The Difference Between Decorator and Interior Designer

Whether it’s your house, condo, or apartment, the need or desire to spruce up the decor after a while is completely expected. But, who should you hire for this sort of project, an interior decorator, an interior designer, or maybe even an interior architect? While these professions might appear similar, they involve distinct skills and roles, each tailored to specific needs.

If you’re considering aesthetic changes, a complete reconfiguration, or large-scale improvements involving your home’s structure, understanding the difference between these professions is paramount. Who is most qualified to guide you along? What kind of training have they completed, and what is their area of expertise? But most importantly, how can you go about hiring the right expert to make your vision a reality?

In this article, we’ll shed light on said professions and assess your needs, whether for home decor, design, or renovation needs, ensuring your project goes off without a hitch.

What Is the Difference Between an Interior Designer and an Interior Decorator in Canada?

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What Does an Interior Decorator Do?

Typically, a qualified interior decorator has completed 1,800 hours of formal training and can help you coordinate colour schemes between decorative items and paint, furniture selection and their configuration within a specific room, material selection for specific rooms, etc.

In a nutshell, a decorator can help you with everything that affects the look of your home, yet isn’t qualified to make large-scale changes.

What Does an Interior Designer Do? Education and More

A qualified interior designer has completed a 2-year associate’s degree or a 4-year undergraduate degree. While they're skilled to step into the role of an interior decorator, an interior designer can handle more significant home improvement tasks. 

Given their higher level of education, an interior designer can manage a home improvement project, coordinate with contractors, design lighting schemes or sketch blueprints, take on the brunt of the home improvement work, etc.

Interior Architect: Your Best Option for Complex Projects

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While you’re most likely to call upon an interior decorator when looking to transform a space, hiring an interior architect may be the best way to handle certain home improvement projects. Their expertise is especially suited to projects involving structural changes or large-scale transformations.

As a professional interior space reorganizer, interior architects excel in overall space design, carrying out complex jobs. They can manage projects that require moving load-bearing walls, room reconfigurations, or interior layout optimizations. Working closely alongside engineers, architectural technologists, and general contractors, they make sure all the work being done is compliant with safety standards and building codes.

If you’re looking to transform your home beyond a few aesthetic tweaks, an interior architect might just be who you need to turn your vision into reality and use the space available to its fullest potential. 

Assess Project Scope

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Firstly, assess your needs and set expectations: Does your project call for structural changes or solely aesthetic tweaks? Would you qualify it as a renovation or decoration project?

Below are some examples defining an interior decoration project:

• Painting and setting up furniture

• Changing or adding accessories (curtains, rugs, door handles, etc.)

• Choosing or understanding furniture and accessory textures and patterns

Here are examples defining an interior design project:

• Altering, changing, or refinishing kitchen cabinets

• Designing built-in furniture

• Changing sinks or tubs/showers

• Changing flooring, countertops, or wall materials

The above-mentioned factors play a crucial part in helping you choose between hiring an interior designer or decorator. One is technical while the other is aesthetic-based.

Getting It Right: Need an Interior Decorator or an Interior Designer?

Understanding the difference between a decorator, interior designer, and interior architect is the key to your project’s outcome. While a decorator focuses on aesthetics and layout, interior designers oversee more complex and technical work, and interior architects excel in structural transformations and projects requiring leading expertise. Each profession has a well-defined role, meeting project- and situation-specific needs.

Carefully assess your project, budget, and expectations when hiring the professional who can bring your project to life. Whether you’re hoping to revamp, redesign, or reconfigure your home, their unique expertise can transform your house into a space that perfectly meets your needs.

FAQ: Everything About Residential Interior Design & Decor

What is the purpose of interior designing?

Interior designers are trained, industry professionals, designing and configuring functional and aesthetic interior spaces. They typically hold an associate’s degree or an undergraduate degree in interior design. On top of configuring layouts and selecting materials, they can manage home improvement projects, design blueprints, and work alongside architectural technologists and structural engineers.

What is the average salary of an interior decorator?

An interior decorator’s salary varies according to the scale of the project commissioned, their industry experience, and region. Typically, their rates range from $50 to $150 per hour or are paid based on a percentage of the project’s final invoice. Feel free to request quotes to compare rates and services offered.

What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior architect?

In some regions, there’s no distinction between an interior designer and an interior architect. However, the main difference is that interior architects tend to focus on structural and technical aspects, such as moving load-bearing walls or making changes to electrical and plumbing installations while interior design primarily targets the layout of spaces, pairing materials with the decor.

Is interior design and interior decorating the same thing?

Interior design includes the design of functional and aesthetic spaces, often through renovation and home improvement projects. On the other hand, interior decoration mainly targets revamping existing spaces through furniture, colours, and accessories. These two distinct professions are complementary yet meet very different needs.