Career Defined for a Home Decorator
Home decorators must collaborate with homeowners to decide how the inside of a house will be decorated. They need to make sure that their decoration ideas match what the homeowner wants and ensure that the decoration ideas are practical and affordable. Additionally, home decorators are often in charge of working with other professionals like furniture salespeople and painters to make sure that the proper materials and services are delivered. Home decoration requires visits to customers' homes and is a more prevalent occupation in residential areas.
| Required Education | None required, but a certificate or degree program may make you better qualified |
| Job Skills | Listening skills, an understanding of color coordination, furniture design trends, interior decoration and basic architecture |
| Career Outlook (2021 to 2031) | 2% growth for all art and design workers |
| Median Annual Salary (2021) | $48,220 for all art and design workers |
Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Education
No formal education is required to enter the home decoration field, but you may want to complete a certificate or degree program from a vocational school or community college in order to be better qualified for a job. Many colleges offer courses in interior decoration that could be useful as well.
Job Skills
Home decorators need to be good listeners to make sure they fully understand what the customers want. In addition, they must have a firm grasp of color coordination, and they should be knowledgeable about current trends in furniture design and interior decoration. A basic understanding of architecture is also useful.
Career and Economic Outlook
Jobs in home decoration are easier to find in areas where many people buy houses, and it can be more difficult to find work as a home decorator when the housing market slows down. PayScale.com reported that interior decorators earned a median income of $46,800 as of January 2023.
Alternative Career Options
Related jobs include:
Interior Designer
While this job option is similar to an interior decorator, interior designers need to hold a bachelor's degree in interior design. Licensure requirements vary by state. Decorators and designers share many of the same duties, including overseeing the installation of furnishings and consulting with clients. The median yearly income for an interior designer was reported as $62,570 in May 2021 by the BLS. The BLS projected a grow in employment by 1% for interior designers between 2021 and 2031.
Landscape Architect
As of May 2021, the median salary of landscape architects was $74,980. A little to no change was projected for this field from 2021 and 2031. Landscape architects confer with clients about landscaping projects, design outdoor spaces and prepare presentations. A bachelor's or master's degree in landscape architecture is typically required.
