From Hobby to Profession: How to Start Your Journey

Do you love creating calm, beautiful spaces? Rearranging furniture until everything clicks? Picking up design inspiration from Pinterest, TikTok, or boutique hotels? Then you already have what many successful Interior Decorators start with: a natural eye and genuine curiosity.

But how do you go from loving interiors… to getting paid for it? Here’s what the first steps look like 👇

1. Define your “why”

Ask yourself:

💭 Do I want to decorate for myself, or for others?

💭 Do I dream of freelancing, or want to boost my current job with design knowledge?

💭 Do I want to work with clients or stage homes for sale?

Clarifying your purpose makes it easier to choose the right course and pace.

2. Choose a course that matches your lifestyle

At Nordic Design Institute, we offer three pathways – all online, flexible, and grounded in real-life skills:

• Designing Your Home the Nordic Way Perfect 2–3 week intro course for anyone who wants to master the Scandinavian style in their own space.

• Basic Interior Design Course A 12–14 week training for those who want to learn professional tools without going all-in on a career (yet).

• Certified Interior Decorator Our flagship 4-month career course for those ready to build a real future in the interior world.

✨ Not sure which fits you best? Take our FREE course guide here!

3. Start before you feel “ready”

Perfection is the enemy of progress. The truth? Most students at Nordic Design Institute don’t have a design background – just a strong creative instinct and a desire to learn.

You don’t need to have a portfolio. You don’t need fancy tools. You just need to begin.

Your new path starts here.

Explore our flexible courses and get 15% off this summer.🔗 Redeem the offer here!