Differences between Interior Designer and Interior Decorator

While the professions of interior designer and interior decorator may seem very similar, there are some key differences that set them apart.

When someone's trying to hire someone to help them with a residential or a commercial project, the decision between an interior designer or an interior decorator may not seem to matter. However, there are some differences between these two titles.

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Interior Designer

An interior designer is someone who plans, researches, coordinates, and manages projects. Interior design is a multifaceted profession that includes conceptual development, space planning, site inspections, programming, research, communicating with the stakeholders of a project, construction management, and execution of the design.

Interior designers need to go through a formal college education. In some areas, designers may have to pass an exam in order to become registered with their local governing body.

A big part of this education focuses on space planning. This process includes conducting an in-depth analysis of how the current space is being used, as well as any functional changes that should be made in a redesign.

An interior designer is the best choice when someone needs to remodel a space and requires guidance beyond aesthetics.

© 1908 Lisboa Hotel

Interior Decorator

An interior decorator might be the right choice when someone wants to give a room or any other space a makeover.

Interior decorators are all about aesthetics. They can handle tasks such as selecting colour schemes, purchasing new design items, arranging furniture layouts, and hanging wall art.

There’s less of a need for them to have a standardized education. Most will have undergone some sort of training program to learn about the foundational principles of interior design.

Some Interior Design and Architecture studios have multidisciplinary teams with professionals of different skills that may help the client in the different steps of the process. But there is also the case of some professionals that can perform very well in both professions. Like in any other area the previous research is always needed.