Would any professional interior designers care to talk to me for a minute?

[NicolaSeven]

I should probably post this in the work section, too, but thought I might have more chance of reaching an expert here and anyway, I spend a lot more time lurking around these parts!

If you're an interior designer, can I ask, how did you get into it? Did you train and was the course expensive? I have attended at short course at KLC and loved it, but the qualification courses seem to be £15-20k and I would struggle to find both the ££ and the childcare ATM. I've seen short courses elsewhere, but they all seem to be validated by the University of One Man in His Bedroom...

In hope!
MsB

What professional qualifications do interior designers get? A qualification would not influence my descision to hire one, only their sense of style/previous work

don't give up hope ! if you have 'it ' that speaks volumes ! approach a local interior design company and ask if they are interested in hiring a newbie / assistant ?! have prepared images of your home or projects you have helped friends with etc ?! on the job experience with a pro is a fantastic and fun way to learn - and is more complete than anything you learn at a school of college or specific design course ! good luck ! :-)

Thanks both. Have been trawling through some old threads that say the same - on the job experience is better (oo-er).

Think my best friends aunt is a designer so will consult her as a first port of call...

One of my best friends is an interior designer and project manager. She works on domestic refurbs for time poor professionals and her average job is £150k; she gets 10% of that as a management fee. She has about four jobs a year.

When she was just an interior designer she was earning a pittance. To make interior design pay, you have to have your own shop and workroom and most people don't have the funds to start those.

don't get too excited by those figures!! as you need to factor in overheads like cars inc fuel, insurance and maintenance, office inc heating and lighting and furnishing and computers printers, stationary etc then there's postage, phones, Internet etc , then office / client applicable clothes , Yearly eye tests as at computer a lot , then there's accountancy fees , then TAX , NI and if you are VAT registered there's VAT returns to do ! you have to pay for samples usually too ! and after all that has been taken from you - you might be able to pay yourself !!!

forgot about all the insurances. - liability /personal / office and then theres's bank charges and advertising costs ... I'm going to stop now before you all fall asleep !

are you not going to tell her that 90% is redeemable against her tax bill?
and you can actually rent your own car to yourself and claim a petrol allowance etc? and clsim a % against car upkeep?
its not as bad as above, and you can always submit your own tax return when you start up. that is also free to do and easy to do so.