The difference between Interior Designers and Interior Decorators

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Interior Designers and Interior Decorators?

 

I’ve often been mistaken for a decorator.  At first, I explained that actually I’m an Interior designer but most people are still unclear about the differences. I’ve found that I’ve made peace with this fact, so if I’m mistaken for a decorator, I will just accept the project and decorate a space. I can then offer other services or advise in addition to decorating.I will attempt to give a definition for both Interior Design and Interior Decorating.  This may not be a formal comparison, but rather my observation.

 

Interior Design focuses on spaces that are both functional and aesthetic, keeping in mind people’s behavior and reaction to a certain space. This makes it a creative and technical profession. Designers are also space planners and problem solvers creating a space with a certain flow, deciding on sizes and placement of rooms, where facilities go, what fire safety and other building code requirements are necessary.  They determine the furniture design (either selecting specified furniture or custom designing furniture themselves), fixture, fittings, lighting and the overall look and feel of the entire space.  Designers can help design and renovate interiors, from drawing up the floor plans to placing the last decorative accent.  Designers, therefore, work on a project from concept, execution to completion. Spaces can be either residential, an office, a hotel or a retail space. Interior designers often work closely with architects and contractors to help achieve the look the client desires.

Interior designers often refer to themselves as “Interior Architects” or “Architectural Designers” to further distinguish themselves from Interior Decorators. 
My explanation for decorators is relatively short, only because I am not a decorator myself and can only give a description of what my understanding is.

Interior Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a room.  Interior Decorators focus primarily on the aesthetics of the space. Decorators don't generally take part in the technicality of renovations or structural planning. They come in after the project is complete and focus on the surface look of the space. They transform rooms by selecting new wall coverings, colour schemes, lamps, flowers, carpeting, artworks, furniture, accessories or anything to place within your room or rooms to make more beautiful. They're often brought in to spruce up an existing space that needs to be updated or redone and help the client to determine a style for their interior.

I’m hoping that this will help to determine the differences between Interior Designers and Decorators.  This will also assist a client in determining who they should hire for a certain project. Inevitably this will depend on the client’s needs.  If you’re renovating and require structural changes such as removing a wall, moving plumbing or adding new windows or doors, an Interior Designer will be the best choice.  But if you are simply in need of changing the aesthetic appeal of a room such as choosing a new colour scheme, changing furniture or picking window treatments, an Interior Decorator will assist you with this.

In essence, both interior designers and interior decorators create beautiful and functional spaces, but they are separate professions. Assess your needs before deciding which one to hire.

You can e-mail me for an outline of design services I offer: 

out.da.box.design@gmail.com