DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE AND FASHION
Interior Designer
Plans and styles indoor spaces in homes, offices and shops for comfort, use and looks.
Any Class 12 stream; drawing skill helps After Class 12 Private sector
Facts checked 29/10/2026
Is this for me?
People in this work enjoy
- Turning a messy room into something useful and pleasant to be in
- Seeing ideas become real after months of drawings and site work
- Talking with clients and finding out how they live or work
It may not suit you if you dislike
- Clients may change their minds often, and budgets can be tight
- Site visits can mean dust, long hours and deadline pressure
- Early years are often junior roles with a lot of drawing and checking before you lead projects
- Class 11–12 subjects
- Class 12 in any stream (Science, Commerce or Arts) from a recognised board. Most colleges also ask for a minimum aggregate of about 45–60% (reported). Design entrance tests check drawing, visual thinking and creativity, not your subject marks.
- First degree
- B.Des in Interior Design, 4 years. Also B.Sc or BA in Interior Design, 3 years, and a 1–2 year diploma.
- Entrance exams
- NID DAT (National Institute of Design) for NID campuses. Other routes use UCEED, NIFT, CUCET or the college's own test or portfolio review, depending on the college.
- Licence or registration
- None needed to start working.
Open to every streamAny Class 12 stream; drawing skill helps.Check your subjects against every career
What the work is like
Planning layouts, choosing materials, colours, furniture and lighting; making drawings and 3D views; keeping to budgets and timelines; visiting sites and working with contractors and clients.
A day in the work
Most days start with a site visit or a client call to measure rooms and check what they want. The afternoon might go on drawing a plan, picking fabrics and tiles, or building a 3D view on the computer. You will also check costs with suppliers and follow up with carpenters and electricians so that work stays on schedule.
The path, step by step
- Step 1 · Class 7–10Build a sketching habit and notice how rooms, shops and offices are arranged and lit. Some diplomas accept students after Class 10.
- Step 2 · Class 11–12Choose any stream and keep your marks steady. Many colleges want around 45–60% in Class 12 (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
- Step 3 · Class 12 (NID 2027–28 cycle)Apply for NID DAT online at admissions.nid.edu. Registration closes 30 November 2026 and the DAT Prelims is on 20 December 2026. The Prelims only shortlists candidates; it is a pen-and-paper test.
- Step 4 · Entrance stage (Mains, test or interview)NID's Mains is a studio test plus an in-person sensitivity test, with dates still to be announced. Other colleges may ask for a studio test, interview or portfolio, then allot seats by merit.
- Step 5 · 4 yearsStudy a B.Des in Interior Design at a recognised university or design college. A 3-year B.Sc or BA, or a 1–2 year diploma, is a shorter route into the job (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
- Step 6 · Final years and first jobDo internships and build a portfolio of real or school-project spaces. Learn AutoCAD, SketchUp and rendering tools, which many employers expect (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
Ways in
- RouteB.Des in Interior Design, 4 years after Class 12, usually through an entrance test or merit.
- RouteB.Sc or BA in Interior Design, 3 years after Class 12, often with fewer entrance hurdles.
- RouteDiploma in interior design, 1–2 years, after Class 10 or 12, for a faster start into junior roles.
Time and money
| Stage | Time | Government college or body | Private college | Help available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 11–12 (any stream) | 2 years | Your school's fees | — | — |
| NID DAT application (Class 12, 2027–28 cycle) | Registration closes 30 November 2026; Prelims 20 December 2026 | Check the notice (reported ₹3,000 general; ₹2,000 female except SC/ST/PwD) | Check the college's fee page | Reserved seats and age relaxations for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD (reported) |
| B.Des Interior Design, 4 years (NID Andhra Pradesh, 2026-27) | 4 years | ₹2,77,700 per year total academic fee; hostel and mess extra | CMR University: ₹1,25,000 per semester (2025-26 figure; 2026-27 not confirmed) | Check the college's fee page; scholarships not confirmed |
| B.Sc or BA in Interior Design, 3 years | 3 years | Check the college's fee page | Check the college's fee page | Scholarships not confirmed |
| Diploma in interior design, 1–2 years | 1–2 years | Check the college's fee page | Reported: one-year diplomas can cost tens of thousands (not an official fee page) | Scholarships not confirmed |
Total timeAbout 4 years after Class 12 for a B.Des; 3 years for a B.Sc or BA
Total costDepends mostly on the college you choose — compare fee pages.
Good to knowOnly NID Andhra Pradesh and CMR University have fee figures on this page; the NID exam fee is reported and unconfirmed, and no licence is required.
Fees from: NID Admissions portal 2027–28 (official) · AAFT, interior design course fees guide (reported) · NID Andhra Pradesh, B.Des fee structure 2026-27 (PDF, nid.ac.in) · CMR University, B.Des Interior Design programme page. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.
What people earn
Entry pay varies a lot by city, employer and whether you work for a design studio, a builder, a retailer or on your own, and it rises with experience and a strong portfolio.
Myth and fact
Myth: Interior design is mostly choosing colours and cushions.
Fact: The job is mainly about planning space, safety, materials, lighting, budgets and site work. Colour and style are only part of it.
For girls and students with disabilities
Reserved seats and age relaxations for SC, ST, OBC-NCL and PwD candidates apply to NID's B.Des (reported from summaries of the handbook; check the official handbook). Some summaries also say women pay a lower NID application fee (reported).
Try it now
- Class 7–9Sketch the layout of your room to scale on squared paper, then try two different furniture arrangements and note which one feels better.
- Class 10–12Read the NID Admissions Handbook 2027–28 to see what the design test asks for, and sketch one room from a photo to practise.Open link ↗
- College or afterVisit a furniture showroom or a design exhibition, sketch one display, and write down how its lighting and layout guide where people walk.
Good to know
- NID's B.Des and Integrated routes for 2027–28 are open on admissions.nid.edu. Check the handbook for which disciplines each campus offers, because interior design may not be listed at every campus.
- Unlike architects, I could not confirm any council that registers interior designers. The degree and your portfolio matter more than a licence.
- If you want to design building structures as well as interiors, the 5-year B.Arch route through NATA or JEE Main Paper 2 is the other option. See the architect profile.