An interior designer creates functional yet aesthetically appealing spaces according to the specific needs of clients, transforming a room with a selection of fundamental items as well as the decor to serve the purpose of the room and make it look beautiful. At the same time, part of an interior designer’s job is to adhere to building, safety, health, and product regulations.
Whether they are part of an interior design firm in Winter park or work as an independent contractor, an interior designer often partners with architects, engineers, and mechanical experts – depending on the complexity of the design or project – to bring a client’s vision to life.
Types of Interior Design
The field of interior design isn’t monolithic. Not only do interior designers gravitate towards specific styles, but they may actually specialize in niche areas such as corporate design, kitchen and bath design, healthcare design, universal design, and sustainable design.
Corporate Design
Corporate interior designers transform office spaces into practical workplaces, taking into account how employees need to use the space while incorporating the company’s workplace culture into their design. They strive to create a space that facilitates productivity, efficiency, and creativity
Additionally, corporate designers propose healthy work environments that contribute to every worker’s overall physical and mental health by coordinating colors in a room perfectly and introducing decor as well as plants and other elements to reduce workplace stress and fatigue. How an office flows may also prevent physical injuries.
Kitchen Design & Bathroom Design
Kitchen and bathroom design are often grouped together because these two spaces share similar elements such as cabinetry and plumbing, which is why color and material selection is key. As such, these two spaces are also usually the most expensive renovations.
Kitchen and bathroom interior design jobs can range from sprucing up the existing space with paint, new hardware, and swapping out the decor to an entire home renovation design.
While some clients have the budget to completely gut their kitchens or bathrooms and move the plumbing or electrical around to accommodate their vision, that’s not the case for most people. That means that as a kitchen designer, understanding where the electrical and plumbing elements are situated is part of the challenge, not to mention the color of the appliances a client owns.
Just because there are fixed pieces like appliances that cannot change, however, doesn’t mean an interior designer can’t work wonders with a kitchen or bathroom. Existing cabinets can be sanded and painted a completely different color, the hardware can be swapped for a style that aligns with the overall aesthetic, and even a light fixture change can make a marked difference in a space.
Since these are usually the most expensive rooms to design, part of an interior designer’s job is to remain within the client’s budget.
Healthcare Design
Healthcare design focuses on creating positive and welcoming spaces for patients in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities such as dental and doctor’s offices.
Interior designers specializing in healthcare designs have the unique challenge of creating spaces that meet the needs of healthcare employees, patients with a full spectrum of conditions as well as their families who visit or stay with them. It’s not simply a matter of preference, but rather interior design principles based on research concerning the impact that an environment or facility can make on a patient’s well-being as well as healthcare workers’ ability to care for them.
Universal Design
The architect Ronald Mace coined the term universal design, referring to the idea of designing existing environments and spaces for everyone to use, regardless of age, life status, gender, or physical capability.
An interior designer who focuses on universal design thoughtfully creates spaces that accommodate people with disabilities, the elderly, and people with special needs. For instance, if a client in a wheelchair needs help to design the perfect kitchen for entertaining, an interior designer who specializes in universal design will ensure that everything in the kitchen is easily accessible so the client can happily host guests.
Sustainable Design
Sustainable designers are not only tasked with designing a space that uses energy and water efficiently, but they also have the added challenge of choosing materials and methods with a low environmental impact. Interior designers in this field may opt for LEED certification from the U.S. Building Council to indicate their expertise in sustainable design.
Becoming an interior designer usually requires a bachelor’s degree as well as additional licensure, certification, and registration depending on the state. Understanding the building codes and construction regulations of the state is also a crucial part of what interior designers do as they frequently collaborate with engineers, architects, and construction workers.
Contact us today to see firsthand what an interior designer does while we transform your space and bring your vision to life.