In my career spotlight series, I’ll be talking about a day in the life of an interior designer today! I had the pleasure of sitting down with my friend and extremely talented designer, Courtney Davey, of Tuft & Trim. She is a residential interior designer and has designed homes across the country! And, today, we are fortunate enough to get a glimpse into her daily work life!
A Day in the Life of an Interior Designer
Courtney has always had a passion for creating beautiful, enjoyable living spaces. When she was younger, she loved going to friends’ houses and helping them decorate and rearrange their rooms. In high school, she took architecture and design classes that confirmed her interest and talent in interior design. She also loved shopping for unique pieces and redesign her own spaces!
What does an average day look like?
So, what does a day in the life of an interior designer look like? First, Courtney spends a lot of time communicating with clients. In addition, she is looking for products that match a client’s desires and that she feels will complete the look of a home or room she is currently working on designing. Because she has to make sure furniture fits well in the space, almost half of her time designing is spent creating digital models of rooms. She primarily uses AutoCAD for this work; however, she said it is also important to learn how to use Photoshop and In-Design.
What traits are needed to excel in interior design?
Creative, passionate individuals make good interior designers, but it is more than that. Organizational skills are really important. When you are working on a project, there can be a lot of different furniture pieces and elements that you need to order and track. You must be able to work within a budget for clients and managing those finances is really important. In addition, it is important to not get offended when a client doesn’t choose your favorite design or wants to go in another direction with a room. Courtney explained that she had to build the confidence to proudly display and believe in her work!
What does an interior design project look like from start to finish?
Working with a client always begins with a questionnaire. First, a designer must get a basic understanding of the client’s wants and needs. After the questionnaire, Courtney will hold a consultation meeting with the client to gather additional information to help her create a design that the client will love. She needs to know, what is the budget? How will space be used? What pieces of furniture, art, etc. will remain with the new design? She also collects measurements of the room and photos to help her with the design process.
After she has gathered all of the important information, she begins working on designing sample floor plans with a variety of options. This phase takes time as she draws the room on the computer and finds pieces online to help create an amazing space. After presenting ideas to the client, he/she then chooses one and they proceed to put the space together!
While Courtney does a lot of her work online, she does offer in-person services. If it is a local client, she will go on-location and stage the room, making sure all pieces are in place and that the room is both functional and aesthetically pleasing to the client!
Do interior designers only focus on home design?
Courtney focuses on residential interior design; however, interior designers work in a number of different settings! Have you ever waited in a hospital waiting room? Someone designed that space. What about eating at Joe’s Crabshack or The Olive Garden? Someone designed each of those spaces to make dining an experience! Interior designers can specialize in different interior environments.
What type of education do you need?
A four-year degree in interior design is recommended for those passionate about becoming interior designers. During my conversation with Courtney, she also recommended taking as many art classes as possible. You’ll learn different styles, color palettes and improve your ability to sketch as well. She found Art History very helpful as well as painting, sculpting, and glass blowing. As a result of those classes, she can determine the qualities of pieces she considers for rooms and designs!
What can you do now to gain experience for the future?
If a day in the life of an interior designer is confirming your interest in this career path, I recommend building experience! Courtney said any experience with aspects of design and interiors will be valuable. You could work at a home store, such as Home Goods or Pottery Barn. Experience at a furniture store, lighting store, flooring warehouse, or even a paint store can all be extremely beneficial to a young professional and build your resume for a future career in interior design.
Interested in a career as an Interior Designer?
Career planning can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Are you considering a career as an interior designer but just aren’t sure or don’t know how to achieve this goal? Look no further. We specialize in career planning for students and young adults. Remove the uncertainty and plan for the future with confidence! Book a free consultation today to talk about your interests and future!
Career Planning for Students and Young Professionals
I am passionate about empowering students and young professionals to make career decisions with confidence. By engaging in career planning and the career coaching process, one identifies factors that bring fulfillment and, from there, we assess and analyze career options of interest. These same skills will be utilized throughout one’s career when faced with important decisions. Book a free consultation today to discuss your career and goals!
