To begin this journey, first an attempt must be made to answer the question, ‘What is Interior Design’; The National Council for Interior Design Qualification offers up the following definition: ‘Interior design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive’. Comparing this to the definitions provided by The Free Dictionary for an interior decorator: ‘also called interior designer a person whose profession is the planning of the decoration and furnishings of the interior of houses, shops, etc.’ and ‘a person whose profession is the painting and wallpapering of houses’
The differing definitions provided makes it understandable why there are two camps. There are those that refer an interior designer as a highly qualified professional than an interior decorator, and then there are those that treat them as one and the same. No wonder there is confusion amongst the ranks.
To investigate this question whether there is a difference or not?, a search for the term ‘Interior Decorator Degree’ was performed on Google and the returned results for ‘Interior Designer’ and not the keyword as searched. From above, one can reasonably conclude that there is a difference as one can get a degree in interior design, but not as a decorator.
So where would one draw the line between an interior designer and a decorator? Reverting back to the two definitions above one can discern the key difference. The definition for the designer refers to ‘built interior environment’ whereas the decorator suggests ‘decorating and furnishing’ as the key activities. The role of an interior designer involve structural modification such as tearing down walls, flooring, windows, lighting, electrical and recommending furniture and miscellaneous design pieces. In short, the responsibility of an interior designer includes that of a decorator, but goes much further.
Often it is critical for the interior designer to understand the wants and needs of the individual or company leadership that is hiring them to make a space comfortable and esthetically pleasing to ‘the eye of the beholder’; meaning whoever is paying the freight.
Determining just how to customize a small dwelling area up to major corporate businesses like a national restaurant chain that must be attractive to the eye in many different regions of the country with a common design can be very challenging.
In contemporary society, interior designers are now faced with new challenges in term of thinking green to reduce the consumption of non-renewable energy sources. Without compromising the individual’s comfort due to the blazing rays of the sun, how does one maximize the use of natural lighting? What is the best way to incorporate solar powered floor heaters in colder climates without compromising the esthetic charm and ambiance of marble floors? These are the challenges of today’s interior designers.
What is interior design? It is an exciting career where creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment and home lifestyle enhancement. For more information about interior design, please visit: What Is Interior Design