7 Essential Tools Every Interior Designer Needs
The art of interior design is the secret to creating stylish and functional spaces. Interior designers know what to put in every nook and cranny of any property to produce the desired design, style, and vibe. A good interior designer takes pleasure in putting all the design elements together to create stunning spaces.
If you’re thinking of starting a career in interior design, this article is for you. Like any profession, you can’t do your daily activities as an interior designer without using the right tools. Still, much of the task relies on your creativity, but those tools are necessary to maximize it.
There are loads of essential tools that can help interior designers, both manual and digital. Here are a few of them:
- House Design Software
Nowadays, interior designers have it better because there are more digital tools available. This isn’t to say that their job is now easier. However, using design tools makes interior designers work better and more efficiently.
All those notes and sketches you made will still remind you of what you learned. But if you want to see how your design will look in practice, design tools like Cedreo can help. You can sketch and doodle straight on the software, with a handheld gadget like your iPad as your paper.
Essentially, this makes interior designers more efficient because everything can be integrated into one software. All the measurements and building codes can be entered right into your design software.
- Tool Belt
Sure, you’ll always have your trusted work bag. Interior designers will need to bring many small tools, like those used to measure and make markings, and you’ll want them all to be within reach. A bag may be nice, but a tool belt is even better. This functional accessory needs no further explanation. It’s a belt to hold all the tools you use for work.
- Gadgets
Along with the design software, you need something to operate that software on. Hence, some interior designers use a computer for the office and then a laptop or a handheld gadget for when on the go. The choice is yours.
Your laptop or mobile gadget has so many functions in your career beyond your software. You can also use it to communicate, take notes, send correspondence, make billings, research, and even schedule appointments.
- Color Wheel
Color wheels are not just for students. They’re also used by professionals, particularly in the design industry. A color wheel can help you visualize the relationship between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
One makes it easier to decide what colors to use, particularly when there’ll be more than two in one room. This way, you can achieve your design aesthetic without running the risk of mismatching colors.
- Watch
Interior designers, particularly those with multiple clients, are running on very busy schedules. And, like any other profession, being on time is a must. Clients won’t wait for you. Smartphones may be in, but many interior designers still trust good old watches. Wearing one avoids unnecessarily using the cellphone, which can also be a distraction.
- Paint And Fabric Samples
Interior designers may not always bring the same paint and fabric samples to each job. This next item depends on the design you’ve created. When presenting a design concept to your client, it’s best to have paint and fabric samples with you. That way, the client will have a clearer and better understanding of what you’re trying to tell them.
Remember that you can’t explain style terms to clients without showing what they are in real life. Nothing beats seeing actual colors and fabrics when discussing a certain style, aesthetic, or design. Your client can envision your design better, so there’s no confusion in your line of communication.
- Measuring Tape And Laser Pointers
Like architects and engineers, interior designs also need the exact measurements of the area they’re designing. Accuracy is key. Even the smallest error can make a big impact on the overall design, budget, and even the flow of work.
Interior designers in the past relied on measuring tapes and rulers for this purpose. Nowadays, advanced measuring tools like laser pointers can be used. Ideally, measuring tapes are used for short and easy-to-reach spaces, while laser pointers are for longer and farther ones.
The Bottomline
To be a successful interior designer, you must have skills, expertise, and interest in styling different spaces. You need that dose of creativity and passion for turning spaces that evoke a visual experience. However, one needs more than just skills and interests to stay competitive. Hence, the right tools are needed to keep up.
