How to Become an Interior Designer in Colorado
Wearing many hats, an interior designer has a creative background combined with technical training that will allow him or her to work closely with a variety of companies, performing an array of duties. Unlike interior decorating—which is furnishing or adorning a space with fashionable and aesthetically pleasing items—interior designers must have technical training and a deep psychological understanding people’s behavior in order to create functional spaces within a commercial, office or residential environment. Interior designers must also have an extensive knowledge of color theory and how different color schemes can shift a person’s mood.
Becoming a registered designer in Colorado requires some education and work experience, but once the requirements are fulfilled you will be on your way to working in a creative career field that will also provide financial security.
Requirements for Becoming an Interior Designer in Colorado
While it is possible for you to obtain work as an interior designer in Colorado with a company open to training a newcomer to the field, you will not be permitted to use the title Interior Designer until you become licensed.
In order to become a licensed interior designer by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) through the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ), you will need to obtain a minimum of a two-year associate’s degree in interior design as well as four years of work experience under a licensed interior designer. If you opt to complete more education, such as a bachelor’s degree in interior design, your work experience or internship expectations will be reduced. The more education you receive, the less time you will be required to work under the supervision of an interior designer. Once you satisfy the requirements you can take the NCIDQ exam.
Completing an interior design course or certificate program provide students with the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career as an interior designer. Students learn about design history, art, manual drafting, color theory, and how to use design software programs. Many programs also require students to complete an internship, which gives them the opportunity to gain real-world experience.
Interior Design Schools in Colorado
There are many colleges in Colorado that offer interior design programs that will satisfy NCIDQ and CIDQ requirements, including but not limited to:
- Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Denver. RNCAD offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design that is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). This interior design degree curriculum incorporates a variety of disciplines including architecture, environmental design, graphic design and industrial design, giving students a broad base of knowledge. With small class sizes, students will receive one-on-one attention from instructors.
- Arapahoe Community College, Littleton. Offering an associate’s degree program in interior design that can be completed in two-years, ACC is a great option for students who would like to transfer to a four-year college or begin their work experience as an interior designer. All courses required for this degree program must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
- Colorado State University. Colorado State University offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Architecture and Design that is accredited by the CIDA. This program is grounded in research-based problem solving in addition to cultural, environmental and historic perspectives, giving students a great insight into the world of interior design and architecture. Students will learn about space planning, technology, codes relating to life safety, creative problem solving, sustainable design strategies and more.
Certification for Interior Designers in Colorado
The minimum educational requirement for aspiring interior designers is the completion of an associate’s degree in interior design plus four years of full-time work under a registered interior designer. The more education you complete, the less work experience you will be required to have before sitting for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification exam, which is regulated by the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ).
The required courses and work combinations to qualify include:
- An interior design bachelor’s degree from a CIDA-accredited program plus two years of full-time work experience (3,520 hours under a certified interior designer)
- An interior design bachelor’s degree that is not accredited plus two years of full-time work experience (3,520 hours under a certified interior designer)
- A bachelor’s degree (minimum) in any other major and no less than 60 semester hours of Interior design work plus two years of full-time work experience
- An interior design associate degree (60 semester hours) and three years of full-time work experience (5,280 hours under a certified interior designer)
- An interior design associate degree (40 semester hours) plus four years of full-time work experience (7,040 hours under a certified interior designer)
- A Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree with three years of full-time work experience (5,280 hours under a certified interior designer)
The NCIDQ exam is split into three main sections:
- The Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX)
- The Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX)
- The Practicum (PRAC) exam.
Once you’re eligible to sit for the exam, you will activate a timeframe in which you will need to register for and take the above three sections. The registration fees are $295 for the IDFX exam, $350 for the IDPX exam and $455 for the PRAC exam.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
The career outlook for interior designers in Colorado reflects a competitive wage landscape, with the state offering an average annual salary of $62,400 for interior designers as of 2022. This figure is slightly above the national average of $61,590, positioning Colorado as an attractive state for professionals in the field. The salary range in Colorado extends from $42,570 for the lowest 10% of earners to $102,180 for the highest 10%, indicating a broad spectrum of earning potential that can vary based on experience, specialization, and location within the state.
National vs. Colorado Salaries for Interior Designers
| Location | Annual Low (10%) | Annual Median | Annual High (90%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $36,610 | $61,590 | $101,550 |
| Colorado | $42,570 | $62,400 | $102,180 |
Salaries and Percentiles by Region in Colorado for Interior Designers
| Region | Annual Low (10%) | Annual QL (25%) | Annual Median (50%) | Annual QU (75%) | Annual High (90%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $44,280 | $59,430 | $71,790 | $80,650 | $105,450 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $45,870 | $56,030 | $65,010 | $88,400 | $102,180 |
Interior Designer Trends in Colorado
The employment outlook for Interior Designers in Colorado is highly positive, with a projected growth of 19% from 2020 to 2030. This significant increase suggests that the number of interior designers in the state will rise from 3,050 in 2020 to 3,630 by 2030. This growth rate is substantially higher than the national average growth rate of 4% for the same period, indicating a particularly strong demand for interior designers in Colorado. Additionally, there are projected to be 350 annual job openings in Colorado for interior designers over the decade, which includes new positions due to growth as well as replacements for vacancies created by workers leaving the field. This data underscores the robust demand for interior designers in Colorado, reflecting the state’s dynamic and growing design industry.
Employement Trends
| Location | Employment (Start Year) | Projected Employment (End Year) | Projected Growth | Projected Annual Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 3,050 (2020) | 3,630 (2030) | 19% | 350 |
| United States | 94,900 (2022) | 98,700 (2032) | 4% | 9,000 |
Souces of data:
The data provided in the summaries and tables comes from the O*NET Online website, specifically from the pages detailing employment trends and wage information for Interior Designers in Colorado and nationwide. The employment trend data is sourced from Projections Central and the wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the year 2022-2032. These sources are reputable for their comprehensive and up-to-date labor market information, including occupation-specific employment projections and wage statistics across the United States.
Working as an Interior Designer in Colorado
There’s much more to interior design than decorating a space. Industry professionals can be responsible for laying out lighting and furniture plans in blueprints and computer-aided drawing (CAD) files for architects and contractors, ensuring that the space is completed with the client in mind. Interior designers can be found working in architectural and contracting firms, commercial and residential real estate, with furniture companies and in the kitchen and bath design industry. Other employment opportunities include functioning as a lighting specialist in a showroom, with model homes and as a store coordinator. After building a rock solid portfolio, many interior designers branch out and build their own brand as a freelancer or sole proprietor
There are many interior design jobs throughout the state of Colorado, but the majority of employment opportunities can be found in the cities of Denver, Colorado Springs, Aspen and Fort Collins. If you are imaginative, creative and have always found yourself rearranging or designing your living space, signing up for an interior design program is a great option. Just think: in just four to five years you could be working at your dream job as an interior designer.
FAQs
How do I get professional experience as an interior designer?
An internship or apprenticeship is a great way to transition smoothly from school to the workplace.