It depends on what exactly you want to do in the vast world of interior design--commercial or residential? arranging furniture/placing artwork or construction drawings/project management? You need to look into the requirements for being a designer in your state--they all have different rules. Some require a 4-year degree and passing a national exam to call yourself "Interior Designer," and Florida has some of the strictest rules for interior designers.

Keep in mind that working on interiors is a JOB, and requires more than a talent for hanging pictures and curtains. You need to have a knowledge of drafting, proportion, color theory, balance, and scale, as well as design styles and history, run a business and deal with people. No matter what you want to do, you should do a lot of research and obtain some sort of formal education and training before you hang out your shingle.

Good luck in your pursuits!

Why don't you try working in some support capacity inside an interior design firm and see if the industry is a fit for you. Money will be very minimal.

Everything in Florida requires a license, and that's requires training. Check to see what the requirements for a contractor or designer license is currently.

Go for it! I'm 74 and formally studying Interior Design.

Age has nothing to do with a passion, but i agree what facet of interior design are you looking at . I am a contractor/ interior designer so my real passion is reorganizing space for better function and i love doing kitchens the actual decor part for me does not hold the same interest.

It's a fascinating area of study involving history, cultures, creativity and as Diana notes, hard skills. A great deal comes through experience and there are a LOT of variables that derive form the experience you have already had in 50 years--and the differentiator may be how your work/life experience factors into the design work you seek..

I am over 60 (yes that's a recent photo) and bring a experience from hands on to oversight (e.g. design build of wood stamped cement plinths to interiors and architectural revisions through managing facility renovations in 500 offices and specialised projects for artefact preservation and display). But, I lack certification. That is not an issue for my clients but is for firms and in some jurisdictions.

I've learned through doing while active in a management career that many people find incongruent (it's not, but...). I like being independent, so I have structured my life and finances to permit me to take work that interests me and only work on projects that "feed" my love of learning, creativity and cross-cultural engagement--and structure the work so that I comply with regulations. The showroom designer/salesperson model does not appeal to me, but that is one way to gain experience that speaks to clients. Some stores may want to augment a younger team with someone more in line with the customers demographic. Designer know thyself--what is your demographic? Can you present in ways that relate well to buyers?

You have lived experience and I suggest you may want to go through a (sole or supported) exercise of identifying what aspects port well to the design work you want to do. Identify the gaps and focus learning there. Discover the constraints that may apply in your locale--you'll have to face those. And if your past career puts you in a milieu that is international, you may be able to transcend a lot of barriers through a significant project or two. For me, it was proving myself in a two-week advisory gig and being retained for that an 18 month, very significant project.

Good luck!

I'm not a pro but I'm on my 3rd remodeling project.

You say your are in FL? GO FOR IT. Florida is the land of the crooks, shoddy contractors and people-that-have-no-clue in the remodeling industry. Not meaning to offend the REAL pros. If you're a real pro-you probably agree with me because you've probably been hired to clean up the shoddy person's work.

If you provide good customer service at a fair price, you'll make a fortune. Everyone good is super busy right now.

Getting your contractor's license is a great idea. Because you can do all the pretty stuff all you want and if what you suggest doesn't match code, then it's all for nothing. It would be so helpful to know if a wall is load bearing, where electricity is located, all that small stuff that is so important when remodeling. Also being to accurately estimate COST is a huge factor. The big stuff is easy. The little stuff is where it all adds up and in my experience, someone that can address all those little costs up front is worth their fee 10 times over.

Good luck!

Thank you for the replies. For the record, I am 48 now and my profile pic was taken 4 years ago.

I am more skilled than just hanging pictures. Florida does not require you to be licensed to be an interior decorator but commercial design, yes. Contractors do require licensing, of course. And they can knock down walls :).

And yes! Florida has some seriously shady stuff from so -called professionals. I could hang up my shingle tomorrow and do better than half of them from what I have seen.

I'm just wondering what a BS in interior design would allow me to do practically that my current skill and a contractor's license/ training would not. Money doesn't really matter so an internship or an apprenticeship is a good idea.

Darla, I went back to school at your age and got my design degree. The only jobs you will find right out of school will be as an unpaid intern or a low wage assistant. Is there a junior college in your area that has an ID program? I think that before you hang up your own shingle you need more than just a GC license. And you are right, anyone can call themselves a decorator without having to be certified. I wish you the best!

i just want to give encouragement. There is a fabulous show you should watch. The great interior design show. it is from england and we get it on putlocker on the computer, they are in the middle of their 3rd season. they go around england and have people who want to be designers compete with $1000 a builder and 3 days designing a room. another cool thing is they do it in all kinds of homes, all the way down to the 1600s so far! But, the most important thing is that at least half have no relationship to design and and half at least are over the age of 40! the oldest so far has been late 60s i think. and they are winning! an absolutely inspiring show! good luck in your venture. oh and remember that there were colleges that gave you credit for living experience when i lived in TPA

Darla - The need to pursue a BS in interior design depends on how and where within the industry you wish to practice. As "Interior Designer" is a professional designation you must have the formal education and required particle experience in order to call ones self an "Interior Designer". Under this designation you would be permitted to work on particular projects that are mandated to be overseen by an "Interior Designer". The particulars concerning this fall under the Building Code and the Interior Design Association for your jurisdiction.

This may vary but for most residential construction, typically projects under a certain square footage and height, there are no requirements for an Interior Designer. If this is your intended area of focus then you are most likely free to pursue your passion as you wish, you just can't call yourself an Interior Designer.

Graham

Get a job in a firm first. Decide if you like making "fun" into work.

Not everyone can deal with the boring or physically demanding parts. Searching through a giant pile of samples for a couple of hours isn't fun. Hauling bundles of heavy samples around to job sites or clients houses is heavier and more work than you think. Climbing up on a ladder to hoist up heavy window treatments can be challenging. But that is part of what you will do as an entry level employee.

It isn't all the glamorous present a design board and then point while someone els does the grunt work! Sometimes it is reconciling bookkeeping entries for a couple of hours or taking inventory for a couple of days. Or endless phone calls.

Sure, there are great, even life transforming moments. But it is WORK!

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I have never thought to "copy" likes, but I just want to say thanks for your thumbs up. So proud of my daughter and there is no reason Darla shouldn't give it a try.

I was a graphic designer and went back to school to earn another Bachelors degree. I was 56 and I earned a BSN, graduating Summa Cum Laude at age 58. I am now a Registered Nurse. I believe we value education more as we get older and have more pride in our work. Never think it is too late to change your life. I urge you to take this step. But be aware that you'll need to be a great sales person. Talent, alone, won't get you there in the design field.

can't we just hire some interns for that? lol want me to go get some cheese?

Buy a fixer upper, renovate it, decorate it and sell it. Even at a loss it'll still take less time than going back to school, perhaps cost less, and give you a lot of gratification upon completing it - not to mention the huge amount of valuable skills you will learn on-the-job. That's what I do now after career #1 on a casual basis, and it's been both demanding, exhausting and rewarding. Best of luck.

wow brandy, i know on this show they do creation of objects themselves. but i did not realize that you painted and everything yourself brandy. I do not know if that is cool or would it be tiring, probably a little of both.

Wow. Thanks for all the encouragement and ideas. I have actually done the fixer upper flip thing. Sold it to the first peeps who looked and cleared almost 80k. That was 12 years ago. I remodeled a master bath and den for a friend of mine as well which she was very happy with - also several years ago. Lots of food for thought. Thanks :)

I'm literally just seeing this now and would love to know what happened!