Interior Design | Interior Designer or Interior Decorator

Interior Designer or Interior Decorator

If you want to work in interior design, which title do you choose, an interior designer or an interior decorator? The consensus seems to be that the two are very similar with the major difference being that to be considered an interior designer, you need formal qualifications, especially in the USA. However an interior decorator does not have the same restriction.

We asked Sonia DeSouza, an interior designer based in the UK for her definition of the difference between interior design and interior decorating, she wrote

Interior decorating is more about the use of decorating materials, tools and equipment. It’s about the practical techniques and tricks-of-the trade, working efficiently and safely to produce a professional finish. It answers questions such as, how do I prepare surfaces for painting? Which do I paint first, the walls or the ceiling? How do I paper around a light socket?

In contrast her definition of interior design is

Interior design is essentially, creating or ‘designing’ a scheme for a room by planning ahead with certain design principles in mind, to create a practical as well as stylish room.

Hopefully this definition has made the distinction between interior design and interior decorating clearer.

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  1. Understanding Interior Design, Tips | Interior Designs DIY on February 23rd, 2008 4:27 pm

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