What is Interior Design?: Course Fees, Top Colleges, Career Paths, Skills & Salary 2025

Interior Design is the art and science of enhancing the interiors, sometimes including the exterior, of a space or building, to achieve a healthier and more pleasing environment for the end user. Interior design is a multifaceted profession that includes conceptual development, space planning, site inspections, programming, research, construction management, and execution of the design.

An interior designer is someone who plans, researches, coordinates, and manages such projects. Interior designers work with interior spaces to make them visually and physically pleasing. While decorating the space is a prime responsibility, interior designers might also focus on architectural aspects of the space, such as crown molding.

This is a subjective question, and the answer to this would vary from one person to another, based on individual future plans, interests, and dedication to the field. Generally, the Interior Design courses are the perfect fit for creative souls who enjoy planning and designing and have great taste. From the entire interior planning to furniture selection, interior designers are the go-to people for the clients so that they can enjoy a comfortable and beautiful living space.

You can look forward to excellent earning opportunities after completing Interior Designer courses with decent salary packages. Short-term skill-based certificate and Diploma courses in Interior Designing can be worthwhile for students planning to start their professional journey early, are low on budget, and look at it more as a hobby or side income.

On the other hand, if you're planning to start a healthy career journey in this field, it is better to go for full-fledged degree courses that focus both on theory classes and practical learning, along with skill development and connection building.

The Interior Designing field has seen massive growth in the past few years with growing interest in the home and workspace interiors and aesthetics, largely because of social media influence and global exposure. You can find some top Interior Designing companies in India (or firms) for jobs after course completion given here:

• The KariGhars, Bangalore
• Morphogenesis, Bangalore
• Carafina, Bangalore
• Studio Lotus, Delhi
• Talati and Partners, Mumbai
• The Orange Lane, Mumbai
• The Charcoal Project, Mumbai & Hyderabad

It is estimated that joining the top Interior Design colleges in Delhi NCR can be affordable. Listed below are some of the colleges having tuition fees of less than INR 1 lakh:

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website/ sanctioning body and may vary.

Yes, you can surely pursue a course program in Interior Design after 10th. You can take a diploma course program. Diploma courses: -Diploma in Interior Design -Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration -Diploma in Interior Design and Display (Graduates) -Diploma in Interior Design and Display (Professional) -Advanced Diploma in Interior Design and Display After this, you can opt for a degree course in Interior Design. Employment Opportunities: Commercial Interior Designer Design Consultant Exhibition Designer Institutional Interior Designer Lighting Designer Residential Interior Designer Interior decorators Window display designers Design Educator Facility Manager Theatre and set designers Skills Required: -Drawing aptitude -Ability to work as part of a team -Visual sensitivity -Knowledge of textures, materials and trends -Ability to deal with technical details -Analytical mind Found this useful? Click on thumbs up or mark it as best.

A candidate who has cleared their Class 12 from any stream (Science/Commerce/Arts), can pursue a Interior Designing course at the graduation level. Most popular colleges allow candidates to participate in their admission process only if they have completed their schooling from a recognised board. Most colleges prefer candidates who have studied Mathematics and Physics as a full-time course or as an additional subject in class 12. For merit-based admissions, students must secure more than 80% in the qualifying exam. 

The time involved in the Interior Designing admission process differs on the basis of the design institute or college where you're planning to pursue the course. In general, it can easily take at least 2 to 4 months because each college follows their own guidelines for admission to Interior Design courses often including entrance exams, college application forms, results, merit lists, interviews, and portfolio submissions.

You can go to the official websites of your preferred Interior Design colleges to have better clarity of their admission and selection criteria.

The four-year Bachelor of Science in Interior Design degree emphasises the approaches and ideas for comprehending human behaviour and creating livable places that meet client needs. To design the interior spaces, candidates for this course comprehend the inner and exterior layout of any facility.

Subjects like Lighting Design, Sustainable Design, Space Planning and Layout, Materials and Finishes, etc. are covered in this course. Candidates who are interested in an interior design job can take this course. Candidates who have a strong sense of vision and are creative must definitely enrol in this programme. They must be skilled at creating plans and have the ability to oversee both the client's budget and the enterprise itself.

Candidates should enrol in this programme and use interior design as a means of showcasing their original innovations and ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Students with a bachelor's degree can pursue postgraduate degrees such as Master of Design (MDes), MA, or MSc in Interior Design. Check Popular Colleges for BSc Interior Design.

Many students are often confused about whether to take a BSc Interior Design course or BDes in Interior Design. Both these courses are almost similar and therefore create confusion. Hence the following table enumerates the key differences between them.

Note: The information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

BSc Interior Design is a 3-year undergraduate course in which students learn to design comfortable spaces and anticipate people’s needs. The basic eligibility of the course is a pass in 10+2 and the approximate tuition fee varies from 3 Lac INR. to 15 lacs INR. The course teaches the student with a wide array of structural requirements, health and safety issues and building codes as well.

The course on completion offers many opportunities to the students where they can earn15,000 INR to 20,000 initially, which increases with experience and students get to work as Interior Designers, Landscape Designers, Furniture Designers or 3D artists.

Bachelor of Arts in Design (B.A. Design) is also an undergraduate degree course in the field of Design, where the key aspects of innovation and creativity are involded. Students who have an edge over imagination and a good taste in designing may opt for this course. The students who have successfully completed their schooling are eligible for the Bachelor of Design course. It has a duration of3 or 4 years and the tuition fee is around 3, 30,000 INR per annum.

Key differences between B.Arch in Interior Design and B. Des in Interior Design:

 1. B.Arch in Interior Design is an engineering course having duration of five years. Candidates who have passed plus two with the subjects Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry can only join this course.

2. B. Des in Interior Design is a four year course which focuses only on the interior designing of the building. Candidates who have passed Class 12 in any stream can join this course.

3. Even though the candidates who have passed any of these courses work on the same field, job profiles and salary packages are different for B.Arch graduates and B. Des graduates. For joining B.Arch course, one should possess NATA score. Therefore candidates who wish to join the B.Arch course should have exceptional aptitude.

You should start your exam preparation for Interior Design courses after 12th as early as possible, at least 3 to 6 months before the exam is tentatively scheduled to take place. The time for Interior Designing exam preparation also differs on the basis of the specific exam you're planning to appear for, as exams like NID and NIFT are quite difficult and see cutthroat competition for seats every year, with every design aspirant dreaming of grabbing a seat there.

The main entrance exams for Interior Design course admission such as NIFT Entrance, NID Entrance, Common Entrance Examination for Design, FDDI All India Selection Test (FDDI AIST), Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design (SEED), etc.., are conducted on center-based mode. However, UCEED test is a computer-based entrance you can opt for.

The main subjects that are included in the syllabus of BDes Interior Design include:

• Design Principles
• Design History
• Environmental Studies
• Technical Drawing
• Design Studio
• Project Management
• CAD Software

The syllabus varies on the basis of the college offering the course but some general, important BSc Interior Design subjects taught in the classroom are given here for your reference:

• Design Principles
• Space Planning
• Lighting Design
• Furniture Design
• History of Interior Design
• Drawing and Visualization.
• CAD Software
• 3D Modeling

Here are some popular Interior Design books that may help you gain additional knowledge related to the respective field:

• 4th Dimension Architecture by Ar. Chandrakant Patel.
• The Interior Design Handbook by Frida Ramstedt.
• Made for Living: Collected Interiors for All Sorts of Styles by Amber Lewis and Cat Chen.
• Interior Design: Principles And Practice by M. Pratap Rao.
• Modular Kitchen Planning & Designing Guide by Gopal Dwivedi.
• India-decoration Interior Design by Henry Wilson.

No, NIFT does not provide any course or training program related to Interior Designing. But having said that, there are other exams that you can prepare for to pursue Interior Designing course.

Courses and Entrance Exams

Diploma Courses 

• Advance Diploma in Fashion, Interior & Textile Design 
• Advanced Diploma in Interior Design 
• Certificate in Interior Decoration Design
• Diploma in Architectural Assistantship
• Designer Coordinator- Interior Design
• Graduate Diploma Programme in Design
• Graduate Diploma in Interior Space and Equipment Design
• Graduate Diploma in Retail and Exhibition Design
• One Year Diploma in Interior Designing Diploma course in Interior Design
• Professional Diploma in Furniture & Interior Design

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who wish to pursue a Diploma in interior designing or a certificate course in interior designing should have passed class 12. 

Given below are the different Interior Designing colleges in India with different fee ranges:

Please refer to the table below for some of the top recruiters for best Interior Design colleges in India along with their average placement package:

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Here are some of the top  BSc in Interior Design college options offering great placement opportunities to graduates in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body and may vary.

Here are some technical skills you will need to be a good Interior Designer:

• Using 3D Interior Design modelling tools.
• Precision sketching to know how to communicate your Interior Design ideas.
• Computer-Aided-Design (CAD).
• Architectural detailing and building codes.

Interior Designer salaries in India range from INR 0.3 Lakhs to INR 6 LPA, with an average annual salary of INR 3 LPA. Estimated salaries are based on the most recent 9.9k salaries received from Interior Designers. 

Diverse job opportunities exist in front of Interior Design professionals. They may either choose to work under supervised setup (Design studios and Interior design firms) or work independently. When it comes to Government sector jobs, PWDs, Municipal Corporations and Town Planning Departments are known to hire interior design professionals.

They may also become part of Government schemes related to housing and relocation of people. Starting salary depends on a number of different factors. Prominent factors are- profile of the employer, employee skills, aptitude and grades attained by the employee. In the beginning, interior designers may earn INR 3 -4 LPA. The salary package will eventually rise after gaining work experience. If one decides to remain self employed, salary figure will be quite different.

There are many countries that provide Interior Design courses, as it is undoubtedly a popular specialization. So, the eligibility criteria for every country may vary depending on the course level and their government policies and educational institutions for foreigner students. However, their basic requirements include:

• High school marks from a recognised board,
• English proficiency,
• Portfolio of your previous work experience,
• Statement of purpose,
• Letter of recommendation,
• GRE scores, etc.

Both are the standardised tests required to test English proficiency of a candidate for applying abroad. IELTS is used for educational, immigration and occupational purposes, and is accepted by over 9,000 institutions across 130 countries worldwide majorly in UK, New Zealand and Australia. TOEFL also has worldwide acceptance now. TOEFL exam, questions are almost multiple choice, whereas, IELTS requires you to respond to a range of different question types such as short answer, gap-filling and short essay tasks. The IELTS is significantly shorter than the TOEFL exam, taking approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes versus four hours to complete the test. You may visit the respective websites to take the mock tests and understand the difference and which exam you want to take.

There are various kinds of scholarships available for every kind of student, majorly categorised as:

Merit-based: Based on a student’s academic record or extracurricular activities such as achievements in sports and service to the community. Student specific: Students who qualify based on factors such as gender, race, religion, family and medical history can apply to such scholarships. 

Destination specific: Several public authorities, governments or universities grant bursaries and funds to students from a particular country. For instance, scholarships offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand or the Chevening fellowship granted by the UK Government for international students from Commonwealth countries.

Subject specific: Certain universities and institutions award grants to students who plan to pursue a specific field of study. Need-based: Targeted towards students facing financial constraint, these scholarships are offered on the basis of your parents financial background. Authorities may ask you for documents such as family income, tax statements, employment proofs, etc.

Athletic scholarships: Provided to top-notch sportsmen, these scholarships require you to contribute with rigorous training and representing your university at events whilst balancing your education. We know it can be a little confusing which scholarship to go for with so many options available, and that's why our counsellors work with you to discover and apply for the best scholarships for you. Different countries have different scholarships.

The differences between the IELTS Academic and the IELTS General are as follows: 1. Use: The IELTS Academic Test is for students who want to apply for higher education or professional work abroad. The IELTS General Training test is for those who want to migrate to other countries for other purposes, such as work. 2. Test mode: The IELTS General Test is conducted in computer mode only. The IELTS Academic can be taken offline as well as online. 3. Test format: The reading and writing sections in both are different. For example, IELTS Academic has a writing section consisting of graphs and an essay task. The IELTS General Training has a letter and essay task in writing. You can learn in detail about both tests in this Shiksha article: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/ielts-academic-vs-ielts-general-articlepage-1397.

Interior spaces play a huge role in shaping psychological behaviour. Good aesthetical symmetry induces emotional well-being. At the same time, functionality within the four walls matters. In cramped urban environments, it is harder to have a blend of both. A well-planned yet creative interior design achieves this much-needed balance.
Interior design is the art of designing spaces that have a mixture of both aesthetic appeal and technical skills. It is the field of creating spaces that appeal to our senses while being practically useful. It refers to innovative and technical solutions for creating a purposeful environment within a house, room or any four-walled space. It can include the choice and placement of paintings, rugs, murals, furniture, wall colour, lighting, sculptures, organic or natural forms, and so on. 

If you are aspiring to become an Interior Designer then you are expected to possess certain qualities and skills. You need to be creative as creativity is required to make innovative and visually appealing designs. You also need to have spatial awareness, attention to detail colour and texture knowledge along with computer and communication skills.

There are three main areas of interest in Interior Design: House Decoration, Residential Design and Commercial Design. Studies offer knowledge and relevant information on elements and principles of design, architectural design and survey, interior planning, or graphic techniques for interior design. Interior Design helps students develop creative abilities and excellent interpersonal skills. Interior design professionals are generally organised people with a great attention to detail.

In today's time of growing competition, students need to possess some unique qualities to pursue Design courses. Candidates pursuing Interior Design courses should be sharp-minded, punctual, proactive, creative and technically sound. They must be able to understand the requirements of their clients and ensure that they utilise their creative skills in the best way possible to create practical and aesthetic designs. They must be highly adaptive to change their designs as per client’s requirements. Interior designers are more than designers and require special thinking and creative abilities. Some of the skills required are the ability to deal with technical details, the ability to work in a team, scientific aptitude, drawing aptitude, analytical mind, visual sensitivity, colour sense, ability to work on a given budget, good communication skills, knowledge of textures, materials and trends.

Experience plays an important role in the field of interior design. It is seen that experienced Interior Designers tend to earn more because of their expertise and the skills that they offer. Many companies hire experienced Interior Designers for their major projects as they do not have to be taught the project basics, and they can start working quickly. 

It also saves the time of companies. Interior designers with not much experience or freshers are also in demand because of the initial roles that they can fulfil. 

In Delhi, there are many top interior design colleges offering diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Choosing the right college for the interior design course will help you get the knowledge and skills required in the field. Some other benefits of choosing Delhi for interior design are:

1. Learning Environment: Delhi colleges offer students a rich cultural heritage with a modern urban landscape. It helps students to learn the cultural aspects of design.
2. Industry Exposure: The city is renowned for its historic places with the best architectural design. Visiting places like Qutab Minar, Jama Masjid, Asian Games Village and Lotus Temple will enhance the architectural design vision of students. 
3. Networking Opportunities: Studying interior design courses in Delhi, students can attend various events and exhibitions. Attending such events helps students to make a professional network.

The following interior design styles are popular amongst the masses:

1. Art Deco: It is an architectural movement that started around the early 20th century in Europe. Luxurious metal panes, exotic materials including stucco, terra cotta, etc., sharpened edges, and geometrical and smooth surfaces are some of the characteristics of this style.
2. Minimalist: As the name suggests, minimalist interiors refer to uncluttered and spacious spaces. Even the colour palette of an entire room remains monochromatic. Apart from that, all types of lines appear to be clean with neutral colours.
3. Classical: Classical interior design generally takes cues from the Western Classical tradition. Marbles, domes, and columns, among others, constitute this style in the European context.  Classical interior design also differs based on the country of origin.
4. Contemporary: It refers to an eclectic mix of different styles that emerged after the 20th century. Walls with neutral colours, sparse geometrical lines, organic fabrics, bright lamps with metal finish, and dark wooden surfaces characterise this interior design style. 

BSc Interior Design Admission can take place in two ways. A candidate applying for the BSc Interior Design Course can either qualify for admission on the basis of merit i.e, marks obtained in Class 12th examination or through a national level entrance examination.

• Candidates should apply on the college’s official website.
• Candidates must login with their credentials and fill the admission form.
• The candidate can either wait for the merit list (in case of a merit based admission) or prepare for the entrance exam.
• A merit list is released and qualified candidates must secure their admission after paying the admission fee. 

I believe, having a work-life balance depends on the career and the organisation you choose. Every course under Interior Design specialisation is beneficial for many reasons, such as knowledge gain, skills gain, internship options, placement opportunities, etc. To strike a work-life balance, you'll need to maintain a line between your work and personal life.
If you want to go for a full-time job, then it's important for you to opt for a job or company that respects the off-work hours, weekends, and family time of an employee. However, if you want to work as a freelancer, then you must take projects based on your capabilities and work schedule.

In interior design, the following are the commonly used terms. 

1. Case Goods: They refer to cabinets and any furniture that has storage capacity.
2. Elevation: It refers to the wall's or any object's vertical positioning.
3. Patina: It is a type of surface look in an interior setting that is used to create a rustic effect.
4. Focal Point: Any decorative piece in a room that creates emphasis is a focal point.
5. Kelvin (K): It is a colour temperature metric of a light source. For residential dwellings, the colour temperature lies between 2500 K and 5000 K. The range for commercial interiors goes from 2000 K to 6500 K.
6. Scale: It is to determine the relational size of an item with other elements or objects in a room. 

Generally speaking, both the Fashion Design and Interior Design syllabi lay a lot of emphasis on creative expression and vision, but the Fashion Design syllabus focuses more on creativity for experimenting and innovating new clothing style statements and accessories, while the Interior Design syllabus teaches you more about the functionality and aesthetic aspects important for designing interior spaces.

It is estimated that joining the top Interior Designing colleges in India can be affordable as most colleges have tuition fees of less than INR 1 lakh. Listed below are some colleges along with their tuition fees:

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

As a new graduate in the Interior Design field, you can either opt for an internship opportunity to gain expertise under a Senior or go for entry-level jobs such as Associate Designer, Interior Design Executive, Associate Consultant, Assistant Professor, etc. However, getting internship opportunities in big companies is relatively easier than getting a job if you're a fresher.

The Interior Designer course fee structure of every college differs depending on the course level, college rating, placement record, curriculum structure, etc. However, the average course fee ranges from INR 800 to INR 53.63 Lakh.

Both the Interior Designing course eligibility and fees varies depending on the course level and the college. There are more than 800 Interior Design colleges in India offering programs at different levels. Though, the average course fee ranges from INR 800 to INR 53.63 Lakh, the chances of colleges making changes to their fee structure are still there.

Similarly, the eligibility criteria for each course level differs, such as:

Note: The information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

Hi, if you want to become an Interior Designer after Class 12, you'll need to complete either a bachelor's degree or at least a certification course in Interior Designing. This will help you get the job as an Interior Designer, build a stronger portfolio, and also offer you with the foundational knowledge to help you pursue your career journey in the Interior Design field.

Here are some top college options for PhD in Interior Design in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body and may vary.

There are about 300+ Interior Designing colleges that offer UG Diploma in India.

Below mentioned are some of the best UG Diploma offering Interior Designing colleges:

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website

Joining the top Interior Designing colleges in India can be worthwhile for you. For that, you need to check its ROI. Listed below are some colleges along with their tuition fees and average placement package:

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Yes, interior designers have to travel a lot for work purposes, but it varies on the basis of the project type, firm size, client requirements, and the nature of the project undertaken. Interior designers usually visit the spaces for measurements and consultation with the client and oversee the overall interior work in progress to ensure quality and timely execution. The travel schedules can be both domestic and international, depending on the popularity and status of the interior designer.

If you pursue a furniture design course you would also have to study about Interior Design because of the following reasons:
Interior design and Furniture design are closely related disciplines, and interior design components may be included in a furniture design course for a number of reasons: Complementary Skills:Since furniture is a crucial component of interior spaces, interior design and furniture are frequently combined. Comprehending these fields enables designers to produce surroundings that are both harmonious and useful. Aesthetic Coordination:When designing furniture, designers must take into account how their pieces complement the room's or space's overall aesthetic and style. Understanding the fundamentals of interior design enables them to produce items that blend in with the surroundings. Client Needs:Interior designers collaborate closely with customers to comprehend their needs and preferences. Interior design expertise is useful since furniture designers might need to modify their designs to suit these particular needs.

Interior Designers design every type of space, making it both fashionable and functional. They design offices, hotels, restaurants, houses, parks, healthcare facilities, etc. Designing interiors includes lighting, furniture, walls, colors, layout, and so on.

Of course, you can work with a Big Interior Design firm or with a famous Interior Designer once you complete an Interior Designing course. These firms also seek skilled professionals for job roles. You can make a portfolio, get relevant experience or skills in the field, and apply for a full-time job or an internship.

India has many well-known Interior Designers like Sunita Kohli, Gauri Khan, Lipika Sud,  Ashiesh Shah, and Shabnam Gupta. It is difficult to name one as the best, as all of them are famous for their unique work and artistry.

Interior designing courses after 12th are available as certificates, diplomas in interior design, and undergraduate courses. These programs focus on the basics and fundamentals of designing that help interior designers. Students who do not want to undertake a full-time degree or diploma in interior design can pursue short-term online certificate courses in interior design. Websites like Udemy, Coursera, edX, etc offer courses in interior design that help students in acquiring essential skills. 

Certificate courses in Interior Design, Diploma in Interior Designing, and BA in Interior Design are some of the top Interior Designing courses after the 12th. Upon completion of the undergraduate course, students can opt for postgraduate courses that help students specialize in the field of interior design. IIFT, Mumbai University, Pearl Academy, etc are some of the top colleges offering interior design courses. 

Yes, it can be observed that studying Interior Designing in Bangalore can be quite expensive as most of the colleges have an average tuition fee of more than INR 5 lakh. However you can refer below for the best Interior Designing colleges in Bangalore that offer quality education at reasonable prices:

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website/ media reports/ NIRF website and may vary.

 Hope this solved your query!

Joining the top Interior Design colleges in Mumbai can be worthwhile for you. For that, you need to check its ROI. Listed below are some colleges along with their tuition fees and average placement package:

You can pursue a MDes in Interior Design after completing your bachelor's degree in History, however, many top Design colleges in India require a bachelor's degree in a related field. Since, History is not relevant to Interior Design, you may need to bridge the gap with some certification or Diploma courses before opting for an  MDes in Interior Design. 
Meanwhile, some colleges may also need you to show your work portfolio to offer admission to the program. It is important to thoroughly research about the eligibility criteria of the college you're seeking admission.

Here are some popular options for colleges offering Online Interior Design courses in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body and may vary.

A BSc in Interior Design can be pursued in regular as well as distance mode. Candidates can opt for the mode of education based on their preferences and suitability. 

Note: The information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

Interior Designing is a lot more than just decorating rooms. It is a blend of Art and Science that makes a place aesthetically pleasing yet functional. It includes space planning, material selection, lighting design, and more. 
BSc in Interior Design will teach you the Scientific principles along with creativity to work according to your client's need and preference in the real world.

The BSc Interior Design salary for freshers straight out of college is around INR 4 LPA to INR 6 LPA which differs on the basis of internship experience, skill set, job type, recruiter, and the company location. With years of experience in the design field, the earning potential will also increase and can easily go up to INR 10 LPA.

Hi, here's the list of some popular distance college options in India offering a variety of Interior Design courses:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body and may vary.