February 15, 2026 Interior

How to Become an Interior Designer after 12th: Step-by-Step Career Guide

Interior designing is not merely about arranging furniture or picking curtains. It is one of the most trending professions in today’s world. Interior designing is about transforming spaces into experiences and full-fledged functionality.

If you are intrigued by this field or have you ever asked this question; How to become an interior designer after 12th? – you have come to the right blog.

Whether you are planning a career switch or discovering your love for interior design, this blog post is just the perfect roadmap for you.

Let’s get started!

Must Read – Scope of Interior Design in India 2026: Career Paths After Graduation

Table of Contents

Interior Designing in India – A Quick Snapshot

The interior designing field is taking the center stage, thanks to the opportunities this field has to offer. Top-notch interior design courses offer in-depth interior design knowledge to aspiring interior designers. With the interior design market in India surging at an unexpected rate, the demand for interior designers has skyrocketed. Though, entering this field is no less than cracking a hard nut.

As a budding interior designer, the first question that often comes to your mind; how to become an interior designer. Well, the answer is quite simple. Formal education in interior designing and upscale in-demand interior design skills are your key to enter this lucrative field.

How to Become an Interior Designer in India – Quick Facts

To become an interior designer in India, candidates are required to have formal education. Though, you can start a career immediately with your already possessed skillset, formal education gives you an edge over other candidates.

There are a number of interior design courses after 12th that are available for students. These courses are in the form of undergraduate courses, post graduate courses, and diploma courses in interior design. However, the kind of course you choose depends majorly on your skillset and career goals. You should first check the eligibility criteria of these courses before you decide to enrol in a course.

An undergraduate or postgraduate course is a full-fledged course that offers in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical concepts of interior design. On the other hand, a short-term diploma course gives you an opportunity to accentuate your skillset with the required interior design knowledge.

Eligibility	Candidates need to enrol in B.Des in Interior Design or B.Sc in Interior Design Course
Job Profiles	Interior Designer, Furniture Designer, Healthcare Designer, Lighting Designer, Visual Designer
Skills Required to Become An Interior Designer	3D rendering, adobe photoshop, AutoCAD, Project Management
Average salary of an interior designer in India	7.8LPA

Must Read – Interior Design Course Syllabus: Degree vs Diploma Subjects, Software & Skills

Eligibility to Become An Interior Designer in India

To get admission in the top-notch interior design colleges, you are required to fulfill basic eligibility criteria. These eligibility criteria help you know about interior design qualification in detail. Though the criteria to enrol in an interior design may vary from college to college.

Candidates are required to complete 10+2 from a recognized board.
Candidates from any stream can enrol in an interior design course
Certain colleges may ask you to appear for an entrance test. You should check the eligibility criteria for these exams.
Choose an ideal interior design course based on your preference and goals. You can enrol in a B.Des in Interior Design course or M.Des in Interior Design Course or Diploma in Interior Design Course
Build a portfolio that showcases your skillset.

Steps to Become An Interior Designer in India

To know about how to become an interior designer, the first step is to bookmark prerequisites needed to enter this field. These steps are compiled below. You can check these steps and start a journey towards a rewarding career.

Earn A Degree

The first and most important step to become an interior designer is to get a formal education. The formal education can be in the form of earning a graduate course or getting enrolled in a diploma program. This is the most crucial step as recruiters always prefer candidates with advanced-level education.

What to study to Become an Interior Design

To become an interior designer, you need to study basics to advanced level concepts in interior designing. In undergraduate or postgraduate degrees like B.Des in Interior Design or B.Sc in Interior Design, you learn crucial concepts related to interior design. These concepts include; basic principles of interior design, drawing and sketching, color theory, basics of furniture design, information on vastu shastra and much more!

Gain Relevant Skills

To become a successful interior designer in India, you are required to earn in-demand skills in the field. These skills typically include creative and technical skills.

Computer-aided Design [CAD]: To create 3D designs, interior designers must know how to use computer software to present simulated models.
Creative Skills: Creativity is at the core of an interior designer. As an interior designer, you should be creative enough to transform living spaces into lively ones.
To build standards, an interior designer must keep his knowledge up-to-date to remove the fear of being obsolete.

Get an Internship

Outside a classroom, you will gain practical experience with the help of internships. These internships make you industry ready with the right kind of skills. Gaining internship and training experience from a reputable interior design firm is helpful for candidates to understand how Interior Designers work.

Build your Portfolio

Portfolio reflects your strengths and skillsets in the best possible way. Besides getting the best interior design qualification, building a portfolio is crucial. The portfolio will show your work style, college assignments, skillsets and experiences.

Must Read: Interior Designer Salary in India 2026 after Interior Designer Course – A Complete Guide

Study from the Best Interior Design College in India

A top interior design college is your gateway to enter the flourishing field of interior design. When it comes to giving one of a kind exposure to young minds, AAFT School of Interior Design comes to your mind. This school is known to produce top interior designers who are now ruling the interior design world across the globe. AAFT Noida and AAFT Raipur are among the premier colleges providing top-notch interior design education to students from various walks of life.

AAFT School of Interior Design is known for its:

Top-notch interior design course education
Industry-relevant curriculum taught by expert industry mentors
Access to state-of-art equipment
Top-notch training sessions and guaranteed placement opportunities.

If you are looking for the answer of how to become an interior designer in India, AAFT School of Interior Design is your ideal answer.

Must Read: Interior Design Courses in India: Fees, Eligibility, Admission, Career Opportunities

How to become an Interior Designer FAQ

How do I start my interior design career?

To become an interior designer career doesn’t demand any hard and fast rule. Though, getting formal education in this field gives you an edge over other candidates.

How to become an interior designer after 12th?

To become an interior designer after 12th, you first need to check the eligibility criteria of each college. Colleges ask a student to pass 12th standard in any stream with minimum 50% aggregate marks.