Who Is an Interior Designer?
An interior designer plans, designs and furnishes residential, commercial and public spaces. The role focuses on creating a structure that is pleasing, functional and safe for people, while considering factors like space, lighting, materials and customer preferences. Interior designers typically work with home and office builders, hospitality brands, retail chains, or run their own independent design practice.
Interior Designer Eligibility Criteria
| Course Level | Eligibility Criteria |
| Diploma in Interior Design (after Class 10 or 12) | Candidates must have completed Class 12 (or Class 10 for some short-term diploma programmes) from a recognised board |
| Bachelor’s Degree (BDes/BSc/BA in Interior Design) | Candidates must have passed 10+2 from any stream (Science, Commerce or Arts) from a recognised board, or be appearing for the final examination, generally with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks |
| Master’s Degree (MDes/PG Diploma in Interior Design) | Candidates must have completed graduation with at least 50% marks from a recognised institution, followed by a design aptitude test conducted by the respective college or university |
Interior Designer Courses
| Course | Duration | Level |
| Certificate/Diploma in Interior Design | 6 months to 2 years | After Class 10 or 12 |
| Bachelor of Design (BDes) in Interior Design | 4 years | After Class 12 |
| BSc/BA in Interior Design | 3 years (6 semesters) to 4 years (8 semesters) | After Class 12 |
| PG Diploma in Interior Design | 1 to 2 years | After graduation |
| Master of Design (MDes) in Interior Design | 2.5 years | After graduation in Design, Fine Arts, Applied Arts or Architecture |
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Interior Design Entrance Exams
| Entrance Exam | Conducting Body | Level |
| NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test) | National Institute of Design | BDes and MDes |
| UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design) | IIT Bombay | BDes (IITs and IIITs) |
| CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design) | IIT Bombay | MDes |
| NIFT Entrance Exam | National Institute of Fashion Technology | UG and PG |
| CUET | National Testing Agency (NTA) | UG (select universities) |
| Institute-specific tests (Pearl Academy Entrance Exam, MIT DAT, SEED, AIEED) | Respective institutes | UG and PG |
Universities and Colleges for Interior Design in India
| University/College | Courses Offered | Entrance Exam |
| National Institute of Design | B.Des. in Furniture, B.Des in Interior Design, M.Des. in Furniture and M.Des in Interior Design | NID DAT (BDes and MDes) |
| CEPT University, Ahmedabad | Bachelor of Interior Design (BID), Master’s in Interior Design (MID) | Institute-level design aptitude test; UCEED/NID DAT scores considered by some programmes |
| NIFT | B.Des (Fashion Interiors) | NIFT Entrance Exam (GAT and CAT for UG; GAT, CAT and Situation Test/CEED-linked process for PG) |
| Pearl Academy | B.Des. in Interior Architectural Design, MDes in Interior Design | Pearl Academy Entrance Exam (General Proficiency Test, design task and interview) |
| Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune | B.Des. in Industrial Design, B.Des in Product Design and B.Des in Interior Space Design | SEED (Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design) |
| MIT Institute of Design, Pune | B.Des in Interior Space, B.Des in Furniture Design, M.Des in Interior Space and M.Des in Furniture Design | MIT DAT (MITID DAT) |
| Unitedworld Institute of Design, Karnavati University, Ahmedabad | Bachelor of Design in Interior and Furniture Design, Master’s of Design in Interior and Experience Design | UID Entrance Test |
| Indian Institute of Art and Design, Delhi | B.Des. in Interior Architecture, M.Des. in Interior Design and Styling | IIAD Entrance Test, portfolio and interview |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur | B.Des in Interior Design | CUET, SRMJEEE, or institute-level entrance test (varies by programme) |
| Chandigarh University | Bachelor of Interior Design | CUCET or merit-based, subject to institute norms |
| Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar | B.Des. in Interior and Furniture Design | LPUNEST or merit-based, subject to institute norms |
| Amity University | B.Des in Interior Design | Amity institute-level entrance test or merit-based |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal | B.Des Interior Design and M.Des in Interior Design | MET (Manipal Entrance Test) or institute-level design test |
| Arch College of Design and Business, Jaipur | B.Des in Interior Design | NID DAT/UCEED scores accepted, along with institute-level evaluation |
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How to Become an Interior Designer: Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Complete Class 12 from a recognised board in any stream (Science, Commerce, or Arts).
Step 2: Shortlist interior design institutes and the entrance exam each one accepts (NID DAT, UCEED, NIFT Entrance, CUET, or an institute-specific test).
Step 4: Clear the written/aptitude stage and appear for the studio test, group discussion, or personal interview, as required by the institute.
Step 5: Check the merit list or scorecard, and register on the respective institute’s counselling or admission portal.
Step 6: Select programme and campus preferences, and participate in the seat allotment or counselling rounds.
Step 7: Complete document verification and pay the admission and seat acceptance fees.
Step 9: After graduation, seek entry-level roles at design studios, real estate developers, or hospitality brands, or work under a senior interior designer to gain site experience.
Step 10: Build specialisation (residential, commercial, hospitality, or sustainable design) and a client-facing portfolio to grow into senior design or independent practice roles.
Documents Required for Interior Design Admission
1. Entrance exam scorecard or admit card
2. Class 10 marksheet and certificate
3. Class 12 marksheet and certificate
4. Graduation degree and marksheets (for PG applicants)
5. Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS), if applicable
6. Passport-size photographs
7. Valid government-issued photo ID
8. Portfolio of creative work (for institutes that require one)
9. Undertaking for awaited marksheets, if the Class 12 result is pending at the time of application
Interior Designer Salary in India
| Experience Level | Average Annual Salary (Approx.) |
| Fresher (0 to 2 years) | ₹2.5 LPA to ₹4.5 LPA |
| Early career (1 to 4 years) | Around ₹3.02 LPA on average |
| Mid-career (4 to 9 years) | Around ₹4.5 LPA on average |
| Senior/Principal Designer (10+ years) | ₹10 LPA, going up to ₹30+ LPA at leading firms |
| Independent/Freelance Designer | ₹10 LPA to ₹12 LPA on average, with top independent designers earning considerably more depending on projects |
Skills Needed to Become a Successful Interior Designer
1. Strong sense of colour, space planning and proportion
2. Proficiency in design software (AutoCAD, SketchUp, 3ds Max, Revit)
3. Understanding of building materials, construction and building codes
4. Sketching and visual communication skills
5. Client communication and project management ability
6. Budgeting and vendor coordination skills
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the minimum eligibility to become an interior designer in India?
Candidates need to have passed Class 12 from a recognised board in any stream, generally with a minimum of 45% to 50% aggregate marks, to be eligible for a diploma or Bachelor’s programme in interior design. Requirements vary slightly by institute, so candidates should check the specific college’s eligibility page before applying.
2. Is an entrance exam compulsory to study interior design?
Most reputed institutes, including NID, IITs (through UCEED) and NIFT, admit students only through entrance exams such as NID DAT, UCEED, CEED or the NIFT entrance exam. Some private colleges and universities offer merit-based admission without a separate entrance test.
3. Can a Commerce or Arts student become an interior designer?
Yes. Interior design courses do not require a specific stream in Class 11 or 12. Students from Science, Commerce or Arts/Humanities backgrounds can all apply, although some colleges prefer candidates who have studied Mathematics and Physics.
4. How long does it take to become a qualified interior designer?
A diploma can be completed in 6 months to 2 years, while a full Bachelor’s degree (BDes or BSc/BA in Interior Design) takes 3 to 4 years. Students who wish to specialise further can pursue a Master’s degree (MDes) or PG Diploma after graduation, which typically takes 1 to 2.5 years.
5. What is the starting salary for an interior designer in India?
Most sources place the fresher salary for an interior designer in India between ₹2.5 LPA and ₹4.5 LPA per year, depending on the city the institute attended and the strength of the candidate’s portfolio and software skills.
6. Does an interior designer need a licence to practise in India?
Unlike architecture, there is currently no single mandatory licensing body governing interior design practice in India. However, completing a recognised diploma or degree programme significantly improves employability and client trust, and is generally required by design studios and larger employers.