A Day in the Life of an Interior Designer

Although many people think of interior design as putting together an aesthetic space by coordinating colours, and picking out cushions and curtains, a designer’s job is much more complex. They consider all the elements of space, the required functionality, and plan site arrangements while working directly with the client. It is a complex and abstract profession that requires all of those elements and more, and is ultimately subject to the solutions and problems that the designer find while working on site. While a designer’s work involves a lot of decision making and the impact of those decisions will affect how the people in that space will live and work, design is still a fast-paced profession.

Interior design involves simplicity blended with complexity. From cozy homes to commercial luxury spaces, and everything in between, the interior design profession promises variety. Each designer’s day looks different as they prepare for morning meetings and end the day with a client call. Each day is a new experience and a new design strategy to be developed and executed. When planning a day, it is a time to prioritize in order to stay on top of all the responsibilities that the profession requires.

Emails, Updates and Client Reviews

A designer’s day usually starts with a review of their calendar to see what tasks need to be completed. The early part of the day is usually the most productive part of the day as there are fewer interruptions and distractions. In the first hour, they will usually review their emails and send out any updates to the clients so they can begin responding to the client questions with quick and timely answers. Providing quick answers to vendor questions, contractor questions, and site descriptions will help keep the schedule on track.

Design Planning & Concept Development

When designers finish email correspondence, they move into the design phase. This includes: 

• Mood board creation
• Floor plan/layout reviews
• Material, color, and texture palette finalization
• 2D and 3D design presentation creation and/or refinement

This step is the most crucial for the entire project as it is most likely to the design elements that are both functional and aesthetic. 

Mid-Morning: Client Meetings & Presentations 

Client meetings are an integral component of an interior designer’s role, these meetings can take place virtually or in person. 

Identifying Client Concerns 

Designers talk about: 

• Lifestyle and usage
• Budget
• Design preferences/inspirations
• Space issues

It is important for designers to focus on how they present the ideas, but they also need to listen to the client. 

Design Concept Presentations 

Interior designers present to their clients: 

• Space layouts and plans
• Samples of materials and finishes
• Furniture and lighting plans
• Timelines and what happens next

This collaborative effort is for design alignment to the objectives of the client. 

Afternoon: Site Visits & On-Ground Coordination 

For ongoing projects, onsite visits are reserved for the afternoons.

Site Visits

As part of their responsibilities, interior designers task themselves with the following for each visit:

• Review progress of the ongoing construction
• Make sure that the construction is abiding by the approved construction drawings
• Identify any issues with the design or construction
• Consult with the contractors and vendors regarding the construction drawings

These visits are important for quality assurance, as well as for avoiding expensive construction errors.

Coordination with Contractors

Interior designers collaborate with:

• Civil contractors
• Electrical and plumbing contractors
• Carpentry and metal work
• Flooring and Paint vendors

Projects stay on schedule when instructions are clear and regular follow ups are conducted.

Late Afternoon: Vendor Visits & Selection of Construction Materials.

This includes sourcing construction materials.

Showroom Visits

Interior designers visit:

• Showrooms that sell furniture
• Suppliers of tiles and marble
• Vendors of light fixtures
• Fabric and wallpaper vendors
• Studios that sell light fixtures

Designers choose the best quality construction materials with the best prices and the best availability that meet the construction design and budget

Placing Orders

Once construction materials have been sourced, the interior designers:

• Order the construction materials from the selected vendors
• Monitor the construction materials for any delivery updates
• Prepare for the transportation and the venue where the construction materials will be stored until use

Having everything prepared eliminates any issues that would delay the use of the construction materials during the construction.

Evening: Management and Documentation

As the day of the interior designers is near the end, they spend time doing management tasks.

Making Drawings and Documentation

This consists of the following construction documents:

• Working drawings that detail the construction steps
• Layout of the furniture
• Diagrams of the electrical and the light fixtures
• Specifications of the custom furniture

Construction goes more smoothly when the documentation is accurate and construction drawings are detailed.

Budget Monitoring and Timeline Management

Designers constantly:

• Check budget vs expenses
• Make changes to project timelines
• Adapt plans based on site conditions

Excellent project management skills make all the difference.

Client Follow-Ups & Planning for the Next Day

Before signing off, interior designers:

• Send daily progress to clients
• Set schedules for the following day
• Go over pending approvals
• Set priorities for the next day

This wrap-up keeps everyone on the same page.

Why There Is No Typical Day for an Interior Designer

Being an interior designer brings tremendous variety — it is very rare to have an identical day. Some are very artistic, and some are more about management. Designers have to deal with:

• Changing client expectations
• Problems on site
• New design concepts and inventions

All of this adds to the enjoyment of the role.

Skills That Make an Interior Designer’s Day Successful

A productive day in the life of an interior designer is determined by:

• Excellent communication
• Time and project management
• Creative and technical skills
• Solution oriented
• Detail oriented

Combining these skills means client and design expectations are met.

Working as an interior designer means spending every day creatively coordinating and executing design transformations. They begin their day customizing their conceptual designs and spend the rest of their day managing clients and design sites. Interior designers are integral in turning spaces into functional and aesthetically pleasing environments.

With this said, design as a passion means this type of work offers a career of continuous learning, variety, and the fulfillment of realizing visions, one space at a time.