Tips on how to become an interior designer

Interior décor/design is a lucrative business. Many women and men have ventured into the business and are making money from it.  Femi Hunjo, the CEO of Dafems Interiors, says the job of the interior designer is to make house beautiful. “Your Furniture, curtains and wall design, should be captivating. The interior designer captures the personality […]

Interior décor/design is a lucrative business. Many women and men have ventured into the business and are making money from it.
 Femi Hunjo, the CEO of Dafems Interiors, says the job of the interior designer is to make house beautiful. “Your Furniture, curtains and wall design, should be captivating. The interior designer captures the personality and style of his clients and expresses that in their space.
To be recognised as interior designer, you need to learn the basics. You nan start in this field by taking a few basic course in interior design. This basic knowledge entails the following: Understanding the different elements that are used to decorate any room i.e. textures, space arrangement, furniture selection, colour, lighting, etc. It is possible to learn most of these by studying on your own but to make sure you are not leaving any stones unturned, it is best you enroll in interior design class.
The formal training will give your future clients more confidence in your skills. You must continually develop eye for design by studying architecture publications, magazines, visiting furniture and art galleries and checking out interior decorating-based websites.
Take pictures and include details of each project in your portfolio. That will be helpful when you start scouting for customers.
Hunjo says that the cost of setting up an interior decorating business in Nigeria is relatively low. “You can start from the comfort of your home and then expand with time,” he said. “Apart from the fee you have to pay for registering your business, you may not have to invest more money, especially if you want to start small.”
Speaking on the future of interior design in Nigeria, Hunjo says that there are growing opportunities for interior designs in Nigeria.
 “The interior decorating industry is really hot! So hot that it is making tonnes of money for the few people investing in it,” he said.
“People want to beautify their homes and offices but not everyone has time, gift of creativity, eye for colour and the passion for interior décor. Therefore, they hire interior decorating company to do the job for them.
If you have good eye for design and possibly had received several compliments on the way you decorated your home or office, or helped your family and friends transform their homes, then, that is all the experience you need to start your own interior decorating business in Nigeria.
“Interior décor business is a venture you can start with no university degree and very little capital.”
On how to get started, Hunjo says you should  attend “short-term training, stay close to professionals practicing interior decorations and look for opportunities to display your skill.”
He advised potential interior designers, saying: “Remember that you’re a professional and act like one. Give the client whatever they want, even if it’s not what you would recommend. By all means, draw on your wealth of knowledge of design and guide the client to the right decision. But, at the end of the day, the client’s word should always be final.”