Opening an interior design firm: How to do it?
Opening an interior design firm: How to do it?
Becoming an interior designer does not require a specific state-recognized diploma, but specialized training is highly recommended to acquire essential skills. The French Council of Interior Designers offers a certificate of competence to graduates of specialized schools, validating key skills such as project analysis, design, technical definition of work and management of an interior design activity. This certification, although not mandatory, strengthens professional credibility. At the same time, the article explains the difference between an interior designer and a decorator: the interior designer reorganizes and optimizes spaces, while the decorator focuses on aesthetics and furnishings.
To create an interior design firm, several steps are necessary: precisely define your project, choose the appropriate legal structure (self-employed, SARL, SAS, etc.), complete the mandatory administrative procedures and develop a solid business plan. The latter must include the presentation of the company, pricing, target clientele, as well as financial forecasts. The interior design market is growing, especially in the post-COVID context where the comfort of living and working spaces has become a priority. The remuneration of the interior designer varies according to the projects and the location, with an average salary starting around 1500 to 2300 euros gross, which can reach 2300 to 3500 euros gross with experience.
Becoming an interior designer does not require a specific diploma recognized by the State, but it is strongly recommended to follow a dedicated training course to acquire the essential skills of the profession. This article explores the possible training paths to aspire to this creative and technical profession. It also highlights the role of the French Council of Interior Designers, the skills required to obtain their certification, and the distinction between an interior designer and a decorator. Finally, it discusses the steps to create your own interior design firm and the remuneration prospects in this field.
Podcast: Opening an interior design business
What training do you need to become an interior designer?
The profession of interior designer is not regulated and therefore does not require a state-recognized diploma, unlike the profession of architect, which is more regulated. However, it is advisable to follow specific training in order to acquire the basics necessary for the profession of interior designer.
Also, the French Council of Interior Designers issues a certificate of capacity to graduates of specialized schools, this certification allows to validate a range of skills essential to the interior designer. This certification is not mandatory but allows the interior designer to display, to his clients or other partners, a quality label.
In order to obtain this certification, the future interior designer goes before a jury in order to validate 4 categories of skills:
“Analysis of the Interior Architecture project”
This part consists of understanding and determining the client’s project as a whole. The interior designer must here analyze what is desired and what is possible to achieve, and at what cost in order to establish the specifications that will be validated by his client.
“Interior Architecture Project Design”
In this category, the interior designer will establish the plans and visual projections while specifying the budget for the work to be carried out. This is an essential step for the client to project themselves into the future spaces defined by the interior designer, and to ensure that the project corresponds to the client’s initial expectations.
“Technical definition of interior architecture work, selection of companies and site management”
Once the project has been perfectly determined, it is important to take into account the technical standards of the building, the energy and environmental specificities before carrying out work. This is when there is consultation with the project management companies and other specialists in this profession. He will select the best proposals and will make the choice of materials with the partner companies.
“Conduct, management and development of an interior architecture activity”
This last validation point no longer concerns the realization of a specific project but focuses more on the management of the interior architect company and assessing the future professional’s ability to develop and sustain his activity.
The interior architecture market
The interior architecture market is integrated into the global interior design market. This sector of activity developed significantly before the COVID crisis due to the significant communication on this subject with television shows in particular. This growth increased with the various lockdowns, which put comfort back at the center of daily life, at home and at work.
However, it is important to specify that the interior designer works a lot with companies. Indeed, he can be called upon to fit out a sales area or improve a workspace. With the proliferation of open-plan offices, companies need help to optimize these spaces while maintaining the comfort of employees.
In 2020, there were 2,000 interior designers in France, as indicated by L’Etudiant.
According to Les Echos, interior decoration and furnishing generated 26 billion euros in turnover in France in 2020, including floor and wall coverings, home textiles, lighting and tableware.
