If you are worried that you are past an age where learning a new skill seems possible, you will be happy to know that many people start new careers or dive into new hobbies later in life. It is completely acceptable to learn interior design at 30 or older because it is a field that welcomes creatives of all kinds. You can offer interior design teams a fresh perspective on a key demographic if you want to learn for professional reasons. Regardless of whether you are learning for professional or personal reasons, you will learn that the life experiences you have gained over time will help you pursue interior design with intention and ease. Through hands-on projects, practices, and self-paced learning styles, you can accomplish new goals at any age.
What is Interior Design?
Interior design is all about making a space look nice and function properly for the people who use it. It’s a blended field of creative energy mixed with practical, technical skills, where designers consider everything from layout and furniture to the lighting and the color scheme. All in all, an interior design professional acquires the materials needed to make a space pop, focuses on how all the elements come together, and determines what is needed for the environment to feel right for any of the activities occurring there.
At its core, interior design is about improving the way a space is experienced, whether you’re living or working there. It’s more than picking out pretty throw pillows and choosing a nice light fixture—it’s about making sure those things fit well, feel comfortable, and work for everyday life. Interior Designers have to consider accessibility, comfort, and sustainability, so they inevitably become well-versed in balancing creative endeavors with practical solutions. It’s an exciting field that gives its professionals versatility and new opportunities, especially as interior design continues to grow and evolve.
Why Learn Interior Design
Learning interior design helps you understand how spaces impact the overall mood and well-being of those who inhabit that space. By learning how to create environments that feel good to be in, you’ll acquire skills that can help in myriad situations. You’ll explore the basics of design, like color, layout, and materials, but these are transferable skills that may make learning other subjects such as graphic design, even easier. You’ll be able to transform a room or space from dull to vibrant and give it a cozy, welcoming feel or design an office building to look sleek and stylish. No matter how you use your interior design skills, you can apply them in different ways.
Learn Interior Design
- Nationally accredited
- Create your own portfolio
- Free student software
- Learn at your convenience
- Authorized Autodesk training center
On a professional level, interior design training is a fantastic way to find a career that gives you technical skills but also one that values creative expression. On a professional level, interior design opens all kinds of opportunities, whether you want to design homes, offices, restaurants, or even medical centers. There is always a demand for skilled designers who can make spaces functional yet aesthetically pleasing. Learning interior design can lead to jobs at design or architecture firms, or even offer you a chance to start your own business. These roles often involve working with professionals in related fields such as Architects, Engineers, and Contractors.
Even if you don’t see yourself venturing into the interior design field, you can still do a lot with your training. Interior design skills help you create a space that fits your style and works for how you live. You can organize and decorate your home in a way that makes you feel comfortable and productive without sacrificing personal style. Once you have enough practice at home, you could start helping friends and family with their spaces or even plan for special events like parties and weddings. You could also start a blog or social media account dedicated to your interior design projects. Whether you’re learning interior design for personal projects or to achieve certain career goals, interior design gives you the tools to shape the space around you.
What Careers Use Interior Design
With proper training, you can become an Interior Designer. These professionals create functional, aesthetically pleasing spaces for homes, offices, and commercial establishments. Their creative and technical skills allow them to design spaces that meet the needs of their clients. Indeed shares that, in the United States, Interior Designers earn an average base salary of $69,000. While junior-level designers may start closer to $56,000, there is room for advancement, and with that comes higher salaries.
Interior design skills can also help you become a CAD Designer. In this role, you’ll be tasked with creating detailed technical drawings and 3D models of designs. Having interior design skills helps them understand the artistic and functional aspects of a space, ensuring their technical plans align with the overall vision. The average salary for a U.S.-based CAD Designer is nearly $69,000, per reports from Indeed. However, location plays a role in this average. For instance, the average salary for CAD Designers in Houston is closer to $82,000.
CAD Drafters also benefit greatly from having interior design skills. They benefit from interior design skills by having a deeper understanding of space planning, design principles, and the practical considerations involved in creating a pleasing and functional environment. Indeed indicates that CAD Drafters across the U.S. earn an average of $59,000 per year, but this average fluctuates based on location and other factors. For instance, an entry-level CAD Drafter earns closer to $50,000 whereas the senior-level employees could earn closer to $80,000.
Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, and Cost of Learning Interior Design
Learning interior design can be difficult but it’s not as challenging as you may think if you have the right type of training and a positive attitude. It requires a mix of skills like creativity, technical abilities, and spatial awareness. With this combination, you’ll be able to get the hang of things like color theory, balance, and space planning—in other words, you will gain an understanding of what actually makes a space work. You may learn software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp in any given interior design course, which does have a considerable learning curve if you’ve never used this type of technology before. Overall, you’ll need practice getting the hang of both the artistic and practical sides of the field, but with time and dedication, you’ll learn in no time.
There aren’t necessarily strict prerequisites to get started learning interior design but having a few skills or qualities could certainly help. First, if you have a creative eye in general, you may be able to picture how furniture, colors, textures, shapes, and materials will play out in a real-life setting. As you explore the field more, you’ll get familiar with design software. It could be helpful to have relevant or similar experience with other software, like Adobe Photoshop. If you have some construction or architectural knowledge, it’ll be easier for you to pick up on the nitty-gritty aspects that could be part of interior design such as reading blueprints and working with specific materials. Plus, having strong communication skills makes the job easier since you’ll frequently chat with other professionals and discuss project needs with clients. Lastly, if you’re interested in becoming a more eco-friendly individual and professional, you’ll be happy to know there are ways to implement sustainable practices into your designs. Having this passion can help make learning these practices less challenging.
If you want proper training, you’ll have to spend a little money. However, how much depends on the type of course and path you choose. Typically, online courses are the most affordable, including live online and self-paced. In-person courses are usually more expensive, especially once you venture into university programs. Certificate and certification courses are a step below in cost but still provide adequate career-building skills. There are budget-friendly options, like on-demand courses, but these can also vary in accuracy and depth. Of course, universities offer scholarships and training centers frequently have payment plans or employee sponsorship opportunities. Regardless, it’s likely you can find a course that’s right for you no matter your budget.
What Are the Hardest Parts of Learning Interior Design
While many agree that interior design is both adequately challenging and enjoyable, some may have more difficulty with some concepts than others. For instance, mastering design software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, and Photoshop can be one of the toughest parts. These tools are intricate and take time to get used to, especially when you are creating floor plans or 3D models. The 3D models add an extra layer of complexity but ultimately end up making the design look more realistic and equipped with appropriate lighting, textures, and details.
Learning interior design requires you to understand how design principles like balance, proportion, and unity work to create a desired look and feel. Understanding color theory and knowing how to mix and match different shades can create the right mood or fall short of expectations, so it takes practice to get it right. Plus, choosing the right materials may take some practice. You will likely have to go back to the drawing board several times before figuring out what the right choice is. It takes trial and error but with time and practice, you can get it right.
Others may find balancing aesthetics with functionality the hardest part of learning interior design. Some items and decor decisions may look wonderful, but they also have to be practical and work for the people using the space. If the design choices cause the space to feel cluttered, this is a problem. Therefore, whether it is planning furniture placement or managing a client's preferences, finding the right balance can be tricky. But with practice, these challenges become easier to handle.
How Can I Make Learning Interior Design Easier
Making learning interior design easier is all about finding ways to stay engaged and apply what you are learning. A few ways you can do this is by enrolling in a course. Whether it is an in-person, live online, or self-paced program, having structured lessons can help you stay focused. It also keeps things organized and ensures that you will have access to an expert who can help you along the way. Ultimately, you get to choose what fits your schedule and learning style the best, but a course is a great way to make the process easier.
Besides, you do not need a big project to start practicing—try out interior design techniques at home. By applying what you learn in the classroom to real-life situations such as your home or friends, you can get some much-needed experience that will make the entire learning process much easier. Rearranging furniture, experimenting with color schemes, and designing small spaces can give you hands-on practice and more confidence as an interior design student.
You can also take advantage of a plethora of resources. There’s a lot of free content out there, from YouTube to TikTok, and free courses and free software trials. These resources can supplement your learning and help you explore new techniques, concepts, and tools without spending a lot of money. If you enroll in a course, many training providers offer ample resources like video collections, blogs, free seminars, bonus training, workbooks, and mentors. By mixing structured learning, hands-on practice, and free resources, you’ll make the entire learning process go by smoothly and enjoyably.
Can I Learn Interior Design in My Free Time?
If you’ve ever considered learning about interior design in your free time, know that it is absolutely possible. To make it work, you can learn by using online resources, enrolling in online classes, and practicing regularly. First, free resources are a great way to get started. You can discover terms and design styles or look up interior design professionals on forums, social media platforms, and design websites. Whether you spend a few hours a week reading up on the latest interior design trends or watching video tutorials for particular interior design techniques, it all builds up and helps you develop a solid understanding of the field before diving into specific topics and practices.
In addition, you can learn a variety of skills from self-paced or on-demand courses, many of which offer access to essential software. These types of classes are ideal for those who are committed to learning new skills—just without having to commit to a full-time program or rigid schedule. You can study however many hours a week you choose and whenever works with your schedule. You can read up on new material in your spare moments before work or over the weekends when you have some downtime. In essence, these classes are designed to work for you and with you. They are convenient, flexible, and worth considering if you need some flexibility in your learning journey.
Furthermore, you can always opt for a hands-on method by practicing interior design in your free time. While at home, you can spend hours rearranging your furniture, selecting decor, and adding depth to the overall look and feel. You can also offer your services to friends and family who may appreciate your fresh perspective on their space. This is also a great way to receive feedback on your work and grow as a professional.
Can I Learn Interior Design at My Own Pace?
With a self-paced course, you can learn at a pace that suits your style and needs, whether you prefer a fast-paced environment or a slower, more casual learning experience. Self-paced courses are great because you can work when it suits you. If you work a full-time job, this means studying in the evenings or over the weekends is now possible and you can spread out your studies throughout the day as you wish. You could even learn while on your lunch break. The good thing is you can pick up and put down the material whenever you have to, so your learning experience is entirely in your own hands and can be fit to your liking.
Moreover, learning at your own pace gives you the chance to learn the specific skills that you want—and as many as you want. In a self-paced interior design course, you can cover a wide range of important skills that will help you succeed in the field. For instance, you can learn AutoCAD software or master Revit. You could explore color theory, design principles, and spatial arrangement or dive deeper into textures, materials, and finishes. It is all up to you—the beauty of learning at your own pace is that you also get to choose the material as well.
If you have never taken a self-paced course and wonder what it will be like, no worries. A self-paced course provides a blend of casual learning with interaction via discussion forums. Learning at your own pace still allows you to complete hands-on projects so you are gaining experience as you go. Plus, you can engage with fellow interior design hopefuls through online forums. Although you complete the lessons on your own, you still have access to an instructor through discussion forums. Many training providers, like VDCI, offer additional mentoring via Zoom which makes it possible to learn at your own pace while still feeling supported.
Learn Interior Design with Self-Paced VDCI Courses
VDCI offers numerous courses that can get you started on your interior design journey. In the 140-hour Interior Design Course Bundle, you’ll gain a foundation of interior design skills and learn how to create precise floor plans and technical drawings with AutoCAD and also develop 3D models and accurate renderings with SketchUp Pro. In addition, you’ll learn how to use Photoshop for concept boards and other image-enhancement needs. For instance, you’ll practice adjusting, enhancing, supplementing, and composing files for marketing purposes. By completing various hands-on projects, you’ll understand how to use several essential software, understand construction documents, and understand essential interior design concepts like spatial arrangement and visualization. In addition to the one-on-one bonus training and access to an expert instructor, you’ll receive software access during your time in the class. Upon completion of the course, you’ll earn a verified digital certificate.
If you want to turn it up a notch, the 470-hour Interior Design Professional Course Bundle is the perfect way to master interior design for both residential and commercial spaces. Through various projects and quizzes, you’ll understand how to read construction documents and blueprints. In addition, you’ll study CAD detailing standards, like making detailed drawings from scratch and referencing and clipping information from other drawings. You’ll learn to design detailed, precise floor plans, 3D models, and polished presentations using industry-standard software like AutoCAD, Revit Architecture, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Cloud applications like Photoshop and Illustrator. You’ll also receive additional training, instructor help, software access, and a verified digital certificate of completion.
To master SketchUp, consider the 60-hour SketchUp Pro Fundamentals Course Bundle. Here, you’ll learn to design 3D models, determine the most efficient way of accurately and productively using SketchUp, and explore all their tools. Specifically, you’ll learn how to use the various tools to get the most out of the software functionality to design all kinds of 3D models. In addition, you’ll learn to create and edit new materials and photo textures to SketchUp models from Google Earth. Through various projects, you’ll learn to generate scene settings, create typography, and export images and animations. You’ll have access to discussion forums, hands-on quizzes, and mini-projects and be able to add to your portfolio.
In the AutoCAD Certification Training Bundle, you’ll create a detailed floor and roof plan. In addition, you will learn to create sets of construction documents, foundation plans, and electrical plans for small residential projects. With AutoCAD, you’ll develop title block drawings from scratch and create building elevations as well as apply advanced skills for sheet layout environments and plotting. You’ll also learn how to manage and organize files and deliverable sheets to ensure they align with National CAD Standards. This 140-hour course comes with access to an instructor, additional training, software, and additional mentoring.