How to Write a Resume for an Interior Designer

Introduction

Interior designers blend creativity, technical knowledge, and client-focused problem-solving to create functional, beautiful spaces. Whether you work in residential, commercial, hospitality, or retail design, your resume must show more than just an eye for aesthetics—it needs to demonstrate project outcomes, technical skills, and collaboration with clients and teams.

A tailored interior designer resume helps you stand out in a competitive field by clearly aligning your portfolio, software skills, and project experience with the specific needs of each employer. Hiring managers and design firms often skim resumes in seconds, so your document must be visually clean, well-structured, and rich with relevant keywords from the job description.

Key Skills for an Interior Designer Resume

Essential Hard Skills

Highlight the technical and design competencies that show you can take a project from concept to completion.

• Space planning and layout design
• Concept development and mood boards
• AutoCAD, Revit, or ArchiCAD
• SketchUp, 3ds Max, Rhino, or other 3D modeling tools
• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Construction documents and technical drawings
• FF&E selection (furniture, fixtures, and equipment)
• Materials and finishes knowledge
• Lighting design fundamentals
• Building codes and ADA compliance (or local equivalents)
• Cost estimation and budgeting
• Project management and scheduling
• Vendor and contractor coordination
• Client presentations and visual storytelling

Key Soft Skills

Interior design is highly collaborative and client-driven. Emphasize interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

• Client communication and consultation
• Creative problem-solving
• Attention to detail
• Time management and prioritization
• Collaboration with architects, engineers, and contractors
• Adaptability to changing project requirements
• Negotiation and stakeholder management
• Presentation and storytelling skills
• Organization and documentation

Formatting Tips for an Interior Designer Resume

Overall Layout and Design

Your resume should reflect your design sensibility while remaining professional and ATS-friendly (Applicant Tracking System). Aim for a clean, minimal layout with strategic use of white space.

• Length: One page for early-career designers, up to two pages for experienced professionals with extensive projects.
• Margins: Use standard 0.5"–1" margins for readability.
• Sections: Clearly separate sections using bold headings or subtle lines.
• Color: Use one accent color at most; keep it subtle and ensure legibility when printed in black and white.

Fonts and Styling

Choose fonts that are modern but highly readable.

• Font type: Sans-serif fonts such as Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, or Lato.
• Font size: 10–12 pt for body text; 14–16 pt for headings.
• Avoid: Overly decorative fonts, excessive icons, or heavy graphics that may not parse well in ATS systems.

Core Resume Sections

Header

Make your contact information easy to find and include links to your online work.

• Full name and professional title (e.g., “Interior Designer” or “Senior Interior Designer”).
• City, State/Region, Country (no need for full address).
• Phone number and professional email address.
• Portfolio URL (personal website, Behance, or similar).
• LinkedIn profile link.

Professional Summary

Replace a generic objective with a concise, tailored summary (3–4 lines) that positions you for the role.

Example:

“Detail-oriented Interior Designer with 6+ years of experience in high-end residential and boutique hospitality projects. Skilled in space planning, AutoCAD, and FF&E selection, with a strong track record of delivering on-brand, functional designs within budget and timeline. Adept at managing client relationships and leading cross-functional teams from concept through installation.”

Experience

List roles in reverse chronological order. For each role, include:

• Job title
• Company name and location
• Dates of employment (month/year)
• 3–6 bullet points focused on achievements and project outcomes

Use action verbs and quantify results where possible:

• “Led the design of a 15,000 sq. ft. corporate office, improving space utilization by 25% and increasing employee satisfaction scores by 18%.”
• “Managed FF&E budgets up to $500K, consistently delivering projects within 3% of projected costs.”
• “Developed 3D renderings and presentations that increased client design approvals at first review by 40%.”

Education

Include relevant degrees and coursework.

• Degree (e.g., Bachelor of Interior Design, BFA in Interior Design, Architecture degree)
• Institution, location
• Graduation year (omit if very experienced and concerned about age bias)
• Relevant coursework or studio projects (for entry-level candidates)

Additional Sections

• Certifications: NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP, or local professional licenses.
• Skills: Group into categories (Software, Technical, Design, Soft Skills).
• Awards & Publications: Design competitions, features in magazines, blogs, or exhibitions.
• Professional Associations: ASID, IIDA, AIA (if applicable), or local design organizations.

Showcasing Your Interior Design Portfolio on Your Resume

Integrating Your Portfolio Strategically

For interior designers, your portfolio is as critical as your resume. Employers want to see how you think, not just what you say you can do.

• Portfolio Link in Header: Place your online portfolio URL prominently at the top of your resume.
• Project-Based Experience Bullets: Reference specific projects and note that samples are available in your portfolio.
• QR Code (Optional): For printed resumes, a small, unobtrusive QR code linking to your portfolio can be effective.

Highlighting Key Projects in Your Experience Section

Transform generic responsibilities into project-based achievements.

• “Designed and documented a 60-room boutique hotel renovation; portfolio includes before-and-after photography and FF&E boards.”
• “Developed concept and material palette for a 4,000 sq. ft. luxury residence; portfolio features 3D renderings and final install shots.”
• “Collaborated on a retail flagship store; portfolio includes floor plans, elevations, and visual merchandising layouts.”

Use your resume to guide the reader to specific portfolio sections that best demonstrate the skills required by the job description.

Emphasizing Technical Proficiency and Industry Standards

Software and Technical Skills

Hiring managers often scan for specific tools and technical expertise, especially in firms with established workflows.

• Create a dedicated “Technical Skills” or “Design Tools” subsection.
• Group tools logically, for example:
  • Drafting & BIM: AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD
  • 3D & Visualization: SketchUp, 3ds Max, V-Ray, Enscape
  • Graphics & Layout: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
  • Project Management: Asana, Trello, or other tools
• Indicate your proficiency level (e.g., Advanced, Intermediate, Basic) honestly.

Codes, Standards, and Specialized Knowledge

Demonstrating knowledge of regulations and specialized design areas builds credibility, especially for commercial roles.

• Building codes and life safety standards
• ADA or accessibility compliance
• Sustainability and green design (LEED, WELL, local certifications)
• Healthcare, hospitality, or workplace design standards (if applicable)

In your experience bullets, show how you applied this knowledge:

• “Ensured all layouts complied with ADA accessibility requirements and local fire egress codes.”
• “Contributed to LEED Gold certification by specifying low-VOC materials and energy-efficient lighting solutions.”

Tailoring Your Interior Designer Resume to Specific Roles

Analyze the Job Description

Before applying, carefully review the posting and identify:

• Key project types (residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, workplace, healthcare).
• Core tools and software mentioned.
• Emphasis on concept design vs. technical documentation vs. project management.
• Client types (luxury, corporate, developer, public sector).

Align Your Content and Keywords

Customize your resume so it echoes the language of the job description.

• Mirror relevant keywords (e.g., “hospitality interiors,” “FF&E procurement,” “Revit-based documentation”).
• Reorder your skills so the most relevant ones appear first.
• Highlight experience with similar project scales, budgets, or clients.

Adjust Your Summary and Project Emphasis

Fine-tune your summary and experience bullets for each application.

• For a hospitality role: Emphasize hotels, restaurants, guest experience, and brand consistency.
• For a corporate workplace role: Focus on space utilization, employee experience, and change management.
• For a residential studio: Highlight client collaboration, customization, and styling.

Where possible, move the most relevant roles or projects higher in your experience section or call them out with phrases like “Selected Project Highlights.”

Common Mistakes on Interior Designer Resumes

Overly Designed, Hard-to-Read Resumes

As a designer, you may be tempted to create a highly stylized resume. However, complex layouts can confuse ATS systems and frustrate hiring managers.

• Avoid heavy graphics, multiple columns that don’t align well, and large images.
• Keep design elements minimal and let your portfolio showcase your visual creativity.

Vague, Responsibility-Only Bullet Points

Listing duties without outcomes makes it hard to differentiate you from other candidates.

• Replace “Responsible for space planning” with “Planned and optimized layouts for 20+ residential projects, improving storage capacity by up to 30% per unit.”
• Replace “Worked with clients” with “Guided clients through concept development and material selection, achieving a 95% satisfaction rate based on post-project surveys.”

Ignoring the Portfolio Connection

A strong resume with no accessible portfolio is a missed opportunity.

• Always include a working portfolio link and verify that it is mobile-friendly.
• Ensure your portfolio projects align with the experience described on your resume.

Listing Irrelevant or Outdated Skills

Including every tool you have ever used can dilute your message.

• Focus on current, industry-relevant software and methods.
• Remove outdated tools or those not requested in the types of roles you seek.

Typos, Inconsistencies, and Poor Visual Hierarchy

As a designer, your resume itself is a subtle design sample.

• Ensure consistent spacing, alignment, and formatting.
• Use a clear hierarchy for headings, job titles, and dates.
• Proofread carefully or ask a colleague to review for errors.

Not Updating for Career Progression

As you gain experience, your resume should evolve.

• Remove early, less relevant roles as you gain seniority.
• Emphasize leadership, mentoring, and project ownership as your responsibilities grow.

Final Thoughts

An effective interior designer resume combines clean formatting, targeted content, and clear connections to your portfolio. By showcasing both your creative vision and your ability to deliver real-world results—on time, on budget, and in line with client goals—you position yourself as a standout candidate in a visually driven, detail-oriented profession. Tailor each application, quantify your impact, and let your resume and portfolio work together to tell a cohesive, compelling story of your design career.