Interior Designer Vs Interior Decorator
So you think you want to be an interior designer? Having spoken to many hundreds of people about these job roles there is a HUGE misconception in the world! Today, we’re letting you the real differences between being an interior designer vs an interior decorator.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Let’s start with the very obvious elephant in the room. The term interior designer has a certain amount of cache, correct? You tell someone you’re training to be an interior designer and they’re impressed with your career move.
However, you tell someone you’re an interior decorator, and they might assume you’re the person that does all the hard work but has little creative input.
And while interior designer and interior decorator are two very different jobs, many people refer to the first when in fact it’s the decorating and styling of a room they’d rather do, rather than the advanced technical, architectural details, lighting placements, CAD and so on….
You only have to see how little the title of interior decorator is used in glossy magazines to understand why it’s used incorrectly.
The interior decorators of the world need to call themselves interior designers if they have any chance of being found by their ideal client online…. Interior decorator is simply not a term you will get discovered for in google.
THE BIG LIE
One of the biggest reasons people leave an interior design course (we have quite a few in Casa Creatives Club) is because creating the final scheme, choosing colours and textures, and styling aka the fun stuff, is only a very small cog in the wheel of education to become a trained interior designer.
Becoming an interior designer is a complex and technical career path and not at all what many people think it’s going to be.
We’re on a mission to turn the title “interior decorator” on its head and unite the interior decorators of the world…. We know there are so many of you that are continually duped into believing you need an advanced course to professionally style and decorate clients homes, there are so many myths about what the roles comprise….
So, let’s take a look at what an interior designer does for a client:
An interior designer will:
- Make interior spaces, both commercial and residential, functional and safe
- They will read technical drawings and be aware of building regulations
- Work with architects, building contractors, tradesmen on a regular basis
- Understand floorplans and develop detailed specifications
- Project manage and problem solve
- Create and manage a budget
- Have the knowledge of drawing to scale and using CAD, amongst other programmes
- Provide the same service as an interior decorator but not that of an architect
An interior decorator, meanwhile, focuses on the art of making a room functional, aesthetically pleasing and incorporates the clients taste and style. Although there is often less training needed to be an interior decorator, different clients require different skillsets.
Interior decorators will often:
- Create moodboards for the client following an initial consultation to distinguish budget and style
- Choose paint colours, wallpaper and soft furnishings
- Choose fixtures and fittings
- Arrange furniture to enable a good flow, especially useful in a multi-functional space
- Draw space plans and technical drawings of room layouts
- Purchase new items of furniture and homeware on behalf of the client
- Dress and style the final space
- Provide the same service as an interior stylist but not that of an interior designer or architect
So which role are you more drawn to? Understanding what each career path entails means making the choice of undertaking a course to gain qualifications and knowledge, doesn’t have to be a costly or frustrating mistake.
Natalie xx
