4 Things to Know Before Studying Interior Design | What to Avoid and How to Build High-Paying Career

What is up everybody! Welcome to my blog.
Okay, so if you’re someone who is thinking to study interior design — think again.

You know guys, interior design is such an incredible career.
Some people think that interior design is one thing — but it’s not really what they think it is.

So, you’ve got a dream to become an interior designer, right? But not sure which path to take or how to even start? Don’t worry, you’re at the perfect place. In this blog video, we’re gonna talk about everything you need to know if you’re thinking of becoming an interior designer — from eligibility, skills, salary packages to what kind of jobs you can get. Basically, all of it.

Also, I’m gonna tell you four super important things you should know before you jump into studying interior design.

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1. Interior Design is NOT the Same as Interior Decoration

I do know that these two terms are used interchangeably a lot of times — but it’s wrong. Do not do it. It’s so wrong.

What you’re going to be doing if you study interior design is going to be so different than what you’d be doing in a program for interior decoration.

As an interior designer:

• You’ll be skilled enough to change the structure of a house.
• You’ll be able to demolish walls, change a kitchen location, redesign layouts.
• You will learn about building materials, code compliance, city by-laws, furniture sizes, how to build furniture, built-ins, and a lot more.

As an interior decorator:

• You will be adding furniture, artwork, accessories into an already built space.
• You are not modifying the structure of the space at all.

You’ll mostly be working with living rooms, bedrooms, and sometimes kitchens — but not doing major renovations.

Designers often hire decorators to finish the styling phase after the construction is done.

There’s business for everyone:

• Interior decorators can work in styling, home staging, or with realtors.
• Interior designers take on renovations, new builds, commercial projects, and also do the decorating part if they want.

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2. You’ll Be Working with Technology — A LOT

Yes, really — a lot.

A big chunk of your time will be spent in front of a computer doing:

• 2D modeling
• 3D modeling
• Designing furniture
• Drafting construction plans
• Creating lighting & floor plans

Freehand sketching is still the starting point, but it all gets transferred into software tools like AutoCAD, SketchUp, or Revit.

“I am not a techy person at all—it really took me a while to learn these programs.”

It’s a slow learning curve, but don’t let tech challenges stop you from pursuing interior design. It’s absolutely worth it.

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3. Architecture and Interior Design Are Not the Same

Many students hear:
“You should study architecture instead, it pays more, gives more scope…”
…blah blah blah.

But seriously, don’t let others tell you what to do.

Here’s the difference:

Architecture is:

• About building the home
• Understanding structural materials, insulation, drainage, heating, etc.
• Knowing how to construct a house that functions

Interior Design is:

• About detailed experience within the space
• Focused on the client’s lifestyle, how they use the space
• Designing spaces that reflect personality and purpose

Both are important. Both are respected careers. Just choose what you love.

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4. Do You Need to Know How to Draw? Yes… and No.

A lot of people ask this.

“Do I need to know how to draw to be an interior designer?”

No — but yes.

Drawing is a learnable skill. With practice, you can definitely get better.

If you don’t want to draw — you can still become an interior designer.
But learning to draw, even just basic sketching, will definitely help your creativity and communication.

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Courses to Become an Interior Designer

If you want to become an interior designer, then which course should you do?
You have three options:

1. Bachelors in Architecture (B.Arch)
2. Bachelors in Interior Design (B.Des)
3. Diploma in Interior Design

Let’s break down all three.

1. Bachelors in Architecture (B.Arch)

This is a course of four to five years. It has a component of interior design, but architecture is much more than just interior designing.
If you have done architecture and have done Bachelors in Architecture, then you get to learn a lot of things except for interior designing, which includes urban planning, landscape, furniture designing.
You also get more industry exposure, more preference from employers, and chances for better job and higher salary.

2. Bachelors in Interior Design (B.Des)

This is a three to four year course where you specifically study design principles.
The core of interior design is interior design. By doing this, you can become a furniture designer, visual merchandiser, or of course, an interior designer.

3. Diploma in Interior Design

Diplomas vary in time — between one to two years, sometimes one and a half years.
Here you learn practical skills about interior designing. However, it does not provide in-depth industry exposure.
So it is less preferred by employers and might lead to lower salaries compared to B.Arch or B.Des.

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Suggestion

My suggestion would be to do a Diploma in Interior Designing Course because it covers more subjects. If you later feel that interior design is not for you, you still have other career options. But if you are sure from the beginning that you want only interior design, you can do either Diploma in Interior Designing Course.

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Career Opportunities after Interior Design

• Interior Curator – focus more on aesthetics than structure
• Residential Interior Designing – designing homes and living spaces
• Commercial Interior Designing – offices, suites, outlets
• Exhibition Designing – temporary furniture for exhibitions and museums
• Hospitality Interior Designer – hotels, resorts, and restaurants
• Furniture and Fixture Designer – aesthetics furniture

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Top Interior Companies in India

• Home Transactions
• Livspace
• Unity Interiors
• Carafina
• Shabnam Gupta
• Boney So Designs
• Design Tribu

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Salary of an Interior Designer

Doing an internship during your education is highly recommended. It gives you industry exposure, practical knowledge, and helps in placements.

Salary Based on Experience:

• Entry Level (0–1 year): ₹10,000 – ₹30,000/month
• Mid Level (1–3 years): ₹30,000 – ₹50,000/month
• Experienced (5+ years): ₹50,000 – ₹1.5 Lakh/month

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Bonus Tip: Communication Skills Are Crucial

Okay guys, I know I said 4 things, but here’s a fifth—because it’s important.

As an interior designer, you’ll work with:

• Clients
• Contractors
• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Painters
• Cabinet makers
• Distributors & vendors

This career requires excellent communication skills.
And guess what? It’s not optional.

Being able to explain your vision, manage teams, and keep things on track is essential.

In today’s world, every career needs communication—but interior design needs it even more. It will be your superpower.

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Final Thoughts

And hey, if you’re really serious about learning interior design, then definitely check out OVS Learning.
They offer both online and offline classes, so you can learn however it suits you best.
Plus, the best part? They provide 100% placement support, so you don’t have to stress about finding a job after your course.
Start building your dream career in interior design with OVS Learning — you’re in good hands.

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FAQ

❓Q1: What are the common mistakes students make while studying interior design?

✅ A1:
One big mistake is ignoring internships—real-world experience matters more than theory. Many also skip learning design software like AutoCAD or SketchUp, which are essential. Some rush into diplomas without understanding long-term career impact. And yes, many underestimate the importance of creativity and client communication.

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❓Q2: Is a diploma enough to build a successful career in interior design?

✅ A2:
A diploma can get you started, but if you’re aiming for a high-paying job or big-name clients, a degree (like B.Des or B.Arch) gives better exposure and depth. Still, your skills and portfolio matter more than just the certificate.

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❓Q3: Can I become an interior designer if I didn’t study arts in school?

✅ A3:
Absolutely! You don’t have to worry about what stream you picked after 12th—science, commerce, arts, it doesn’t really matter. What truly matters is your creativity and how well you can visualize spaces. If you’ve got a good eye for color, functionality

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❓Q4: What skills do I need to be a successful Professional interior designer?

✅ A4:

• Creativity & imagination
• Space planning
• Client communication
• Software skills (AutoCAD, SketchUp, Photoshop)
• Problem-solving & time management
  And yes, staying updated with design trends is a big plus!

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❓Q5: How can I start learning interior design with job support?

✅ A5:
You can join OVS Learning—they offer online & offline classes with 100% placement assistance. So if you’re serious about a design career but worried about jobs, they’ve got your back.