Many people who have a knack for redecorating their homes, often dream about becoming an Interior Designer or Decorator. If you are one of those people and have an equal talent for being able to multi-task and work well with people, this may be a great career for you.

First off, it is important to distinguish between the two terms: Interior Designer and Interior Decorator.

An Interior Designer is usually specially trained and even licensed in Interior Design. Often, they have a background in architectural drawing and hold a wide expertise in building and contract lingo. An Interior Decorator may or may not be professionally trained, but they have a flair for home décor.

In both cases, the person must be able to organize many tasks at once in order to find success in this career. Many people are surprised at how many details need to be coordinated. Meeting with contractors and scheduling deliveries are as important as selecting fabric samples and choosing paintcolors.

Generally, Interior Designers go through a Bachelor's program and need to study architecture, engineering and art to capture the skills needed to obtain a position with an Interior Design firm. Participating ininternships or acquiring other practical experience (like set design for the community theatre) will give you an edge over other potential candidates.

As an Interior Designer, you will need to have an extensive knowledge of blueprints and understand how the construction process works, as many Interior Designers must plan a room before the drywall has gone up. Interior Designers should also be aware of electrical capacities and placement in order to coordinate lighting schemes with the hired electrician.

Since Interior Decorators are not required to go through the formal education an Interior Designer must face, the Interior Decorator needs to build up an extensive portfolio of experience to have success in this field.

You may start with gaining experience through friends and family who want to update a room. Treat them just like you would a client you have never met and don't be afraid to ask for feedback on ways to improve your services. Also, your portfolio and references will make or break your career so take a lot of photos during the entire process so that you may show key moments in your decorating choices.