Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator: What’s the Difference?

Are you looking into improving your home but keep coming across seemingly interchangeable terms like “Interior designer” and “Interior Decorator” that leave you feeling puzzled? Our comparison on this topic, ‘Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator’, will put your mind at ease on who you should be working with on your next design project.

Interior Designer vs. Interior Decorator

Humans have been dressing their living spaces to blend functionality with expressions of belief and wealth. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used rich fabrics, intricate details, and precious materials to reflect their unique lives. Today, we continue this tradition by designing spaces intuitively, allowing homeowners to celebrate their personal stories.

Professionals in this field specialise in architecture, interior design, building, and interior decorating. So, what’s the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?

Interior designers seek to design and create spaces for homeowners that are attractive, accessible, safe, and highly functional for those inhabiting them. They make key decisions about the physical aspects of the space, like spatial planning and construction, and the decorative elements that will furnish it, otherwise known as the fixed-built elements.

Interior Decorators, however, are concerned with dressing the space; they don’t deal with its physical aspects. They don’t need a specific qualification but an extensive understanding of colour schemes, fabrics, materials, furniture, and decor pieces (e.g., loose furniture, decor, etc.).

While interior design and decorating overlap, they are separate professions. Interior design is all-encompassing and concerned with meeting the client's needs, form, function, flow, aesthetics, and ergonomics. It encompasses a detailed understanding of the art and science of people’s behaviour in creating functional spaces within the built structure.

In short, interior designers may decorate, but interior decorators don’t design. Interior decorating is a niche subset of interior design, and interior design is a niche subset of architecture.

What Does an Interior Designer Do?

Interior designers use design principles to balance form, function, and ergonomics in the space, incorporating specific aesthetics that meet their clients' needs. When making physical changes to the interior structure, interior designers don’t need to work alongside architects; instead, they may collaborate with a construction team.

Architects are responsible for designing the ‘skeleton’ of a building and work to lead the team of builders to ensure a safe, accessible and functional space. Architects and interior designers seem to look and sound like they may be performing the same duties, but their responsibilities set them apart. Read our blog for more information on interior design versus architecture.

For interior designers to be successful, they need to showcase a wide skill set, including creativity, organisational skills, sketching skills, in-depth knowledge of design principles, expertise in sustainable design practices, attention to detail, communication skills, technical skills and knowledge of current design trends.

Designers need to connect with clients to create a clear vision for the project. Strong communication is key to achieving clients' needs, goals, desires, and motivations. In the ever-evolving world of decor and design, designers who stay abreast of current design trends will ensure fresh, functional, and aesthetically pleasing spaces. Read our blog on the current design trends for 2024 to refresh your interior design ideas!

What Does an Interior Decorator Do?

Interior decorators ‘dress the space’–they beautify and enhance it by incorporating design principles following their client's needs, goals and motivations for the space. They work together to choose colour palettes, fabrics, materials, lighting fixtures, and home decor pieces. Key skills that make interior decorators successful include strong organisation, effective communication, colour sense, attention to detail, creativity, problem-solving and knowledge of materials and products.

Who Should I Hire?

A common approach that most of us take is to type in ‘interior designer near me’ and run with the top two to three choices for our next project. While that is one approach, the team at SWD recommends that you first identify what you want to achieve with the project. Ask yourself if you wish to change the space structurally or whether an internal upgrade is necessary. In the end, the proof is in the pudding! Choose the designer that matches your expectations, understands your style and works closely with you to achieve your goal for the space.

If you’re unsure about what needs to be done, we’d recommend contacting an interior designer if any unexpected building projects arise.

Partner with Us

Many interior designers can offer you the whole package and are skilled in both aspects, making structural changes and decorating the interior, making them a desired and preferred option.

Sarah Watermeyer Design is a testament to this. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, our team can make your visions a reality! We strongly believe in working with the structure and enhancing what is already there, and we find challenging projects thrilling. Whether you're looking to extend or open up spaces or need an expert opinion about floor plans, we’ve got you covered!

Contact us today so we can work together to achieve the goals you have set out for your new project!