Interior Design Masters FAQ
How to get started in interior design (at any age); which courses I recommend; and how to apply for the show!
After every episode of Interior Design Masters, I receive a flurry of questions via email and Instagram from people whose creativity has been ignited.
Perhaps you’ve harboured a desire to try out your chances as an interior designer and the show has inspired you to action! Well you’ve come to the right place. It’s exciting! It’s inspiring! And Interior Design Masters proves that with talent, energy and application, it is possible to make this your profession.
However, because the questions are increasing (which is a great), and it’s impossible for me to answer them as fully as I’d like individually, I’ve pulled all the most frequently asked ones together, and answered them as completely as I can here. And I'll add to it as and when new and different ones come through. So thank you for the questions and the opportunity to provide further insight...
I'm {insert age here}, is it too late for me to re-train as an interior designer and follow my dreams?
Your age is just a number. It's not a measure of your passion or competence. In other words, it's never ever too late to follow your dreams, unless you decide to make it so. Check out the IG account @wearewithit if you need a little confidence boost.
I want to become an interior designer, but I don’t know where to start, what advice would you give me?
Start creating a portfolio! Personally I prefer a physical one ie one with pieces of paper in it, but it could be online, or do both. And use it to show someone who you are. Gather together tearsheets of things you like; they don't have to be buildings or interiors, they could be fashion pictures or examples of colours you love. Collect paint charts and brochures and make moodboards. Start to work out which brands you love, and crucially why? Who do you like to follow on Instagram, and why?
In other words, work out what you stand for.
What is your aesthetic point of view? What is it that will make you different? And perhaps biggest of all, what is it that you propose to offer the world that you feel the world needs? When you've worked out the answer to these, you'll be ready to apply to schools, or seek an apprenticeship. Or perhaps you'll realise that actually you want to be a milliner. So it’s all good.
Any creative endeavour must start with a goal.
I'm so inspired by the show, I'm thinking of giving up my career in {insert existing profession here} to re-train as an interior designer, which schools would you recommend I apply to?
I trained at The Bartlett School of Architecture at the University College London. I therefore have no direct experience of any interior design schools. But even if I did, the choice of where to study is a profoundly personal one and there are no short cuts to working out which school, academy or training centre might be best for you. You have to visit them. Meet the people who will be teaching you. Ask to speak to alumni. Then compare and contrast course curriculae with at least three other schools before you make a decision.
Schools vary massively in their approach when it comes to working methods — some are more arts-based, others more CAD-focused. Some are super practical, others more about ideas. They're all valid, just different approaches, each with its pros and cons, depending on your sensibility. The point being, only you can ascertain what would be the best fit for you.
You also need to consider cost, accommodation, expenses for materials, proximity to home and other such pragmatic factors.
Is it better to enrol in a training course, or should I just try for an internship somewhere?
Much as above, it's entirely personal preference. Costs come into it too though, as obviously apprenticing should come with a degree of payment, whereas enrolling on any training course is going to see your money going the other way. That said, if you have been studiously creating a portfolio and you know who you admire and where you'd dream of working, contact them. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Hands-on experience with someone who really knows their stuff is always invaluable, whatever stage of your career you're at. We always have something to learn.
But, don't just write to someone with nothing to show. And be realistic. Just because you love Kelly Hoppen doesn't mean you'll be on site running jobs alongside her by week two. The art of good apprenticeship is to go in hungry, with big eyes and bigger ears. Be prepared to be a sponge, to soak it all up, to do the photo copying, make the coffee, be eager, be keen, but also ask questions, offer to help, suggest ideas (where appropriate) and generally make yourself indispensible.
It's how I first started in publishing, paid £25/day.
PS For a super fast-track How to Become an Interior Designer course, you need to see my notes on Season 4. Go back a year right here on Substack (which will be behind the paywall unless you subscribe), for the lessons of every episode.
Interior Design Masters Special Subscription Offer!
Subscribe before the end of Season 5 (redeem by Sunday 5 May) and get instant access to all the behind the scenes pictures, my Wardrobe Notes, gossip about the guest judges, as well as, every other post for a full year! You’ll discover that I love to write about much more than just design!
Can you recommend a good online course?
Once again, as above to an extent. Although here I'll stick my neck out and say that I don't believe you can learn how to become a professional interior designer via a solus online course. Design is tactile and interactive. It's about people, trades, logistics and management. It's a physical endeavour, not only cerebral. I think all of that needs to be learnt in practice, not theory.
To me online learning would be like reading a book on interiors and then professing to be 'trained' once you'd finished. You'd have barely scratched the surface.
But if you're just looking to do up your own home and you want tips, tricks or ideas on a particular genre of design, how to work colour, or understand what biophilic design is all about, then there are many unaccredited 'fun' courses that could well fulfil this brief. Nevertheless the same caveats apply. Look up who offers them. Do you subscribe to their POV? Don't just take someone else's word for it. Do the due diligence and you'll get a better result.
And if you can't be bothered to do all of this, then I'd question your aptitude for the profession in the first place. Becoming an interior designer is hard work. You don't just fall into it, you muscle through it fuelled by passion, enthusiasm and dedication; and charged by a desire to be of service — to help others realise their dreams.
As a person of colour, will it be more difficult for me to become an interior designer?
It shouldn't be, but the honest answer is for some it has been. Ultimately though I believe self-belief — a degree of well why shouldn't I work here chutzpah — is what makes things happen. If you have a portfolio, you've identified your practice of choice, and you're clear about what you can offer, go for it. But if someone knocks you back, please don't automatically think it's to do with colour. Sometimes there really isn't a job.
But I'm not naive, sometimes there is a vacancy, but you don't quite 'look-the-part' according to them. In which case, you do not want to work there. Take your brilliance and passion to somewhere that deserves it. And do not let another person’s ignorance quash your dreams. All professions benefit from multi-cultural teams with differing backgrounds, influences and perspectives. Any firm that hasn't woken up to that yet frankly doesn't deserve to be in business.
Below are some organisations that I'd vouch for that address the issue head on, variously offering support, internships, advice, contacts and workshops.
I've also included some contacts for networks that specifically reach out to support women in whatever sector, too.
United in Design: an ambitious proposal for an equal opportunities’ pathway into interiors. Offering information, outreach, mentoring, training and employment to people of BAME origin.
Built By Us: an award-winning social enterprise on a mission to diversify the construction sector through mentoring and professional support.
The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust inspires young people from disadvantaged backgrounds aged 13 to 30 to succeed in the career of their choice through career counselling, placements, bursaries and mentoring.
The Girl's Network Believing that no girl’s future should be impacted by her gender, background or parental income, the Girl’s Network empowers girls from the least advantaged communities by connecting them to a mentor and a network of professional contacts.
The 30% club is a global campaign with a mission to develop a diverse pool of talent for all businesses through the efforts of its Chair and CEO members who are committed to better gender balance at senior levels and throughout their organisations.
The Creative Mentor Network runs a range of mentoring programmes to matchmake businesses with mentees to support young creatives whilst creating systemic change in the creative industries. This is who I currently work with.
SirenSister Set up by architect and TV presenter Laura Jane Clark, Siren Sister represents a diverse female-led network of architects, interior designers, stylists, horticulturists, photographers, makers and consultants as a resource for the TV, film and media industry.
How do I apply to be on the show?
Follow @interiordesignmasters_tv on Instagram. All details are regularly posted there, but this is the direct link through which to audition. Click the link to have a see what you need to do, don’t worry, you won’t be straight away into the actual application!
For Season Six the closing date is Sunday 14th April 2024.
Applicants must be 18+ and UK residents. And you’ll be asked to attach a photograph of yourself alongside some images of your home or interior work to illustrate your design style.
All personal data is processsed in accordance with the production companies privacy policy, see here. Endemol Shine UK.
Is there a general IDM enquiries email address?
Yes, it's designers@dsp.tv
Please use this email to ask any questions about getting on the show. This is also your best contact if you have any location suggestions for us. PS For obvious reasons, I don’t have any input into the selection of contestants!
I don't live in the UK, can I still see the show?
Series 1 and 2 are on Netflix. Hopefully further series will be available on this platform soon. Seasons 3 and 4 can be found on BBC iPlayer.
What’s the signature wallpaper that’s in your office?
Series Five: Foliage Ferns is a custom-coloured design designed by none other than Season Three finalist, Amy Davies! Isn’t it fabulous. (PS the colours are from the Michelle Ogundehin x Graphenstone paint collection — link coming very soon!)
Series Four: A custom-coloured design created for us by British designer Lucy Tiffany, based on her wonderful Little Houses wallpaper.
Series Three: This one was from Osborne & Little’s Deya Meadow collection designed by Matthew Williamson. Available from Wallpaper Direct.
Series Two: We used Cole & Son’s glorious Forest paper.
Where are your desk/pots/lights from?
The accessories vary from season to season but the desk is the Hyannis Port desk from Ligne Roset, designed by Eric Jourdan. When I edited ELLE Decoration, this is the actual desk I used! Sadly, when I left, it was too big for my home office so I had to sell it. Most lights seen are by Lee Broom.
Do you have Alan Carr's phone number?
Yes, but I'm not giving it to you.