How to become an interior decorator
Coordinate with interior designers to plan and design the decor of offices, residences, hotels and other interior environments.
Pathways to this career
- Complete a recognised certification, an undergraduate course in interior design or an interior decoration short course. Industry-based courses may give you an employment edge.
- Advance your skills as an interior decorator through postgraduate qualifications in interior design or architecture.
- Seek out assistant roles or internships to gain hands-on experience. You'll be able to grow your expertise under the guidance of well-established, professional interior decorators.
- Build a striking portfolio of your best work, your passion projects and small jobs. Appeal to design agencies or private clients by creating a professional website to showcase your work.
What does an interior decorator do?
Duties and tasks
- Collaborate with clients to understand their requests and offer decoration ideas that meet all aspects of clients desires including overall effect and budget.
- Create drawings, sketches or visual images of decorations for clients to review.
- Evaluate the relation between technical and visual applications of furniture, lighting, decor and layout of spaces to create the ideal balance between functionality and appearance.
- Manage the decoration process, using a variety of art, colour schemes, patterns, furniture and accessories to create visual effect and atmosphere of rooms and spaces.
- Plan budget for furniture and decorations according to clients budget and create working schedules for delivery and decoration of spaces.
- Recommend or meet with clients to pick out best materials and decoration to create and enhance interior environment according to desired atmosphere of living or work space.
- Understand how to use colour schemes, patterns, fabrics and material options to create ideal interior environment based on client satisfaction; stay up-to-date on latest decor and popular themes, colour patterns and decorations.
Industry bodies
Related jobs
Discover related degrees
Undergraduate CUR-HID-CTF
Undergraduate TUA-IDD-DIP
Undergraduate CUR-IND-DEG
Undergraduate TUA-IDC-DEG
Discover related subjects
Undergraduate CUR-BIA435
Undergraduate TAS-KDA101
Undergraduate CUR-BIA200
Step up your career with these resources
10 fascinating uni subjects that are open to everyone in 2025
Want to understand the psychology behind Trumpism? Push for better climate action? Or improve your cultural sensitivity in healthcare? These online subjects—and more!—are now accepting 2025 enrolments.
5 small business courses for self-starters
Whether you’re a small business owner or plotting away at a side hustle, there are many online business courses to choose from to help you get in touch with your entrepreneurial side and launch your ideas off the ground.
Humans of Open Universities Australia: Meet our Content Lead, Cat
A ‘braided river’ career path, a crystal ball moment from Bill Gates, and a heartfelt letter with complete disregard for the third wall—here's Cat.
How to negotiate a higher salary
Not sure what to say when negotiating your salary? Follow these tips from career strategist Kelly Magowan next time you need to make your case with an employer.
We're here to guide you there
Our student advisors can assist you with enrolment, help you plan your studies, and answer questions about how studying through Open Universities Australia can get you from where you are today, to where you want to be tomorrow.