How to Become an Interior Designer after 12th: Careers, Courses, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Skills, Salary 2026

Interior Designers are professionals who plan, design and create aesthetically pleasing interior spaces. Space planning, concept development, 3D modelling and visualisation, client communication and keeping up with trends are some of the duties of an Interior Designer. To become an Interior Designer, candidates are required to class 12 from a recognised board and then enrol in various interior design courses offered by different design colleges and institutes.

Experience, skills and expertise and designations are some of the major factors that affect the salaries of Interior Designers. The average annual salary of an Interior Designer in India is INR 3 LPA with the highest salary being INR 6.2 LPA. The estimated monthly earning is between INR 21,498 to INR 23,139.

BDes in interior design is one of the major courses pursued by candidates aspiring to become Interior Designers. BSc, BA and BArch are some of the other courses can that be taken up by candidates. Candidates can also opt for master’s degrees like MSc and MA for better career prospects. Admissions to these courses are done on the basis of design entrance exams such as NIFT, NID, CEED, AIEED and SEED. Read: Qualifications Required to Become an Interior Designer

How to Become an Interior Designer after 12th: Quick Facts

Eligibility to Become an Interior Designer after 12th

To become an Interior Designer, candidates are required to meet certain eligibility criteria such as pursuing relevant degrees and opting for associated skill sets. The general eligibility criteria needed after class 12 are as follows.

• Candidates should have a degree in interior design or a related field from a recognised university.
• While not necessary, candidates should look for opportunities to gain practical experience.
• Candidates should possess skills important in the field of interior design to excel in their roles.

Qualifications to Become an Interior Designer after 12th

There are specific educational qualifications that candidates aspiring to become Interior Designers are required to possess. The major qualifications required are as follows.

• Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in interior design from a recognised university. They can also opt for master’s courses for better career prospects.
• Candidates targeting top colleges and institutes for interior design education have to qualify for entrance exams for admission.
• Candidates who do not wish to undertake full-time courses can pursue short-term certificate and diploma courses to update themselves with the latest skills and trends.

Steps to Become an Interior Designer after 12th

For candidates to become Interior Designers after class 12, they have to go through various steps which are as follows.

• After completing class 12, candidates have to take admission in bachelor’s courses in interior design and pass it with a minimum of 50% marks.
• Candidates can also apply for entrance exams to get admission to top interior design institutes in India.
• Candidates should attend training classes to develop skills as Interior Designers are required to have a creative vision with designing abilities.
• Candidates should enrol in internships to understand the working of the interior design industry and gain practical knowledge. This will also help them in connecting with potential employers, clients and collaborators.
• Candidates always have the option of going for higher studies to get an in-depth knowledge of the field and improve their employment chances.
• After completing their education and gaining skills, candidates can start looking for interior design jobs in different industries.

Interior Design Courses after 12th

Candidates have to enrol in bachelor’s courses after class 12 to become Interior Designers. These courses can be directly pursued from interior design colleges or candidates can appear in entrance exams if they are targeting top design institutes. The details for the most popular courses are mentioned in the following table.

Entrance Exams

There are many entrance exams for candidates in India for admission into some of the top design institutes. The details for some of the top design entrance exams are mentioned in the following table.

Top Interior Design Colleges

Interior design colleges are offered by many colleges and institutes in India. The details for top interior design colleges are mentioned n the table below.

Skills Required to Become an Interior Designer after 12th

Interior Designers are required to possess a combination of skills that allows them to create functional and safe spaces. Some of the top skills that Interior Designers should have are mentioned in the table below.

Benefits of Becoming an Interior Designer

Becoming an Interior Designer can offer a range of benefits and opportunities. Some of the major benefits include.

• It is a highly creative field allowing designers to express their thoughts and ideas to their full potential.
• Interior Designers work on a wide range of projects in various sectors allowing them to work on different space types and explore design challenges.
• Interior Designers with a successful track record and experience can command higher pay with opportunities to work on high-profile projects.
• Skilled Interior Designers can find opportunities to work on international projects offering the chance to explore different design aesthetics and broaden their professional horizons.
• Interior Designers incorporate environment-friendly materials and energy-efficient design principles, contributing to healthier and more sustainable spaces.

Salary of an Interior Designer

The average annual salary of an Interior Designer in India is INR 3 LPA. The average starting salary is INR 0.3 LPA while the highest salary is INR 6.2 LPA. The estimated monthly earning of an Interior Designer is between INR 21,498 to INR 23,139.

Tabulated below is the average salary of Interior Designers based on different designations.