options, including studying interior design online.

Plus, with an increasing interest in decorating projects at home for New Zealanders, as well as general concern over the environment and energy efficient homes requiring bespoke design, excellent tradesmen and ethically sourced furniture selection becoming more and more popular, while there is a high level of competition within the industry, there are plenty of jobs available for those who are determined to work within interior design services.

There are also numerous well known studio’s, such as Jackie Jones Interior Design, and individuals, such as Donna White who can be inspirational for young designers as well as aspirational – you may want to one day work for them, or just take inspiration from their incredible work, which you can translate into your own designs.

Interior design is a career that can grow with you throughout your life. Your interior design styles may change over time, and, unlike with most industries, that change is encouraged and celebrated.

Design companies cherish individuals who can refer to a number of different ideas and concepts, so if you’re one of those people who love lots of different looks and ideas, interior design could be for you. Whether you want to work in Christchurch or London, from your own home or in a huge office in a high rise, on a flat rate or salary, interior design can be done from anywhere, as long as the end result is what the client wants.

There are interior design awards all over the world, and a career in interior design can result in international recognition and fame, or simply a select group of valued and loyal clients who come back to you time and time again.

Regardless of who you are, if you’re a creative person, a career in interior design can grow with you over time and become a true lifestyle.