Interior Design vs. Interior Decoration

Deepa Raj

Decided to give your home a makeover and looking out for possible services? Here’s when the hunt for the right professional starts. And you just figured out that some list their work as ‘’interior designers’’ while others as ‘’interior decorators’’. And a new question flashes out! "What's the difference?" And "Which one do I need?

Hence, I am listing out a few differences that could help one in educating themselves. Read on to know, what it takes to be titled as a designer or a decorator and the role played by these professionals.

Interior Design vs. Interior Decoration # 1: The Qualification

An individual gets a professional title based on the education and training he or she has gone through. Hence, the first difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator can be traced by observing their qualification. The qualification required to take interior design as a profession requires a degree in the same. The syllabus covers a detailed study of each and everything such as space management, standard sizes, construction details, computer-aided design (CAD) training, drawing, furniture designing, color psychology, model making, history of architecture and more. Upon graduating, these interior designers often work with a registered and established interior designer or an architect, to gain more of practical knowledge before moving on to create their own companies.

Whereas Interior decorators are those individuals who opt for a one year course or diploma, which covers similar syllabus as of interior designers, but not a detailed version of the same and prefers to start up their own after the completion.

And even many of them, who don't even have a formal training or schooling and may just have a good eye and a passion for the job works as interior decorators too!

Just make sure to do some research before hiring. And ask them about the qualification, and training that they went through.

Image Credit: Max Pixel

Interior Design vs. Interior Decoration # 2: The Job Description

Interior design is basically a systematic and coordinated methodology which is considered as the art and science of understanding people’s behavior, to create functional spaces. The process begins right from consultation and leads towards drawing initial floor plans for presentation to create interiors that are functional, safe, and meets building regulations and requirements.

Interior design professionals must be highly skilled to go beyond the selection of color palettes and furnishings and apply their focus more on to the development of construction, occupancy load and sustainable design principles. As well as manage and coordinate with professional who provide services like mechanical, electrical, plumbing and so on. The designers have to work along with them and the architect in a team to achieve the aesthetically pleasing effect.

And when it comes to decorators, their work revolves around the furnishing or adornment of a space with fashionable or beautiful things. They can help clients decide on a style, a color scheme, purchase furniture, accessories, and focus on the surface look, to spruce up an existing space. And should not generally take part in structural renovations or structural planning.

Just in case if the interior decorators haven’t attended any training or diploma courses, make sure they are working with professionals who are capable of construction. Unless you only need to get your home decorated by changes that don’t require any structural involvement

Image Credit: Max Pixel

Interior Design vs. Interior Decoration # 3: Who Do They Work With?

An individual who has qualified in interior design can work on the residential home, an office, a hotel, or any other interior space. And they work closely with architects and contractors to help achieve the look, that the client desires for!

But interior decorators can only work with furniture makers, upholsterers, and other industry professionals and they generally don’t work with any contractors or architects. As they come on board after any structural work is complete. In short interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design

Image Credit: Max Pixel

Interior Design vs. Interior Decoration # 4: Profession vs. Passion

By keeping the practical approach on the side, before winding up I would like to bring your attention on those decorators and interior stylists too who don’t have any fancy degree but have an inborn talent, confidence within them and the passion to take it ahead. In such cases do check out their portfolios and the team they work with.

Anyone would agree, who have browsed through websites and magazine would have at some point in time come across those individuals featured on interior decorator ads as “the best of the best”. And they do not have what some would consider the “right” credentials!