What you will need

• Color swatches for paints and fabrics ( you can get many of them for free from local paint stores if you ask)
• Fabric samples are a necessity (you can get them for free from your local furniture store)
• Interior design magazines for client perusal (it helps them get an idea of what they like)
• Furniture catalogues (free from furniture dealers and retailers)
• Fine arts catalogue, get them from art galleries
• Kitchen and bathroom catalogues. Basically get catalogues from everybody that deals with furniture, art, and lighting stores
• Photos of your work, and signed recommendations (remember you get them from family and friends when you are just starting out)
• Your portfolio (always have a copy of your portfolio)

Tips for Building a Portfolio with Little or no Professional Experience

1.                       Ask Friend or family to let you design a room in their house, and take pictures of your work for the portfolio.

2.                       Get your friends and family to write letters of recommendation for you or list themselves as references.

3.                       A leather binder, or photo album can be used to hold all of this information until you have better resources.