PROOF OF OBSESSION
Pile of Design Qualifications
Proof of obsession, in one messy pile.
Qualifications aren’t everything - but they count. This little pile of paper means the world to me 🫶 Six years of art & design education (including a 3 year BA degree specialising in Interior Design) + nearly 15 years working in the industry = over 20 years of design in my bones!! No one can take the years you pour into building your career and it’s exactly what sets me apart and lets me bring both creativity and solid technical knowledge to every project. I’ve known I wanted to be an interior designer since I was 13 (I’m now late 30’s) and I chose every step to get here and make it happen.
So this is just a friendly reminder: when you hire a designer… experience and training matter ✨ Your home, your business, your money - they’re worth more than guesswork. Passion is important, creativity is vital but so is the knowledge and responsibility that come with experience.
Interior design is everywhere right now. Pinterest boards, TikTok transformations, Instagram reels of dreamy “before & afters.” And I love it - seeing people take joy in their homes is one of the reasons I became a designer in the first place. But here’s the tricky part: in the UK interior design is not a regulated profession. That means anyone add “interior designer” to their bio and start offering services. No qualification required. No industry standard. No insurance. And while passion for interiors is wonderful it can make things confusing for clients who are investing time and money into their home or business.
Passion vs. Profession
Loving interiors is a brilliant starting point. But working as an interior designer for paying clients is another layer entirely. It involves:
📐 Space planning & technical detail – knowing how to make a layout work in real life.
📑 Building regulations – understanding what can (and can’t) be done safely and legally.
🤝 Supplier & contractor relationships – years of networking and trust.
💸 Budgets & timelines – keeping projects on track and clients stress free.
🛡️ Insurance – protecting both you and the client if something doesn’t go to plan.
🎨 Creativity, backed by training – turning vision into a functional, liveable space.
These things aren’t visible in an Instagram reel, but they’re absolutely essential when you’re designing for someone else.
I’ve learned the technical side, the creative side and the business side. I’ve built relationships with trades and suppliers. I carry insurance because I take the responsibility seriously. And even now I still see myself as learning and evolving. Only recently did I take the scary leap to running my own studio because I know what’s at stake when someone trusts me with their home or business and I care more than ever.
If you’re choosing a designer, make sure you find someone who can bring your vision to life responsibly, creatively and professionally.
Lately I’ve seen quite a few posts offering “design” or “styling” services from people without any formal training or real design experience. Essentially people are paying someone with no more experience than themselves - it’s always worth checking who you’re trusting with your home!
Here are a few friendly questions to ask before hiring a designer:
✔️ What are your qualifications?
✔️ Can you show real client projects, not just your own home?
✔️ How do you handle budgets and timelines?
✔️ Do you have professional insurance?
A true professional will always be happy to answer these - it shows you care about your space and they do too.
And if you’d like to chat about your own project, I’d of course love to hear from you!
