How to Get Started in Interior Design Right Now

Whether you're in high school, switching careers, or just starting from scratch, the things I did to kickstart my design career are available to you right now. No degree required. No fancy studio. Just three things that genuinely matter.

Master design software early

SketchUp, AutoCAD, Revit. I know it sounds intimidating, but there are free versions and tutorials all over the internet. The earlier you start, the more natural it becomes, and by the time you're working with real clients, it'll feel like second nature.

This is the one skill that will open the most doors for you, whether you end up working for a firm or going out on your own.

Learn Photoshop

Canva is fine, I use it too, but it won't give you the flexibility to create things fully from scratch the way Photoshop does. Direction boards, presentations, custom concepts — Photoshop is where the professional stuff lives. Worth learning sooner rather than later!

Start a design scrapbook

Yes, an actual physical one. Cut things out of magazines, piece together rooms by hand, move things around.

There is something about doing it off a screen that develops your eye differently. It's also one of the best ways to start finding your own style, which takes time and can't be rushed.

If you want to take that a step further and start practicing real room layouts, I have a Space Planning Workbook on the site that is exactly what it sounds like: beginner-friendly, no overwhelm, just learning how to think spatially like a designer.

That's really it to start. Simple, accessible, and something you can begin today.

XO

Shira