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Usually you go to design school but of course before that you need to know this is the path you want to take . What makes you think this would be a good path for you?

For my 1st job, my school gave my name for an interview and I got the job.

I don't know if this is a good path for me. I've been involved in real estate since I was 18 (investing and property managment) and purchased my own home and did the interior design myself a few years ago. I love interior design, colors, materials, furniture and seeing how all those fit. I notice all those things immediately when I enter a home. But I don't know if any of that matters with respect to actually starting a business of my own, as in I don't know if any of that means I'll actually be good at it.

First rule of ANY new business endeavor? Don't quit your day job.

Second rule: Life is risk, business is risk. You miss all the shots you do not take.

Nobody can answer for you.

How did I start? ...........................

Opportunity met up with luck, talent, and desire, followed by a whole lot of grunge effort. . Two careers preceded this one. Years before I hung out a shingle, always a work ethic, always fiddling with my own home, always helping friends, hearing these words over and over again. "You missed your true calling. This should be your thing. "

One day, I picked up a book. "Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow". ( still in print, to this day ) I read it over and over and over. The business remained nothing but a pipe dream. Then, the company I worked for, in a truly boring to me job, cut the sales force to half. TATA! But, I had been fiddling for money at that point, had been doing some design work on the side, almost to the point that the hobby was the job, and the job, a hobby! How did the "hobby, money making" begin"? Pure luck......A realtor saw my Christmas tree, as I was vacuuming needles in the hallway. Blew past my open door with "OH! Your tree is gorgeous, mind if I come in"? Then trotted right into my bedroom... I should note I was in my pajamas!

'I want you to do my daughters bedroom".......!!

That brief moment, that idiotic moment, took what I was doing to next level. It led to more realtors, referrals, more work and all the while I was still at the day job/jhobby: )

I still have the engraved thank you note from that woman; "I can not stop looking at that room. I get to the top of the stair, and I just stand there..........."

Finally the downsize, I gathered my courage, went to Staples, bought 144.00 dollars of office supplies and declared myself open. That was thirty four years ago.

The real nitty gritty of this business is that it isn't just mood boards, it is rarely a blank slate you control 100%. It is personalities, it is to be a shrink, a mind reader, It is to wear more hats than your head is meant to wear. You are fiduciary, marriage counselor, and you need all the other trades to produce an outcome for which..yes, you will be held responsible. : )

Still up for it? Start small, be prepared to give some work and talent away. Work your ass off, learn, learn, learn and don't stop learning. and save your money......and don't quit your day job: )

Go to work for a design firm.

You have to learn from someone and if you don't want to go to design school you should start as an intern at the BEST design firm in your city. They will provide you with the best procedures for a successful business.

Just like if you wanted to open a restaurant, you will have at least had the experience of working in one before you made that decision, the same applies for interior design.

^^

That too, and don't quit the day job. : )

If you're in a city with a to the trade Design Center? That is a good option as well. Even part time. Crawl, walk, run. In that order. You will be amazed to find out how much you don;t know.

Look at the curriculum for design degrees. Not saying you have to go to school to become a designer, but curricula are often good lists of what types of skills and knowledge you will need in a given field.

Consider too how much .you enjoy networking and getting business. I have found that any business I have run, getting the business and managing the business is often as much work as the work itself.

Thank you all for the great replies! I don't plan on quitting my day job (although that would be the eventual plan) but with that said, I won't exactly have time to find an internship unless it's after hours. I don't mind networking and getting business, I do that all the time for my current work. I live in Los Angeles so I can find a school or design center and see what they offer that I can chip away at during my time after work. I'm very much aware that there are a TON of things that I don't know but I'm eager to learn.

Not all design schools are accredited. Don't bother with the ones that are not.

https://cida.org/accredited-programs/#california

“I don't plan on quitting my day job (although that would be the eventual plan) but with that said, I won't exactly have time to find an internship unless it's after hours.”

I’m curious about designers’ thoughts on how to begin working PT as a learning newbie if available hours are only on weekends and evenings. As a home owner, I find that a lot of good stores are only open on weekdays during business hours. Does this just mean that as a newbie you limit yourself to helping friends with spaces and selecting only from the kinds of stores with weekend hours?

I have a habit of checking threads for "activity" and other posts.

You had one. It was a question about a lamp, and I shall assume it was for you.

The single biggest requirement for design, whether for a client or your own home? The power of reasoning. L.O.G.I.C ! Asking."What might make sense here?" We live in a world of the vast internet, available with a finger tap on a phone.

The ask was about a lamp. A simple screen shot, loaded with a tap into Google image search ........and.............presto! A result.

This type of question occurs with great frequency on this site. It's a bit stunning ( or not ) that it so often does not occur to the poster to do this one simple task - taking a couple nano seconds.

What makes SENSE for you and your "dream job" ? Given you have no time but weekends and evenings? At this point, it is undoubtedly a part time job in a retail environment/home store. West Elm, Room and Board, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Design Within Reach, Interior Define, Nicky Kehoe, Cb 2, Crate and Barrel, Thrive Decor, Deep House Design, Arhaus........and the list shall go on.

You sell. You help the helpless! Start there.: ) I'm just using my Google......and the round object roughly 36 inches above my you know what.

@Diana Bier Interiors, LLC I appreciate your input, thank you!

You and I share similar paths. I am a CPA as well and have two homes (one rental, one my residence) and both got me into all aspects of home ownership (construction, design, furniture, etc).

To answer your questions:

I'm 35 years old, male, and work in two family businesses (accounting and real estate) as well as have my own buisness (accounting). I have my evenings off so I do have those hours to get knowledge/credentialed, and start a side biz. Looks like I need to go back to school at least in some capacity.

I love networking and socializing and meeting new people.

I'm single and have a solid source of income thankfully so I don't have anyone relying on me

@Kendrah What stores are you finding that are closed on the weekends? I think our only options are to either quit our day jobs or find a way to start a new biz when we're done working out day jobs.

^^^^

Retail isn't closed on weekends. An independent designer with a shop might be, but that's doubtful. A design FIRM? Yes...closed: ) The only designer I know who works on a Saturday is yours truly. Even in NYC. To the trade design centers have Saturday hours, usually.

@HU-65840635443, you certainly are young enough to pursue this line of business! And already running your family businesses is great--you already know the ins and outs of being your own boss. Plus, real estate is a perfect complement to a design career.

So I'm sure that with some formal education/training you could make a go of it. I wish you luck and good fortune!!

Thanks @Diana Bier Interiors, LLC I guess my first course of action is to start taking some classes and look to see what certificates/licenses are here in CA for interior design