If you have a creative streak, a great work ethic and a desire to make your presence felt, becoming a decorator could be a great career choice for you. It falls into the unusual career category because it doesn’t follow the typical career trajectory of other vocations. It is a profession with a number of benefits. These include transforming your visions into reality, the satisfaction of knowing you made a difference to someone’s home and flexible working hours. To become a decorator, you don’t need a college degree. While it may be a good idea to become certified, this is not absolutely necessary though it may enhance your chances of getting a job. Certification takes between two and five years.
As an interior decorator, you already have a good ‘eye’ for design. This is another way of saying that you know how to improve a room merely by looking at it. Even if you’re extremely talented, it’s important to train your eye continually to gain more knowledge. Locate and view beautiful interiors to give you a further idea of what great design looks like. This should also give you a range of new and exciting ideas.
No matter how good you think you are, the only way to find out is by decorating a home. Start off by designing a room in your own home before renovating the whole house if it needs changing. Invite friends around for a look. If they are impressed, they may call on you to decorate their home too. This process will give you a much needed portfolio which massively enhances your chances of getting a job. Alternatively, you could simply offer to decorate a friend’s house for free. The experience you will gain will be invaluable.
When you go onto the market looking for clients, you need to bring together your portfolio which should showcase your talent. If you have any documents that show qualifications in the field of decorating, you should also bring these along. Aim to have around 20 photographs of your work. Ensure that you also take ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures for every job you complete.
The ultimate goal of all decorators is to be self-employed. This guarantees freedom and flexibility. It’s also a difficult and brave step to take because you are branching out on your own and don’t have a definite salary to fall back on. You are also responsible for establishing relationships with suppliers. You will need to get in touch with companies who manufacture furniture, fabrics, wall coverings and contractors who perform painting and installation work. Professional decorators may be entitled to large discounts which can be passed on to customers. As you are charging a lower price, more clients may choose your services above others.
Becoming a decorator is not as easy as walking into a classroom and studying. You need to have belief in your vision and not quit when things get tough as they invariably will, especially at the beginning. Gain a client base, improve your portfolio and enjoy the career you’ve always dreamed of.
