Interior Designer

Design residential or commercial interiors - layout, materials, lighting, furniture and finish.

This UK interior designer career guide covers what the role involves day to day, typical salary at each stage, the usual entry route, the skills employers expect, and related careers worth comparing.

Quick facts

Starting salary
£22,000 - £30,000
Mid-career salary
£35,000 - £55,000
Senior salary
£70,000 - £130,000+
Work environment
Studio + client sites
Time to entry
2 - 4 years
Degree required
Not required but helpful
Category
Design and Creative

What a Interior Designer does

Design residential or commercial interiors - layout, materials, lighting, furniture and finish.

How to become a Interior Designer

  1. Look up Interior Designer roles on LinkedIn or Indeed and read 5 real job ads
  2. Talk to someone already working as a Interior Designer - even a 15-minute call helps
  3. Find one beginner course or qualification used by people in this role
  4. Build one small piece of evidence you've explored this (project, shadowing, short course)
  5. Apply to one entry-level role or related opportunity within the next month

Key skills

  • CAD / SketchUp
  • Mood boards
  • Materials
  • Client comms
  • Project mgmt