While the exterior of a building can sometimes also be included in interior decorating, the term usually refers solely to the interior design. Anyone who has ever decorated home or office has taken part in interior design. It's a popular topic for many home and garden entertainment television shows. It is a popular hobby for many people because you don't need a degree to take pride in decorating your home. 

What Is Interior Decorating?

Interior decorating refers to the art and science of making an interior space more aesthetically pleasing and functionally useful for its inhabitants.

An interior designer is someone who is hired to design a space. While this job may seem like simply choosing paint and placing furniture there's much more to it. Interior designers take part in the conceptual development and execution of their design. They often are involved in site visits and working with construction management especially when it comes to large commercial buildings.

You can hire an interior designer to redecorate a room in your house or to help you completely remodel it. When it comes to large remodeling jobs hiring an interior designer will help ensure that you get the maximum amount of use out of the space you have. They will also help ensure that the design does not cause any safety hazards.

Art of Composition 

Interior design is seen as an art of composition because it requires designers to bring various pieces together to form one stylish look. They handle every part of the room's look from the material of the floor in some cases to the knick-knacks on the bookcases. It can often take months for an interior designer to complete their job because so much goes into it.

Becoming an Interior Designer

If interior design is something you love then turning it into a career might be just what you're looking for. While some places require interior designers to have licenses these laws vary by location. If you're looking to change careers without taking on more student loan debt, interior design isn't a bad choice. The majority of interior designers get their start in the business by being the assistant to an existing firm or designer.

As with most jobs, it is becoming more and more common for people to get college degrees in interior design. It is a popular major in many Chinese universities. Schools in the United States and the UK offer courses like Interior Architecture as well. Almost a quarter of all interior designers own their firms so if running a business is something you've always dreamed of you're not alone. The other 75 percent of professional interior designers are employed in firms of all sizes.

Fun Fact

As of 2017, the median salary for interior designers is slightly less than $40,000 annually, according to Learn.org.

Architecture firms often hire interior designers to decorate the lobbies and waiting areas of corporate and government buildings. The majority of non-residential buildings you enter probably had an interior decorator, which shows just how much need there is for them!