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Self Teaching
Teaching yourself to learn any field takes a lot of discipline and a great
deal of interest. You have to be a motivated person and have the ability to
focus solely on your task, but it can be done. There are many Interior Designers
that are working without any formal education. They are simply going on
intuition and talent. It is rare to learn all of the things that you need to
know by teaching yourself, but it a possibility. These are some of the things
that you will need in order to teach yourself interior design.
• Learn the proper terms from various books on interior design.
• Observe the many techniques and trends from circulating magazines and
catalogs.
• Teach yourself to calculate the amounts of paint and wallpaper need to per
wall by talking to your local professionals.
• Get as much practice as you can in your own home or at others’
• Use your local library or bookstore to help you brush up on the proper ways of
incorporating space and a balance of space.
Pros and Cons of Self Teaching
| Pros |
Cons |
| Learn at your own speed |
You don’t get the benefit of a teacher’s guidance and help |
| You don’t get final exams |
You don’t get certification |
| Cheaper than paying tuition costs |
Tuition is expensive |
| Learn in the comfort of your own home |
Must learn with others watching and judging you |
| Have online assistance when needed |
Have to wait to use computers |
| Practice projects can be a lot less stressful |
Still have to take drafting and other technical classes |
| Extra classes needed are often free at adult schools |
You don’t get help finding client prospects |
| You can earn while you learn |
You can earn while you learn (may be overworked) |
| You can take breaks whenever you want |
You can take breaks whenever you want. (may lose incentive) |
• Never underestimate the power of Feng Shui. Purchase books on it if you can
because it is a great resource for this type of work.
• Get a job at a department or furniture store so that you can get a feel for
the job, and the newest and most interesting design techniques. This method lets
you earn while you learn.
The best way to teach yourself is to keep up on current trends through magazines
and furniture catalogues. It may sound strange, but it is a good start. You will
however have no choice but to take a drafting and blueprinting class. You cannot
avoid this. Fortunately there are many adult classes available for free.
You will also need to create a portfolio. A portfolio is like a scrapbook that
has all of the listings and photographs of your work to date. Do not worry if
you do not have a portfolio right away because I will give you some tips on how
to build a portfolio, with little or no professional expertise.
Your portfolio will help your future clients see what work you’ve done, which
will give them an idea of what you are capable of doing for them. This is your
best marketing tool, so make it look as professional as possible. You will also
want to add letters of recommendation to your portfolio when possible, or you
can request from clients that they allow you to list them in your portfolio as
satisfied customers.
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