Archive for October, 2011
Interior Design For The Home
Any home can be pleasing with the proper application of basic interior design methods. Some people study interior design to be very good at it but there are people who are gifted with an eye for beauty and for interior designing.
A person who is creative can do some interior designing on his own even without formal training. Those who have an eye for what is aesthetic can just as easily decorate and design his own house depending on his tastes. Of course, it helps to read books and articles about designing to be updated on the basic and latest design methods.
Any interior designer can create a specific atmosphere just by putting together several pieces and unifying them in a single theme. There are interior designers who have a bias for certain motifs like eclectic, modern or even country style. Some go for simple designs without the clutter.
Interior design is not only aesthetic but also functional depending on the requirements of the client. An interior designer can make a small room spacious and an otherwise cluttered room into an orderly one. Interior design is used just about anywhere from homes, offices to commercial buildings.
The interiors of a room should always match the personality of the person who will occupy that room. This is the reason why designers always work closely with their clients so they can make sure that they get a feel of what their clients want in terms of design style.
People have this notion that interior design is expensive. However, designers are not only creative people but they are also very good in budgeting. Most designers will work on a design that will match or fit the budget of their clients. A person can allot a minimal amount for the interior design of his home or office and still come up with an aesthetic and functional room.
Professional interior designers who are formally trained usually have basic knowledge on architecture, engineering and even accounting. They need these courses to make their design aesthetic, structurally correct and cost effective.
The terms Interior design and interior decorating have often been used interchangeably. However, the two terms actually deal with different phases of making a room or a space aesthetic. Interior design is basically the process of studying the personality of the occupant of the room being designed in order to maximize and tailor-made the room’s design for that person’s behavior and personality.
Interior decorating on the other hand is the process of actually mixing and matching the different design techniques like window treatments, the right wallpaper, wall finish and even the furnishing of a room.
There are a lot of opportunities for those in the interior design and decorating industry. An interior designer can go into designing household, corporate or commercial establishments. Others specialize in the design of health facilities or even tourism establishments.
The latest trend now for those in the interior design industry is to be able to incorporate the right engineering and aesthetic design with sustainable development. Even designers are now more conscious about the state of the environment so they tend to use environmentally friendly materials for their designs.
There are designers who specialize and use Feng Shui in their designs. This requires further study because Feng Shui deals with the Chinese’s ancient methods of designing a space to make the design work for the owner’s health, business and other life factors.
The Chinese believes that a structure should be properly designed so as to allow positive energy to enter the structure. When the structure has already been built without the aid of a Feng Shui expert, the mistakes can be corrected through proper interior design using the Feng Shui methods.
What to Expect for an Interior Design Salary
An interior design salary is higher than an interior decorator salary due to the higher range of skills that a designer needs. With this higher requirement of knowledge, the interior designer has higher earning potential. Interior designers focus on improving the quality and safety of a living space or building plus improving the overall function of the same building or living space. Interior decorators generally focus on the aesthetics of a building and living space.
Interior designers must have knowledge of blueprints since their work starts before a building is even built sometimes. Designers must be knowledgeable in creating proposals and following a budget put forth by the client. An interior designer’s salary will reflect the specific knowledge they will learn in school.
An interior design salary can range from $22,000 to $40,000 per year to start depending on the whether the designer is specializing in commercial or residential design. Salary can depend on the design firm, experience and their reputation. In 2004 in the United States, the median salary for interior designers was more than $40,000. Designers that do specialized work for engineering or architectural firms have the highest average salary in the field. Retail furniture store designers who work in-house have the next highest salary for interior designers.
Once a designer gains plenty of experience, they have the potential to earn an interior design salary in excess of $100,000 per year. Interior designers just out of school generally begin their careers with an established architectural or design firm. Once they have gained experience many designers branch off and form their own business.
An interior design salary for self-employed designers is based on their per-hour consulting fee thus earnings for self-employed designers can be quite varied. A 2005 survey showed that the average salary for a self-employed designer is around $51,000.
An interior designer’s salary can be increased by being nationally licensed through the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ). This licensing is mandatory in some states. An interior designer can increase their potential earnings by keeping their skills up to date by taking courses offered by design schools around the country. These skills can be upgraded through online programs as well.
A self-employed designer can increase their salary in many ways. They can charge an initial consultation fee however; this may limit the number of clients they get since it could turn off a potential client. On the other hand, the designer’s time is money and if they are very busy, it may not be worthwhile to provide free consultations.
An interior designer can charge their client by the hour. An hourly fee can range from $60.00 per hour to $350.00 per hour depending on the experience of the designer and where the designer is located, for example New York city.
An interior design salary can be based on set fee pricing for specific types of jobs. The designer sets a fee in regards to the materials needed, expected length of time to complete the job, square footage etc. The client would then pay an initial amount and then the balance is paid in increments or at the completion of the job.