An interior decorating course can benefit both hobbyists and professionals. Even if you’re just decorating for fun, you should know how to do it properly!
While some people who take interior decorating certification courses are sure they want to launch a career in the field afterwards, others aren’t. Some even wait to complete the course before deciding whether to continue decorating as a career. We don’t blame them, though! It’s hard to anticipate exactly what it takes to become a professional decorator without seeing the content in front of you.
But when it comes down to it, what can you really do after graduation? Hang on tight! We’re going to explore everything you can do with your interior decorating certification!
A career-focused education
At this point, you may have already earned your decorating certification. But if you haven’t yet, listen up!
Do your research enrolling in an interior decorating course! Some schools require you to take business units/courses in order to graduate. But if you’re not looking into starting a career in the industry, you may be thinking, “why bother?” Many hobbyists scour the net looking for courses that aren’t career focused. While it’s totally valid to do so, you might be missing out on more than you would think!
Interior decorating is a client-focused career. Even if you aren’t charging the people you work with! The actual decorating process and designing the final look requires lots of collaboration. Learning to meld their personal preferences with your professional expertise isn’t easy. It takes a lot of practice and knowhow! If you don’t learn how to work with people, how can you truly accomplish their goals?
Some schools out there, particular online interior decorating schools, have optional business units. That means you can graduate after only learning the hard decorating skills. But we’d advise completing them even if you’re only thinking about decorating as a hobby! Learning negotiating skills with retailers and presentation techniques is super handy. Plus, you’ll gain more confidence in yourself upon earning a certificate.
But to present your own ideas to someone persuasively takes practice. Practicing while you’re in school under an expert tutor means you’ll walk away 100% capable of handling consultations yourself. You won’t always have someone to hold your hand, so learn to stand on your own!
When you’re passionate, you can do anything you want!
Some people view a hobby as doing what you love to do. It’s something that you love enough to do it in your spare time. But this implies that a career is simply a job that pays the bills. Guess what? Passion isn’t exclusive to hobbying! You can certainly have a fulfilling career if you truly care about what you do.
You likely find the most joy after completing a home makeover. Refreshing a space and seeing the homeowners truly excited about their home again is incredibly rewarding! That passion for sparking joy in others through aesthetics translates well to other jobs.
The good news is that becoming certified in interior decorating doesn’t mean you’re just trapped in that one vocation! Many people choose to take interior decorating courses even if they don’t intend to stay within that career. They’re still learning everything they want to learn, with the added bonus of becoming certified. If you’re passionate about making people happy and being creative, there’s a host of opportunities for you out there!
For instance, you could choose to teach. If teaching in a traditional setting isn’t for you, take your talents online! DIY decorating on YouTube and Pinterest are popular nowadays. In the loose, personal structure of YouTube content, you can educate viewers on professional techniques. But it’ll be in a relaxed, casual manner with your audience. You’ll feel like you’re just sharing a mutual hobby.
Many other jobs within the interior decorating industry exist. From furniture and product development to venue design, your creative talents can take you far! And that business content we just talked about? If you decided to complete those business units/courses, then you’re all set to become a business owner! Concepts on building a brand, marketing, and taking care of clients are universal. Being your boss is a lot easier when you know where to start.
Access to conferences and events
There’s always more to learn, see, and experience in the design and decorating world. Just like in fashion, trends change from season to season and year to year. Your training teaches you how to integrate stylish trends with classic designs. Once you’ve gotten the hang of this, your clients will walk away with an interior that feels fresh and up-to-date. But it’s hard to know what the trends are until they trickle down to the bottom. If you have the chance, why not snag a front-row seat at the dinner table? See everything unfold and be in-the-know?
Your interior decorating certification isn’t just a testament to your abilities. It’s also an all-access pass that will get you through the door to some large and exclusive events. Trade shows and conferences like the World Design Summit can benefit you whether you’re a hobbyist or a career professional. It provides interior decorators with an update on everything that’s happening in the design industry. Keynote speakers and some of the biggest trendsetters will be there. Whenever the best of the best in the industry come together, we can guarantee you’ll be learning a lot.
Got other ideas on what you can do with a certification? Let us know in a comment!
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