4 Inspiring Reasons to Change Careers at 50: My Journey from Marketing to Interior Design

There’s a certain liberation to being in your 50s and by this stage of life, many people feel the pull towards something new. Often there is a quiet inner voice asking What’s next? For some, the answer comes in the form of a bold and transformative decision. Changing careers.

I have some experience here. After years in brand management and then marketing recruitment, I finally followed my passion into interior design – something which I had dreamt of, (for what feels like forever!), however timing was never right. I couldn’t give up a successful corporate career - could I…?

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to pursue a new path, it really isn’t and I’d encourage everyone to follow a long held dream. Here are 4 inspiring reasons why changing career in your 50s can be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.

1. YOU BRING A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO THE TABLE

The beauty of making a career change in your 50s is that you’re not starting from scratch, you’re starting from experience. All those years building up a suite of skills, insights and professional resilience don’t disappear, they simply take on a new shape.

When I transitioned from marketing, I discovered many of my old skills were transferable.  Client management, strategic thinking and project coordination - all of those skills gave me a solid foundation for building my interior design business. And because I’d spent years understanding how to communicate ideas, I could help my clients envision what their dream spaces could look like.

Whatever your background, the expertise you’ve built up over the years is an asset. It makes you resourceful, confident and able to see the bigger picture. It gives you credibility.

2. YOU FINALLY HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

In our earlier life stages, careers are often driven by necessity, perhaps stability, income or simply doing what’s expected of us. By the time you reach your 50s, things have likely shifted. Children may be less dependent, financial pressures may have eased and most importantly, you’ve learnt that time is far too precious to spend on work that no longer inspires you.

For me, the latter was the turning point. I had always loved interior design – from dreaming up ideas and playing with colour palettes to choosing the perfect furniture and accessories. Interior design wasn’t just a hobby, it was something that made me happy. Finally, in my 50s, I gave myself permission to pursue it wholeheartedly and I shifted my mindset from not just what I could do, but what I truly wanted to do.

3. YOU CAN REDEFINE WHAT SUCCESS MEANS TO YOU

When I was younger, success was measured by external achievements such as promotion and salary.  But once I became an interior designer, my definition of success shifted completely. Today, I measure success through the enjoyment and happiness a client has when they walk into their dream room as a result of a design I have created. 

Changing careers in your 50s allows you to redefine what success looks like for you. Maybe it’s about balance. Maybe it’s about creativity. Maybe it’s about finally turning a long held passion into a profession. Whatever it is, it will be yours - authentic and aligned with your values.

4. YOU PROVE TO YOURSELF (AND OTHERS) THAT IT’S NEVER TOO LATE

Making a career change in your 50s proves that growth doesn’t have a sell by date. When I changed careers, I was surprised by how many people told me they admired my courage. Friends would say, “I wish I had the guts to do what you’ve done.” That encouragement reminded me that my choice wasn’t just about me - it inspired others to imagine their own possibilities.

Reinvention in midlife is very much about self-trust and believing in yourself enough to follow your heart.

Embracing the Adventure

Yes, changing careers in your 50s requires courage. Yes, it may feel uncertain at times. But it is also one of the most rewarding things you will do. It allows you to align your professional path with your authentic self, to embrace growth and to create work that truly matters (most importantly, to you).

For me, becoming an interior designer wasn’t just about changing jobs, it was about stepping into who I was always meant to be. If you feel that nudge in your own heart, maybe this is your moment too.

Because here’s the truth - your most fulfilling years can still be ahead of you. All it takes is the courage to begin. And if I can do it…