Event Decor, General Tips, Your Event Career

How to Become an Event Decorator: The Ultimate Guide

Updated 2026

Do you love planning events and getting creative with decorations? If so, learning how to become an event decorator could be the perfect next step for you. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to start your career from scratch — including required skills, income potential, and how to launch your own event decorating business.

Ready to turn your creativity into a professional career? Let’s dive in.

What Is an Event Decorator?

An event decorator is responsible for the physical appearance and overall atmosphere of an event. This can include everything from selecting the right color scheme and decorations to setting up furniture and managing the layout of the event space.

Event decorators may work on a variety of events, including weddings, corporate functions, parties, conferences, and more. No two events are the same, so each one presents a new challenge for event decorators.

What Skills Does an Event Decorator Need?

To succeed as a professional event decorator, you’ll need a blend of creativity, organization, and business savvy. While formal training can help refine your abilities, many of the core skills can also be developed through hands-on experience.

Here are the most important skills event decorators need:

Creative Vision and Design Skills

Event decorators must be able to conceptualize themes, select cohesive color palettes, and design visually balanced spaces. A strong understanding of styling, proportion, and spatial awareness is essential.

Organization and Time Management

Decor installations often happen under tight deadlines. Being able to plan ahead, coordinate deliveries, and manage setup efficiently is crucial.

Communication Skills

Event decorators work closely with clients, venues, florists, rental companies, and other vendors. Clear communication ensures everyone is aligned on the design vision.

Budget Management

Clients typically have defined décor budgets. A successful decorator knows how to allocate funds wisely while still delivering a high-impact look.

Problem-Solving and Adaptability

Unexpected challenges — weather changes, missing rentals, layout restrictions — are common. Event decorators must think quickly and adjust without compromising quality.

Knowledge of Trends and Materials

Understanding current décor trends, lighting techniques, floral styles, and rental options helps decorators stay competitive and relevant in the industry.

Choose Your Event Decorating Niche

If you want to become a successful event decorator, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing your niche.

While all event decorators focus on visual design and atmosphere, specializing in a specific type of event can help you refine your portfolio, attract the right clients, and position yourself more strategically in the market. Many professionals start in one niche and expand over time — but having a focus early on can make it easier to build momentum.

Here are the most common event decorating niches:

Wedding Decorator

Wedding decorators specialize in designing ceremony and reception spaces. Their work often includes:

• Ceremony arches and aisle décor
  
• Reception table styling and centerpieces
  
• Floral installations and draping
  
• Lighting and backdrop design
  

Weddings are one of the most in-demand areas of event decorating and often involve higher budgets and detailed customization. If you enjoy romantic aesthetics and working closely with couples, this could be a strong niche to pursue.

Party Decorator

Party decorators focus on private celebrations such as:

• Birthday parties
  
• Baby showers
  
• Anniversaries
  
• Graduation parties
  
• Themed celebrations
  

This niche often includes balloon installations, custom backdrops, dessert table styling, and creative themed setups. Many event decorators begin their careers as party decorators because smaller-scale events can be easier to book and build experience with.

Corporate Event Decorator

Corporate event decorators design visual environments for business events, including:

• Conferences and conventions
  
• Product launches
  
• Gala dinners and award ceremonies
  
• Brand activations
  

This niche typically requires strong attention to brand alignment, stage design, and large-scale installations. Corporate work can be highly profitable and often leads to repeat clients.

Luxury Event Decorator

Luxury event decorators work on high-end events with premium budgets and custom-built design elements. This may involve:

• Large-scale installations
  
• Custom décor builds
  
• Premium rental sourcing
  
• Elaborate lighting and draping concepts
  

This niche usually requires experience, strong vendor relationships, and a refined design aesthetic.

No matter which path you choose, the process of becoming an event decorator starts with building strong foundational skills and gaining real-world experience — which we’ll explore next.

How to Become an Event Decorator in 6 Easy Steps

If you’re serious about building a career in event decorating, following a clear step-by-step path will make the process far more manageable. Here’s exactly how to become an event decorator from scratch:

Step 1: Decide What Kind of Decorator You Want To Be

The first step is to simply decide what kind of event decorator you want to be. After all, you should never enter any new career blind. The more prepared you are, the better!

Luckily, there are all sorts of different ways you can specialize in this field, such as by:

• Focusing on a specific type of event (i.e. weddings, corporate events, private parties, etc.)
• Offering services for both indoor and outdoor spaces
• Offering both in-person and virtual event decorating services
• Creating packages that include additional services like event/wedding planning, floral design, furniture rentals, prop sourcing, etc.

Step 2: Build The Foundation for Your Business

Now, if you intend to join an existing events company, this skip won’t necessarily apply to you. That said, we still recommend reading it, in case you ever wish to branch out on your own down the road. In the meantime, though, what we recommend to anyone wanting to get hired onto a team would be to polish up your resume and interviewing skills.

But if your goal is to start a business of your own, then you need to know that in order to launch any business and have hope for success, there are some things you’ll need to do during the beginning stages first. For example, you’ll need to:

• Come up with a clever and catchy business name (and get it registered);
• Create a stunning website that accurately reflects your brand identity and gives prospective clients all the right info about you/your business;
• Get active on social media;
• Develop a stunning portfolio of your past (and best) decor work;
• Come up with a realistic business plan;
• Figure out your business’s budget;
• Determine which marketing strategies you intend to execute for your business;
• And more.

Step 3: Choose What Services You Want to Offer

The next step is choosing which services you want to offer as an event decorator. For example, will you just be responsible for setting up the decorations? Or will you also be responsible for designing them, too? Once you know what your strengths are, you can start to build out your services accordingly.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of potential services that event decorators typically offer:

• Event design
• Venue selection
• Budget management
• Floral design*
• Furniture rentals
• Prop sourcing and styling
• Linen rentals
• Lighting design and installation
• Backdrop construction and installation

Step 4: Take a Course on How to Become an Event Decorator

Now that you know what kind of event decorator you want to be, as well as the services you want to offer, it’s time to get the right training. And depending on which route you want to take – i.e. starting your own business or working for an existing company – the training you’ll need will be slightly different.

For example, we strongly recommend taking an event decorating course, one way or another. QC Event School’s self-paced, online Event Decor Course will teach you everything you need to know to become a globally-recognized International Event Decorating Professional™ (IEDP™) in as little as 3-6 months!

In this 3-unit program, you’ll learn all about:

• The role and responsibility of a professional event decorator
• How to conduct successful client consultations
• Color schemes, theory, and psychology
• The importance of tone and atmosphere for any/all events
• How to successfully execute a cohesive theme
• Creating practical event layouts
• How to work with various types of event decor elements
• Researching and sourcing vendors/suppliers
• Lighting and its variations
• Renting decor and equipment
• Working within a budget
• How to build and launch a thriving business
• And SO much more!

Step 5: Get Real-World Experience as an Event Decorator

The best way to learn how to become an event decorator is by getting real-world experience. And luckily, there are a few ways you can go about doing this:

Volunteer for Local Events and Weddings

One of the most popular ways to gain experience (and get your name out there) is by volunteering for local events and weddings. You can get started by searching online for volunteer opportunities in your area. Another option is to reach out to friends, family members, and/or acquaintances who may be planning an event and see if they need any help.

This is a great way to get started because it will allow you to try out different event decorating styles and techniques without the pressure of having to “perform” for paying clients. Not to mention, it’s also a fantastic way to build your portfolio!

Offer Complimentary Decorating Services to Friends/Family

If you have friends or family members who are planning an event, another great way to get experience is by offering your services to them pro bono. Although you might not necessarily get paid for it, this will give you a chance to try out your event decorating skills in a low-pressure environment while also building up your portfolio.

And if you’re not crazy about not getting paid for this kind of work, you can always offer to do it “in exchange” for something else (like dinner, a gift card, etc.).

Do Small Gigs/Side Projects

Another fantastic way to gain experience as an event decorator is by doing small gigs or side projects. There are always people looking for someone to help with their small events or parties, so this should be relatively easy to do.

You can search online for event decorator gigs in your area, or reach out to local businesses/venues to see if they’re in need of any help. This is a great way to get your feet wet and start gaining some real-world experience.

Take Part in a Stylized Photoshoot

Finally, another great way to gain experience and build your portfolio is by taking part in a stylized photoshoot. You can reach out to local photographers or event planners to see if they’re interested in collaborating on a project.

Not only will this give you some great experience; it’ll also allow you to add some stunning images to your portfolio!

Step 6: Start Applying for Jobs or Launch Your Own Business!

Now that you know everything there is to know about becoming an event decorator, it’s time to take action and put your new skills to use. Start by scouring job boards or online classifieds for open positions in your area. When applying for job postings, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Make sure your resume is up-to-date and tailored to the event decorating industry
• Highlight any relevant qualifications, skills, or experience you have in your cover letter
• If you don’t have much professional experience, consider reaching out to local event planners or venues and offering your services as an intern or assistant

Alternatively, if you’re set on starting your own business, then it’s time to start promoting your services and seeking out clients! Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Create a professional website or online portfolio showcasing your work
• Use social media platforms (like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Twitter) to promote your business
• Network with local event planners, venues, and other industry professionals
• Attend trade shows or conventions related to the event planning industry

How Much Money Does an Event Decorator Make?

If you’re wondering whether event decorating can become a full-time career, the short answer is yes — but your income will depend on several factors.

Event decorator salaries vary based on:

• Your niche (weddings, parties, corporate events)
  
• Your location
  
• Your level of experience
  
• Whether you’re employed or self-employed
  
• The scale and budget of the events you work on
  

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect.

Average Event Decorator Salary

In general, event decorators can earn anywhere from $17,000 to $50,000+ per year when starting out or working part-time.

More experienced decorators or those running established businesses can earn significantly more, especially when working on high-budget events.

Income increases as you build:

• A strong portfolio
  
• Industry connections
  
• Repeat clients
  
• Higher-value service packages

Income by Niche

Your earning potential can vary depending on the type of event decorating you specialize in.

Wedding Decorators

Wedding décor projects can range from a few thousand dollars for smaller setups to significantly higher for full-service wedding design packages.

Party Decorators

Party decorators often charge per event. Smaller birthday or baby shower setups may be more modest in scale, but high-volume bookings can create steady income.

Corporate Event Decorators

Corporate events often have larger budgets and recurring opportunities. Product launches, conferences, and gala dinners can command premium pricing.

Luxury Event Decorators

Luxury decorators working on high-end events can earn substantially more per project due to custom installations and premium design work.

Employed vs. Self-Employed Event Decorators

If you work for an established events company, you’ll likely earn a fixed salary or hourly wage.

If you start your own event decorating business, your income potential is much higher — but so is your responsibility for marketing, operations, and client acquisition.

Many decorators begin part-time before transitioning into full-time entrepreneurship once their client base grows.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! Now you know everything there is to know about becoming an event decorator. Just remember to take action and put your new skills to use, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful career in no time.

Do you have any other tips on how to become an event decorator? Share them with us in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

FAQ About Becoming an Event Decorator

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