Since you are interested in a career as an interior decorator, chances are you already have a "good eye" for design. In other words, when you look at a room you can see what looks good, and what could be improved. No matter how naturally talented you are, you can continually "train your eye" and further develop your design skills. The best way to train your eye is to study what people consider to be good design. Seek out beautifully decorated interiors to look at.
To really train your eye, you will need to do more than simply look at designs. When you see a room, or a photo of a room, spend some time analyzing what you see. First notice the overall impression you have of the entire area you can see. Then start asking yourself questions.
Don't stop with the first answer that pops into your head. No matter what your response to each question, ask yourself "Why?" Then notice the individual components – including the colors, textures, and how each element in the room is physically arranged. Once again, ask yourself questions. Why do you think the decorator made those particular choices? What changes would you make? Why?
As an interior decorator, you will not just be working with things, you will also be working with people. In fact, good interpersonal skills can ensure you have many opportunities to do what you love - decorate.
Think about the people you choose to do business with - whether it's your hair stylist, the person who runs the corner store you like to go to, or anyone else who you visit on a regular basis to purchase a product or service. If you are like most of us, one of the reasons you continue to do business with certain people is because you like them. If you don't like someone, chances are you would take your business elsewhere if you had another option. When it comes to hiring a decorator, employers and clients usually have a number of decorators to choose from. Given a choice between two capable people, the job will usually go to the person who is well-liked. In fact, when people like you, their feelings toward you can extend to their perception of your work (this is called "the halo effect"). So they may actually see your work in a more positive light because they like you.
In addition to developing relationships with clients, self-employed decorators also need to develop relationships with suppliers and contractors. Suppliers are representatives of companies from which you purchase products such as fabric, furniture, and flooring. Contractors are individuals who do work such as renovations, painting, wallpapering, laying carpet, installing flooring, re-upholstery, etc. Having a good relationship with suppliers and contractors can help you get what you want when you need something in a rush, something that's difficult to track down, or something that a supplier won't make much commission on. A supplier or contractor who likes you will be more likely to go the extra mile for you, which in turn will help you look good to your client. Relationship building is also important for decorators employed by retail outlets, since this skill can help you get higher sales and repeat business.
Verbal communication skills come into play when you are selling yourself to potential clients. Many people who hire interior decorators are wealthy. Chances are they are articulate and professional, and are likely to be more comfortable hiring a decorator who "speaks their language." To improve your verbal communication skills, ask friends or a vocal coach for feedback on any areas that could be improved, such as: use of slang, proper grammar, or altering your tone of voice to eliminate any harshness.
Being a good listener can help you determine the best decorating solutions for people and ensure you come up with something that the client wants. While listening seems like an easy skill to master, most of us experience challenges in at least one of the following areas involved in listening:
You can improve your listening skills by focusing fully on someone when they are speaking. Here are some ways to do that:
Being a skilled reader of people can not only help you get the job, it can help ensure you keep your clients satisfied. In addition to hearing what people say, a skilled decorator also notices non-verbal communication. For example, did a prospective client fold their arms when you made a particular suggestion? If so, they may be communicating that they disagree, even if they don't actually say so. Although body language can't tell you precisely what someone is thinking, it can give you clues so you can ask follow-up questions, even as basic as "How do you feel about that?"
As soon as a client or employer decides they would like to work with you, you will be faced with the issue of how much you will get paid. You will find information about standard fees for decorators later in this article. However, no matter what fees are "standard," you may be able to get paid more through effective negotiation skills. Likewise, being a good negotiator can help you save money on materials such as furniture, carpeting, wallpaper, etc. While suppliers offer discounts to decorators on many products, there may be occasions when you want to purchase something from a supplier that isn't used to giving discounts (for example, if you find a rare work of art that you want to buy for a client). In those cases, being a good negotiator may help you and your client save money.
Being well organized will make your work much easier, especially if you have your own decorating business. As an interior decorator there will be times you'll have to juggle quite a few tasks at the same time, such as: meeting with clients, finding and ordering materials, arranging for shipping and delivery, scheduling tasks such as painting and installation, handling finances, and more. You will have to keep track of paperwork and ensure that tasks are completed on time and on budget.
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1. Information to help you with the decorating process
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