3 answers
Ameerah
Student
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1
Question
Updated
492 views
How do I start and get ahead in interior design and real estate?
Hi, my name is Ameerah and I’m in the 10th grade. For the past 2 years I’ve explored the field of interior design as much as I possibly can through as many platforms as I can think of. Whether social media or books, websites and blogs I’ve gathered as much information about this career path as I can.
But, usually the best knowledge comes from seasoned professionals, so I came up with a few questions to ask that I get stuck on:
-Is it better to get a degree for Interior design specifically, or could I get a degree in art and later merge into interior design and be successful with the same results?
- what classes can I take to gain more knowledge? For example, I’m taking classes on textiles and drafting next semester.
If anyone could give me any tips that would be amazing. Thanks
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3 answers
Anuj Gupta
Software Engineering
468
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Anuj’s Answer
i Ameerah! It is absolutely fantastic that you are already laying the groundwork for your career in the 10th grade. Immersing yourself in books, blogs, and social media gives you a massive head start.
The intersection of interior design and real estate is an incredibly lucrative and dynamic space. If you can design a space and understand the market value of the property it sits in, you become a massive asset to wealthy clients, developers, and house-flippers.
Let’s tackle your exact questions and map out a game plan to get you ahead.
1. The Degree Dilemma: Interior Design vs. Art
To get the most successful results, it is highly recommended to get a specific degree in Interior Design (ideally from a CIDA-accredited program) rather than a general Art degree. Here is why:
The "Interior Decorating" vs. "Interior Design" Difference: A lot of people mistake interior design for just picking out paint colors and furniture (which is decorating). True Interior Design involves spatial planning, architecture, building codes, fire safety regulations, and accessibility laws (like the ADA). An art degree won't teach you how to read a structural blueprint or ensure a layout is legally compliant.
Licensing and Certification: In many regions, you cannot legally call yourself an "Interior Designer" or sign off on commercial blueprints unless you pass official exams (like the NCIDQ exam in North America). To qualify for these exams, you usually need a specific degree in interior design.
The Real Estate Synergy: An interior design degree teaches you how to optimize square footage to increase a property’s market value—something a general art degree won't focus on.
2. What Classes to Take Right Now
You are already making great choices! Taking Textiles and Drafting next semester is perfect. Drafting will teach you the geometric language of space, and textiles will teach you how materials wear, tear, and react to light.
To round out your high school schedule over the next two years, look for classes in these three buckets:
Tech & Design
CAD / 3D Modeling: Look for architecture, engineering, or graphic design classes that teach software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, or Revit. Digital rendering is the #1 skill modern designers use to show concepts to clients.
Studio Art / Color Theory: To sharpen your eye for composition, scale, lighting, and how colors interact.
Business & Real Estate
Marketing or Entrepreneurship: Interior designers and real estate agents are almost always self-employed or run their own firms. Learning how to market yourself and pitch ideas is vital.
Economics / Personal Finance: This will help you understand market trends, property values, and how interest rates affect the real estate world.
3. How to Merge Interior Design & Real Estate to Get Ahead
Since you have an interest in both fields, you don't have to choose just one. You can combine them to build a unique, high-earning career path. Here is how you can use the next few years to get ahead of everyone else:
Learn "Home Staging"
Home staging is the art of decorating a home specifically to sell it faster and for more money in the real estate market.
Action Step: Look up home staging companies or top-producing real estate agents in your city. Ask if you can shadow them for a day or help carry samples. Real estate agents love interior designers who understand how to make a house look appealing to buyers.
Master Digital Visualization Tools
Don't wait for college to start designing. Download free software like SketchUp (Free version) or use tools like Canva to create digital mood boards.
Action Step: Pick a random house listing on a real estate app (like Zillow or Realtor.com) that looks outdated. Redesign one of the rooms digitally. Save the "Before" real estate photo and your "After" design. Congratulations—you just started your first portfolio project!
Start Building Your Network Now
Since you love learning from seasoned professionals, use the Informational Interview strategy.
Action Step: Find local interior designers or real estate agents on Instagram or LinkedIn. Write them a polite note: "Hi! I'm Ameerah, a 10th grader studying textiles and drafting. I love your work. Could I ask you 3 quick questions over email about how you started your firm?" Professionals are incredibly supportive of young students who show genuine drive.
You are already on the right track by asking the right questions early. Keep that curiosity alive!
The intersection of interior design and real estate is an incredibly lucrative and dynamic space. If you can design a space and understand the market value of the property it sits in, you become a massive asset to wealthy clients, developers, and house-flippers.
Let’s tackle your exact questions and map out a game plan to get you ahead.
1. The Degree Dilemma: Interior Design vs. Art
To get the most successful results, it is highly recommended to get a specific degree in Interior Design (ideally from a CIDA-accredited program) rather than a general Art degree. Here is why:
The "Interior Decorating" vs. "Interior Design" Difference: A lot of people mistake interior design for just picking out paint colors and furniture (which is decorating). True Interior Design involves spatial planning, architecture, building codes, fire safety regulations, and accessibility laws (like the ADA). An art degree won't teach you how to read a structural blueprint or ensure a layout is legally compliant.
Licensing and Certification: In many regions, you cannot legally call yourself an "Interior Designer" or sign off on commercial blueprints unless you pass official exams (like the NCIDQ exam in North America). To qualify for these exams, you usually need a specific degree in interior design.
The Real Estate Synergy: An interior design degree teaches you how to optimize square footage to increase a property’s market value—something a general art degree won't focus on.
2. What Classes to Take Right Now
You are already making great choices! Taking Textiles and Drafting next semester is perfect. Drafting will teach you the geometric language of space, and textiles will teach you how materials wear, tear, and react to light.
To round out your high school schedule over the next two years, look for classes in these three buckets:
Tech & Design
CAD / 3D Modeling: Look for architecture, engineering, or graphic design classes that teach software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, or Revit. Digital rendering is the #1 skill modern designers use to show concepts to clients.
Studio Art / Color Theory: To sharpen your eye for composition, scale, lighting, and how colors interact.
Business & Real Estate
Marketing or Entrepreneurship: Interior designers and real estate agents are almost always self-employed or run their own firms. Learning how to market yourself and pitch ideas is vital.
Economics / Personal Finance: This will help you understand market trends, property values, and how interest rates affect the real estate world.
3. How to Merge Interior Design & Real Estate to Get Ahead
Since you have an interest in both fields, you don't have to choose just one. You can combine them to build a unique, high-earning career path. Here is how you can use the next few years to get ahead of everyone else:
Learn "Home Staging"
Home staging is the art of decorating a home specifically to sell it faster and for more money in the real estate market.
Action Step: Look up home staging companies or top-producing real estate agents in your city. Ask if you can shadow them for a day or help carry samples. Real estate agents love interior designers who understand how to make a house look appealing to buyers.
Master Digital Visualization Tools
Don't wait for college to start designing. Download free software like SketchUp (Free version) or use tools like Canva to create digital mood boards.
Action Step: Pick a random house listing on a real estate app (like Zillow or Realtor.com) that looks outdated. Redesign one of the rooms digitally. Save the "Before" real estate photo and your "After" design. Congratulations—you just started your first portfolio project!
Start Building Your Network Now
Since you love learning from seasoned professionals, use the Informational Interview strategy.
Action Step: Find local interior designers or real estate agents on Instagram or LinkedIn. Write them a polite note: "Hi! I'm Ameerah, a 10th grader studying textiles and drafting. I love your work. Could I ask you 3 quick questions over email about how you started your firm?" Professionals are incredibly supportive of young students who show genuine drive.
You are already on the right track by asking the right questions early. Keep that curiosity alive!
Hi apologies for the late reply, your advice is exactly what I was looking for and thank you so much for the ideas and breakdowns of my questions. I now have a framework of what I can do to get ahead, and I’m a bit more confident than I was before.
Thanks again!
Ameerah
Micah Ehioze
Designer
1
Answer
Lagos, Nigeria
Updated
Micah’s Answer
Hi Ameerah,
You're making a great choice by going for a degree in art. Art lets you mix different ideas to create something beautiful. It's smart to gain broad knowledge and see how you can use it in interior design. Building a good network in real estate will give you lots of opportunities to showcase your designs and can lead to more earnings too. Keep going!
You're making a great choice by going for a degree in art. Art lets you mix different ideas to create something beautiful. It's smart to gain broad knowledge and see how you can use it in interior design. Building a good network in real estate will give you lots of opportunities to showcase your designs and can lead to more earnings too. Keep going!
Thank you for the encouragement and advise.
Ameerah
kelly marino
6
Answers
McLean, Virginia
Updated
kelly’s Answer
Hi Ameerah,
If you know you want interior design, follow that path. I'm a bit confused by your headline, in which you mention real estate. Real estate is a completely different beast. If you have a passion for both, you may wish to pursue staging, whereby you are making a property the best it can be through renovations and refreshes and furniture layouts to get the most $$$ for the listing.
Back to interior design. If you think this is your dream, look at universities that offer interior design programs. Within the required classes, you will likely take classes that also align with art: art history, sketching, color theory, etc.
Good luck!
Kelly
If you know you want interior design, follow that path. I'm a bit confused by your headline, in which you mention real estate. Real estate is a completely different beast. If you have a passion for both, you may wish to pursue staging, whereby you are making a property the best it can be through renovations and refreshes and furniture layouts to get the most $$$ for the listing.
Back to interior design. If you think this is your dream, look at universities that offer interior design programs. Within the required classes, you will likely take classes that also align with art: art history, sketching, color theory, etc.
Good luck!
Kelly
Omg, I didn’t notice the title didn’t change! I was editing everything while multitasking, and I thought all new changes were saved. Apologies for the confusion. Thank you so much for the info.
Ameerah