When it comes to landing your dream role as an Interior Designer, your CV is your first opportunity to showcase not only your skills but also your creativity, personality, and professional achievements. Interior Designers play a vital role in transforming spaces into functional, stylish, and inspiring environments for clients across residential, commercial, retail, and hospitality projects.
An Interior Designer’s job description typically includes creating design concepts, producing floor plans, selecting furnishings, sourcing materials, liaising with contractors, managing budgets, and overseeing installations. In the UK, the average salary for an Interior Designer ranges between £25,000 and £50,000 per year, depending on experience, location, and sector. Senior Interior Designers and Design Managers can command salaries upwards of £60,000, particularly in London and other major cities. With the industry becoming ever more competitive, having a polished cv template and a clear cv example that sets you apart from other applicants is essential.
Why your Interior Designer CV matters more than ever
As a career coaching professional with over 25 years’ experience, I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to ensure your CV reflects your strengths. Interior Design is not just about creativity – employers want to see evidence of commercial awareness, client management skills, and technical expertise with design software such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, or Adobe Creative Suite. Recruiters and hiring managers often receive hundreds of CVs for each vacancy, so your CV needs to demonstrate impact in seconds.
Your CV is not just a list of duties – it’s a sales document that highlights what makes you unique as a designer. By using the right structure and focusing on tangible results, you can create an interview-winning application.
Key sections for an Interior Designer CV template
When creating your Interior Designer CV, here is the structure I recommend:
Personal profile / summary – A short, compelling introduction at the top of your CV outlining your design ethos, career highlights, and aspirations. Keep this to 3–5 lines.
Key skills – A bullet-pointed section showcasing your strongest skills such as spatial planning, CAD software, project management, sustainability expertise, or client presentations.
Professional experience – List your roles in reverse chronological order, with clear achievements. Use action verbs and quantify results (e.g., “Designed and managed a £500,000 office refurbishment project, delivered on time and 10% under budget”).
Education & qualifications – Highlight your degree, diplomas, and any industry-specific training such as BIID (British Institute of Interior Design) membership or sustainable design certifications.
Portfolio link – Interior Designers must showcase visual evidence of their work. Include a link to your online portfolio or website.
Additional information – Languages, awards, professional memberships, or volunteer design projects.
Tailoring your CV example for success
One mistake I often see is candidates sending the same CV for every job. Employers can spot a generic CV instantly. Tailor your cv example for each application by mirroring the job description, emphasising the skills and experience that align most closely with the role. If the job advert asks for strong project management, make sure this is highlighted in your personal profile and skills section. If they value hospitality design experience, bring this to the forefront of your professional history.
Advice for Interior Design graduates
If you are just starting your career, employers do not expect a wealth of experience, but they do want to see evidence of creativity, passion, and commitment. Use your CV to highlight academic projects, internships, or freelance design work. Even personal projects, such as redesigning a friend’s living room or conceptual projects completed during your degree, can be presented as part of your experience. Make sure to include a strong portfolio link, as your designs often speak louder than words.
Guidance for mid-level Interior Designers
At mid-level, employers expect to see clear career progression and evidence of responsibility. Demonstrate how you’ve grown from assisting senior designers to taking ownership of projects yourself. Highlight your ability to manage budgets, liaise with contractors, and mentor junior staff. Recruiters want to see not just your design skills but also your ability to lead and add commercial value.
Tips for senior Interior Designers and managers
For senior roles, your CV should position you as a design leader. Focus on high-level achievements such as leading design teams, securing major client accounts, or delivering multi-million-pound projects. Employers want to know how you can drive business growth and client satisfaction, not just produce stunning interiors. A strong executive profile at the top of your CV can set the tone, showcasing your leadership style, client base, and long-term achievements.
Do’s and Don’ts for an Interior Designer CV
Do keep your CV concise – ideally 2 pages, no more than 3.
Do use clear formatting, professional fonts, and logical headings.
Do include a link to your online portfolio – this is non-negotiable for designers.
Do quantify achievements wherever possible – employers love measurable results.
Do tailor your CV for each role, aligning with the job description.
Don’t overload your CV with graphics or colours – let your portfolio show your creativity.
Don’t list generic duties without showing impact.
Don’t forget soft skills such as communication, client management, and collaboration.
Don’t send your CV without proofreading – spelling mistakes can cost you the interview.
Final tips for a winning Interior Designer CV
Your CV should balance creativity with professionalism. While your portfolio is where your design flair shines, your CV must clearly communicate your experience, skills, and value to potential employers. Remember, employers want a designer who not only creates beautiful spaces but also delivers results, manages budgets, and builds strong client relationships.
To truly stand out, I recommend using a professional cv template that is tailored to the Interior Design industry. A well-structured cv example can give you clarity and confidence when applying for roles.
Your next step towards an interview-winning CV
Crafting the perfect CV can feel daunting, but you don’t need to do it alone. At CV London
, we specialise in helping Interior Designers and creative professionals develop CVs and LinkedIn profiles that get noticed and win interviews. With over 25 years of coaching experience, I have guided thousands of job seekers to career success – and I’d love to help you next.
Book an appointment today for a one-to-one consultation where we’ll refine your CV, optimise your LinkedIn profile, and position you as the standout candidate in the market. Click here to book an appointment
and take the first step towards your dream Interior Design role.
