A lot of interior decorating schools tell you to be creative with your work. But they only teach you guiding principles and don’t give you opportunities to use your creativity, leaving you unprepared for the industry. Even further, you need a school where expert tutors and instructors evaluate your work. Yes, it’s technically considered being creative when you pair wacky elements together into a space. But does it work?
A good interior decorating course will teach you industry standards. A great interior decorating course will teach you how to train your eye and effectively apply decorating principles. If the course you’re thinking about enrolling in doesn’t give you hands-on, practical assignments that require creative thinking… run the other way!
Research the assignments and business training included in your course. These components provide you with prime opportunities to express your creativity when learning interior decorating online. Let’s explore them both!
When you’re completing your assignments
Some online interior decorating schools do the bare minimum in delivering content. They provide you with short videos and course texts followed by multiple-choice quizzes to “test” your learning. Stay away! You won’t learn anything useful and certainly won’t retain anything you don’t apply. Here’s where you can find chances to be creative in your course:
Using Pinterest
If you’re familiar with Pinterest, you may, at first, not take an online course seriously if they ask you to build Pinterest boards for homework. The reality is, Pinterest is a great tool for interior decorators! As a virtual student, you’re expected to show your tutors how you curate furnishing and décor to build a presentation board for a client. Physical presentation boards can become clunky (especially once you need to meet with multiple clients in a day), you’ll probably find using an online board much more appealing.
As a certified professional interior decorator, you’ll engage with clients and potential clients with your social marketing strategy. Many flock to Pinterest to find inspiration for unique and fun home decorating and DIY décor ideas. You can use the platform to post original content and find inspo yourself! Learning how to use this site early on is an asset for the modern, tech-savvy decorator.
Embracing variety… including DIY
So how can you use Pinterest creatively? Sourcing decorating elements online means having access to a million more options than just stepping into an IKEA! Even if there’s something super unique that you can’t find at any store near you, you’ll be able to find it online. Be careful, though. It’s easy to fall into the trap of just pinning items with nice photos. Things that look nice on a pinboard may be beautiful, but if you actually apply them, they may not end up thematically cohesive.
That’s especially the case when it comes to DIY. DIY crafts often involve giving boring décor elements a facelift. You’ll encounter homeowners who love to get their hands dirty and create things themselves. When you’re familiar with DIY décor and know how to work them into a space effectively, you’ll be able to provide them with the best possible service.
For your assignments, you should be fine-tuning your décor evaluation skills. You won’t be able to touch items and test out how sturdy they are, but you can work around it. That’s where your knowledge of design principles gets a chance to shine! You’ll learn about different materials and textiles, how to work with floorplans, and more. Using that information, you can effectively create a board that makes sense for a proposed scenario.
Going the extra mile
After you’re done preparing your decorating plan, execute it! Turn your designs into a reality! Some schools may require that you actually execute your design to pass the course. Other schools will give you the option. If you want to become the best designer you can be, take the opportunity.
Curating unique spaces that actually work isn’t easy. But when you have chances to apply all those theories and have an expert review it, take advantage of it!
When you’re building your marketing materials
When people think of business, they often imagine the boring paperwork and pencil pushing. It seems like a complete 180 from why you chose to go into interior decorating in the first place. But you shouldn’t think of them as being at odds. A thriving career doesn’t come down to just being creative with your window treatments and color pairings. You need solid business acumen to succeed in interior decorating. Here’s where you can get creative with your business!
Website
Your website is your digital resume. It should show off your experiences, your education, and your contact information. But unlike a resume, there’s room for creativity! Clients like to see that your good design sense carries over to your online presence. While web design is a different industry, your eye for detail and aesthetics serves you well. Make your website unique but legible and clear about the services you offer. If you want to specialize in a certain type of decorating, your website theme should reflect it!
Portfolio
A good portfolio can get you everywhere. Even if you don’t have any relevant job experience just yet, you can set up a styled shoot that conveys your capabilities. Make sure you tackle a variety of themes. People want to see a creative decorator who doesn’t just decorate to suit their own sense of style.
And don’t just stop at having a physical portfolio. The classic leather portfolio can convey a sense of professionalism, but it’s the internet age. When people are looking for interior decorators, they’ll start their search online. Put up a polished professional portfolio on your website, and you’ll see the clients rolling in by the dozens!
Social media
Social media isn’t just for people to connect with their family and friends anymore! It’s an amazing tool for businesses to promote their work and connect with current and future clients. Share information about your services, offer promotions, and write blog posts. The best pages are ones that aren’t just business oriented. Be creative and fun and share fun posts and memes (that are appropriate), too. This way, you’ll accrue followers who otherwise wouldn’t have found your page. From there, if you keep yourself present in their feed, they’ll contact you if they ever need decorating services!
Any other tips to get creative with your training? Let us know!