Interior Designers and Decorators
Job description
These individuals create and produce aesthetic, functional, and safe interior design concepts. They use expertise in acoustics, lighting, and ergonomics, among others. These projects are carried out in various buildings (residential, commercial, cultural, and institutional). These individuals are self-employed or work in:
- Offices
- Hospitals
- Hotel and restaurant chains
- Health clinics
- Retail businesses
- Airlines
- Construction companies
- Hotel and catering establishments
- Events and exhibitions
- Architectural and interior design firms
- Accommodation institutions
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
Main tasks
Interior Designers
- Consult with clients to find out their needs, preferences, and requirements.
- Analyze the clients’ needs and the existing conditions of the built spaces.
- Design spaces and develop detailed plans and 3D models using drawing software.
- Assess costs and materials required.
- Prepare plans and execution details for the final layout.
- Write descriptive specifications, calls for tenders, and requests for bids as well as the work schedule.
- Advise clients, taking into account ergonomic standards.
- Collaborate with other professionals.
- Comply with applicable building design and construction codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines.
- Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of the occupants by finding creative design solutions for people and their interior environment.
Interior Decorators
- Consult with clients to identify their needs, preferences, and requirements.
- Analyze the clients’ needs and the existing conditions of the built spaces.
- Evaluate the costs and materials required.
- Collaborate with other professionals.
- Comply with applicable building design and construction codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines.
Advancement and mobility
- These individuals may specialize in the design and decoration of other spaces:
- Airplanes
- Boats
- Presentation design
- Merchandising
- Health
- Scenography and television or film production
- Events such as symposiums, trade fairs, and concerts
- Exhibitions
- Museums
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $19.00
- Median
- $30.00
- Maximum
- $43.59
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 84.6% Female
- 15.4% Male
- 84.6% Female
- 15.4% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for men
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for men
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 5413, 541452% of jobs
-
NAICS 44, 4517% of jobs
-
NAICS 238% of jobs
-
NAICS 3378% of jobs
-
NAICS 512% of jobs
-
Others13% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 5413, 541452% of jobs
-
NAICS 44, 4517% of jobs
-
NAICS 238% of jobs
-
NAICS 3378% of jobs
-
NAICS 512% of jobs
-
Others13% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
DVS in décoration intérieure et présentation visuelle
Placement rate: 78.7%
11.6% of graduates pursue further studies
College
ACS in design d'intérieur
Placement rate: 72.2%
ACS in interior Design
Placement rate: 82.4%
5.9% of graduates pursue further studies
DCS in interior Design
Placement rate: 68.2%
28.8% of graduates pursue further studies
University
Applied design (ceramics, weaving, goldsmithery, decoration)
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 80.6%
11.9% of graduates pursue further studies
Architecture
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 35.9%
50% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 97.2%
0.9% of graduates pursue further studies
Environmental design
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 59.4%
33.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 100%
Fine arts or applied arts
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 51%
29.4% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 73.7%
5.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Sometimes required
- A certification from the Association professionnelle des designers d'intérieur du Québec (APDIQ®) is required to hold the title of APDIQ® Certified Interior Designer.
- Successful completion of the NCIDQ (Council for Interior Design Qualification) exam may be required.
- A Class 5 driver's licence may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Reading comprehension
- Active listening
- Oral expression
- Critical thought
- Service oriented
- Social perception
- Written expression
- Coordination
- Persuasion
- Solving complex problems
- Operation analysis
- Negotiation
- Information processing
- Judgment and decision-making
- Active learning
- Result evaluation
- Time management
- Teaching
- Mathematics
Abilities
- Originality
- Written comprehension
- Oral comprehension
- Idea generation
- Verbal skills
- Near vision
- Visualization
- Speech clarity
- Written expression
- Deductive reasoning
- Awareness of issues
- Colour perception and distinction
- Speech recognition
- Basic numeracy
- Classification
- Inductive reasoning
- Selective attention
- Information organization
- Distance vision
- Mathematical reasoning
- Processing flexibility
Knowledge and attributes
- Transparence
- Capacity to work in a team
- Attention to detail
- Respect standards and regulations
- Creativity
- Friendliness
- Availability
- Knowledge of buildings and construction
- Knowledge of design
- Open-mindedness
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Create, design
- Carry out research
- Self-employment
- Assist and advise
- Make technical plans and drawings
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Artistic
- People with this profile prefer to express their emotions and thoughts through various art forms. They like to use their imagination.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
Official name of the NOC 52121
Interior designers and interior decorators
Job titles
- Interior Designers
- Interior design project manager
- Interior design consultant
- Interior decorator
- Interior design technician
- Colour consultant - home decorating
- Green design consultant - interior design
- Decorating consultant
- Home decorating consultant
- Space management consultant
- Home staging consultant
- Kitchen designer
- Certified interior designer
- Business aircraft interior designer
- Home decorator
- Designer - interior design
- Interior designer assistant
- Licensed interior designer
- Registered interior designer
- Aircraft interior designer
- Building space planner
- Office space planner
- Retail space planner
- Home organizer
- Home stager
Skill type
Art, culture, recreation and sport
Last update: January 29, 2026