For some it is a hobby and for others it is a career they passionately pursue. Regardless of how you look at it, interior design can give you both the fulfillment as a hobby and the good pay as a professional designer.
For some it is a hobby and for others it is a career they passionately pursue. Regardless of how you look at it, interior design can give you both the fulfillment as a hobby and the good pay as a professional designer.
But you need to grasp the basics first. For instance did you know that interior design and interior decoration are two different things? If you are considering taking a career in interior design, it is the first thing you will learn.
"There is a misconception that decorating is designing, but when you look at design, you look at the function of space, its layout, and safety concerns like proper egress,” says Lisa B Merlar a publisher and editor of H. Magazine an interior design publication for East Africa.
Marler, an American currently living in Kigali, is an interior designer with a specialty in kitchen and bathroom design. She is the brain behind H Magazine, where she showcases how beautiful homes should look.
In addition to her work as an editor, Marler designs hotels and her current project is the Five Volcanos Hotel, in Musanze District in the Northern Province, a seven room boutique hotel with a lounge, restaurant and a spa.
For anyone entering the field, Marler says there are lots of opportunities for new designers, but she recommends internship with professionals before one ventures into interior design.
"Being a good designer is a small fraction of the job, you must be able to communicate your designs to your client, so being a bit of a sales person helps a lot as well,” she says.
However, she notes that there are some setbacks in the field of design that hinder the business.
"Finding skilled craftsmen who can build the products you envision is an issue, it’s not as easy as you think,” Marler notes.
Marler encourages the youth in Rwanda, who may be interested in the industry of interior design to start now as there isn’t a lot of competition locally. She believes that in a few years to come, there will be great opportunities. She added that there are many projects out there for skilled interior designers.