More than fabric samples and color swatches make up a career in interior design. Alongside creativity and an eye for detail, a great interior designer should possess a good mix of artistic and business skills. And if you’ve started an interior design business, these skills will propel your career forward and allow you to handle all types of projects: from commercial interiors to exhibition design.

With that in mind, here’s a list of essential knowledge every interior designer should have.

Essential Knowledge Every Interior Designer Should Have

Spatial Knowledge

To transform a space into a safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing area, you need to be able to see an empty or cluttered room for what it could be. In other words, when you look at a room, you need to have the spatial awareness to figure out what can work in that space. That includes envisioning furniture arrangement, appropriate accessories, color selection, ambiance, and so on. 

Understanding Room Function

The most significant designers know that every room and space has a function. From here, they tailor the room and all its additions to suit the projected purpose. For example, the fittings and coloring in a kitchen may need to be different from those in a bathroom to match each room’s functions. Similarly, the interior design of a family house tends to vary widely from that of a bachelor pad.

Proper Color Selection

Colors create ambiance and mood. For that reason, a good understanding of the color wheel is essential to interior design. It helps the designer build suitable color palettes and gives them the ability to set the mood of a room.

Warm colors, for example, make a room appear more intimate, cheerful, and full of positive energy. On the other hand, cool colors are ideal when you want a room to appear larger and tranquil. You want to create that in a room or space that’s meant for productivity.

Communication 

Every designer should know how to communicate with clients, partners, and industry stakeholders properly. This means sending the right information at the right time and in the right way. Anyone can send an email, but it’s a skill to word it with a tone that communicates confidence and professionalism. 

Budgeting 

Additionally, budgeting (for time and resources) will come in handy in the world of an interior designer. Clients will typically want to work with tight schedules and finances. As a designer, it’s up to you to deliver, despite the circumstances.

Legal and Policy Knowledge

An understanding of the law is an essential knowledge every interior designer should have. Knowing building codes, accessibility requirements, and inspection regulations ensures that you don’t break any laws in your practice.