Design A Room

Does a perfect Saturday afternoon for you include waking up bright and early, hitting up Home Depot, and spending the day decorating your Toronto condominium? Are you always watching home renovation television shows and making suggestions of how your friends decorate their Newmarket homes? If this sounds like you, then maybe it's time you look into a career in interior design.

Whether you want to an independent interior designer or work with a corporation, there are endless opportunities for you get creative and put your stamp on things. Obviously, the first thing to consider is whether or not you wish to go to school to further your knowledge of interior design. If you attend an accredited school it may easier to get a job with an established company. But, if working for yourself is the path you would like to embark on, then one of the best ways to start is simply decorating wherever you can. It's a good idea to start a website where you can post before and after photos, show your style, and how potential clients can contact you. Maybe ask a friend or neighbour if you can use their home or a room to decorate and put on your website. Even if you do it for free at first, it's a great way to establish yourself and get on the interior designer map.

Another great way to get yourself out there is talking to real estate companies who need to design a space for a property showing. Let's say, there is a house for sale in Mississauga Ontario that needs to be amped up for potential buyers and you volunteer to design the space. Not only do you get your name out there to plenty of people wanting to buy a home (that will need to be decorated), but you also manage to get in with a real estate company who may contact you again for a paid gig or recommend you to other companies. It is also a great idea to consider setting up a booth in a mall with a display of your best work and hand out business cards to potential clients.

There are some things you will need to invest in before you get started. First, you need to open up your own business and get a business number. Second, you will need to have some basic supplies in order to get started. Some essentials include; color swatches of paints and fabrics, some basic fabric samples, a different variety of interior design magazines, various furniture and appliance catalogues, and a professional portfolio. Also, many of the supplies are free when you consult the dealers and inform them that you are an interior designer. It also wouldn't hurt to get some help in starting the process, maybe even a design student. Proofreading contracts, buying supplies, and scouting possible real estate can be time consuming and take away from the creative process, so a little help is always encouraged. It's difficult to run any business by yourself, whether you're doing interior design or making and selling your own cloth diaper covers.

But, maybe interior design is not for you but you are interested in home renovation and would like to get your hands dirty. If so, exterior design may be the way to go. This area may be a little more tricky and time consuming to get into because it would be essential enrol in various construction classes. Once you have educated yourself and perfected your craft, going about getting your name out there is quite similar to interior design.

Like interior design, exterior design is all about getting yourself out there. Open up a business, do some free work for people you know, and get some basic supplies. Essentials for exterior design of course differ than those of interior. Having some samples of siding, bricks, shutters, and gardening supplies is a must. Also, it is necessary to purchase safety equipment, such as hard hats and web slings, if you choose to focus on the construction side of things. Getting your business licence and acquiring permits will be very difficult to do if you do not follow safety guidelines. It's also a good idea to have a specific style that is definitive to the work that you will do so that people will easily recognize your designs and stand out from the crowd.

Like most career paths; working hard, getting your name out there, and investing in your future seem to be essential when considering a career in interior or exterior design. The more projects that you take on, paid or unpaid to begin with, the more photos you will have for your portfolio to gain potential clients. Ailsa Craig Real Estate