r/interiordesigner

Hi everyone!

So this year, everything has kind of went way differently than what I thought it would. And one of the things I wasn’t expecting was falling out of love with my 9-5 in accounting. I want to try my hand at home staging, and interior decorating while offering interior design services such as e-design, consultations, and virtual design. I know it’s not going to be easy, it’s a whole new field and I have no prior experience but given the year I’ve had I think it’s time to take a leap of faith.

I have been in biz awhile, but I still catch myself agonizing over inquiries that don't have anything obviously wrong on paper... budget's fine, timeline's fine, they seem nice enough. But something still feels off and I genuinely can't point to what it is.

Curious if anyone's actually built some kind of process for this, or if everyone's just running on instinct at this point. And if it IS instinct... how do you know when to trust it versus when you're just being paranoid because you've been burned before?

Been doing this a few years now and I've noticed a weird pattern... I can have a great first call, they seem genuinely interested, sometimes they even ask a bunch of follow up questions. Then I send the proposal and... nothing. Not a decline, not a "let me think about it", just silence.

At first I assumed it was price. But a few of them have circled back weeks later like nothing happened, so now I'm not so sure that's actually it.

Curious if this happens to other designers here. If you've had leads go cold on you, where does it usually happen for you... after the first call, after you send pricing, after the proposal, somewhere else? And if you've ever figured out why someone went quiet, I'd genuinely love to hear it. Trying to work out if it's a me thing or just how this business goes.

Hi everyone,

I’m an engineer interested in pursuing an online interior design course. I’d like to know if it’s a worthwhile investment and which university or course you recommend. I found an old post about UCLA that mentioned that the teachers and learning videos aren’t worth it. Is that information still accurate? Also, would you recommend Berkeley? 

I’m considering a career pivot into interior design and I’m wondering what education or training is actually necessary to enter the field.

For context, I’m in my 30s and already have a master’s degree in another field, so the idea of going back for another bachelor’s or master’s degree isn’t particularly appealing, although it’s not a dealbreaker either. I’m curious whether shorter programs, certificates, or individual courses can provide a solid foundation for entering the field.

I’ve also seen some interior designers describe themselves as “self-taught” and go on to build successful careers, so I’m wondering how realistic that path is and what skills or training would be most important to focus on. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I’m interviewing for a junior interior designer role and was given a take-home skill test with a one-week deadline (I can ask for extension if needed apparently) . I’m curious whether this is a normal scope in the industry because I’ve done skill tests before, but nothing structured like this.

There are three separate components:

A conceptual design exercise requiring a concept, interior architecture direction, furniture/styling direction, materials and a PDF presentation. This part seems reasonable to me.

A kitchen + bathroom design exercise using specifications, fixtures, finishes, hardware, etc. supplied by the firm, also to be presented as a PDF.

A technical exercise requiring a cover/drawing list, partition plan, furniture plan, reflected ceiling plan, power plan, floor-finish plan, interior elevations, typical sections/details, a door head/jamb detail, and an accessible washroom plan + elevations - all compiled into one PDF.

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The technical portion is what I’m struggling with. Instead of being given a curated set of files specifically for the test, I was given what feels like a large existing project directory: lots of CAD files/Xrefs, architectural drawings, sample drawing packages, office standards, details, title blocks, reference documents, etc.

There are a LOT of files to navigate (one folder had literally 112 cad files), but fairly minimal instruction about which files are actually relevant, what exactly I’m expected to develop from the existing project, or what level of detail/completion is expected. Even after going through the folders, I’m still not completely sure what the intended scope of the technical exercise actually is.
I understand that navigating existing project files and standards is part of working in a firm, but this feels like a lot to hand an external candidate who has never worked with their workflow, especially alongside the other two design exercises.

For people working in interior design: is this a normal hiring test? Would you do it, ask them to clarify the scope/expected time, or withdraw?

Hi all!

We're hosting an event and want to give our guests some branded products, but we don't want to do the usual trade-show type of things (stress balls, phone wallet, water bottle, ect.). We have a lot of interior designers and architects attending, so we'd like to have things that would be helpful to those trades.

What are some promo products you've received that made you go "Oh that's awesome" ?

I was thinking one of those multi-tool pens? With the ruler on one side, level built in, pen, and hidden screwdriver? I feel like it could be something they always have in their bag?

Let me know your thoughts!

Hi everyone

I'm an interior designer based in Southern California. I have 2 associates degrees in interior design, with one of them being focused on Kitchen & Bath. I've been working in the industry for 5 years, and currently work for a Kitchen & Bath Remodeling company, but previously worked at a custom cabinetry shop and some project management. I have skills in sourcing materials, writing contracts, invoicing, drafting 2D and 3D drawings and renderings, and the works.

I feel ready to start my own design business and offer in-person and virtual design services, and possibly recommend the contractors that I've previously worked with to get the design built. I've put some thought into package pricing and social media outreach to get the brand more known. I know the first couple projects need to be pro-bono to get started, but I'm nervous to get started.

I intend to stay at my current job while I figure everything else out, but I feel like this route is what is the next step for me. Is there any advice someone can share about this?

I also am interested in finding out how taxes would be for me once the company is started up, how different it will be from only being an employee to self-employed, and how much extra I'll have to pay for that.

Thank you!

I didn’t think starting over professionally would be this hard.

I’m an architect and interior designer based in Brazil, with more than 12 years of experience in residential, commercial, and institutional projects.

I’ve spent years working with architecture, interiors, BIM/Revit, construction documentation, space planning, technical detailing, and visualization. I also taught Revit and BIM at the university level for many years.

Architecture is not just my profession. I genuinely love what I do.

I still get excited when I open a new Revit model, solve a difficult layout, develop a detail, or see an idea slowly become something real.

But now I’m facing a different kind of challenge: finding my place in the U.S. market.

Over the past months, I’ve rebuilt my resume, adapted my portfolio, studied U.S. terminology and documentation standards, applied for remote positions, contacted architecture and interior design firms, and tried to build real professional connections.

I keep learning.
I keep applying.
I keep improving.

And still, getting that first real opportunity with a U.S. team feels like the hardest part.

I know I have experience. I know I can contribute. I also know there are things I still need to learn about the U.S. market, and I’m completely open to that.

I’m not looking for shortcuts.

I’m just trying to understand what actually makes someone on the other side say:

“Let’s give her a chance.”

So, for the architects, designers, BIM managers, recruiters, and firm owners here:

If you were in my position, what would you focus on to get that first real opportunity in the U.S. market?

Networking?
Small architecture firms?
Freelance work?
Revit production?
Interior design firms?
Contractors?
Something I’m not seeing?

I would genuinely appreciate any advice or perspective.

Hello i am a recent graduate of Interior Design, i have good knowledge on designing floor plans, 3D visuals and rendering. I recently have been interested in doing CAD DESIGN for an engineering company, however i have no idea what a cad designer does in the engineering industry, and have no idea how to start,
Would anyone know where i start and what to do? Or is this even a job path to go to?
Im not very good with auto cad, revit which I believe is what i need to learn.

I was reading that other post about what kind of computer is needed for interior design, and one comment mentioned buying an expensive GPU for rendering. It made me realize that not everyone knows you don’t necessarily need a high-end GPU anymore to create good renderings.

I used Enscape for years, and it was a reliable part of my workflow. Then I switched to newer cloud-based tools and haven’t used Enscape since. It completely changed how I think about the hardware needed for rendering.

I’m curious how many of you still use Enscape regularly. What keeps it in your workflow?

Hello designers, I’m really interested in finding a remote job in interior design, but I’m not sure where to start. What platforms or websites do you usually use to find remote opportunities?

I have skills in interior design and related tools, and I’d love to work with international clients or companies remotely. Any advice, tips, or personal experiences would really help! Thank you 🙏