June 28 2015 - Do you remember the last time you walked into a hotel and gasped? Did you marvel at the sheer intricate beauty with which it has been designed, looking both regal and hospitable at the same time? That doesn't happen by accident. Every aspect of a hotel is planned meticulously by a host of interior designers, who come together and execute functional, safe and smart designs. If you think you have what it takes to be a hotel interior designer, go for it.

How Can I Become a Hotel Interior Designer?

There are bachelor's degrees offered in Interior Design by most reputed universities. You could also specialize in a particular aspect of interior design after attaining the said degree. This is usually enough for you to get a job, but some states may require licensure or certification, which you will need to attain before you can start working.

What Do They Do?

Like any interior designer, a hotel interior designer will have to combine practical calculations with aesthetic interpretations to come up with a design for the hotel lobby, corridors or rooms. The first thing a designer does after being hired, is consulting the client. They understand exactly what the client needs, and then bounce ideas off the client as to how aesthetics can be integrated into the system.

Once a basic plan is fixed, the designer has to formulate a more detailed plan, a holistic one, which takes into consideration the style of furniture, materials used, color schemes, placement of items and most importantly the budgetary constraints. A designer is usually hired to manage the initial design or the renovation of internal spaces, ranging from lighting, paints and color schemes to furnishing, fixtures and fittings or even structural or organizational alterations.

While a lot of it is based on intuition and aesthetics, there is definitely a technical aspect of hotel interior design which goes unnoticed. Good designers pay attention to both appearance and structure. A designer has to keep every inch of space in mind, to understand what will be most suited to fit that space. There is definitely a bit of psychology involved as well, as the designer would have to understand which designs look more posh, welcoming and comfortable to the guests at the hotel.

How Do They Do It?

An interior designer has been equipped with spatial analysis abilities, so when he or she sees the space, he will be able to get a rough picture of it in their mind. Then onwards, the collaborative discussion between him and his client is important, as it is from there that he is able to set the goals for the space, and understand what he will be allowed to spend. Once these decisions are made, it is time for the next step. While most designers rely solely on spatial sense or blueprints, real professionals have turned to CAD or computer-aided design software. They design a three dimensional graphical model of the space, and then bring about hypothetical modifications to it. This way, they are able to make a precise model of the area, and decide exactly how and where you want things, without spending a cent. They can factor in all components like lighting, wall coverings, flooring etc.

While most of the interior décor items can be purchased from any mainstream store or catalog, reliable designers will always have a few contacts in the industry who will offer discounts on their products. Interior designers are also expected to meet up with the respective electricians, plumbers and workmen for painting and installing fixtures and appliances. He or she will also have to inspect and oversee the entire process as he will be held responsible for the success or the failure of the operation. He will have to adhere to a budget set by the client, and also finish the job by a preimposed deadline.

Designers have to stay within the budget imposed, no matter what. However, you should never compromise on quality. There are some things, however, which you could spend smart on and end up saving money for other aspects. For example, the wholesale markets have a wide variety of good looking but affordable bed linens, pillow covers, cheap towels and other accessories. These will be more expensive if you buy them retail, but since you are purchasing for a hotel, it makes a lot more sense to buy from wholesale markets.

Pros and Cons of Pursuing a Career in Hotel Interior Design

Hotel Interior design is a challenging job, yet it is highly rewarding. Your work will be looked upon by thousands of guests every month, and shall inspire admiration in critics and laymen alike. You could also be brought in as a consultant by the hotel in the future. It is a lucrative job too, if you are good at it. You can start your own business, or join a reputed consultancy and design firm as well.

However, it is an extremely demanding profession which will require you to dedicate a lot of time into it. You will also need a certain level of understanding and technical skill to be good at the job. You will need to have good people skills, and communicate not only with the clients, but also with other service providers, as personal networking is vital to this field.

Author Bio:

Elena Gretzky is an interior designer and a lifestyle blogger who has been in the business for ten years. Through her blog, she posts quite a few articles on topics ranging from furniture styles to best places to buy cheap towels.

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