When to Hire an Interior Designer vs An Interior Decorator?
Let's begin with an important distinction: designing and decorating--though often used interchangeably--are not the same things. To put it another way, interior designers may decorate, but interior decorators do not design. Interior designers and decorators are two very different job descriptions and serve different purposes as part of a home or building project. Bottom line: there is a big difference between interior designer and decorator. So, the question is, when do you hire a designer and when do you hire a decorator? The shortest answer is:
BoCo Interior Designs specializes in full-service residential interior design for Greenville and Upstate, South Carolina. Our Greenville SC Interior Designers are tasked by homeowners and homebuilders to plan, conceptualize, present/propose, visualize and implement functional spaces within a home or building. Our planning, design, and execution also includes furnishings and decoration of the spaces we design. As always, if you’re in Upstate South Carolina and need an interior designer or decorator call or text Grace at (864) 556-3922 for a free estimate, email at bocointeriordesigns@gmail.com or click “Get Started.” Now, let’s read on to learn more about what is the difference between interior designer and interior decorator.
What is Interior Design?
The University of Iowa’s School of Applied Human Sciences defines interior design as “a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment.” Sound confusing? Let’s see if we can simplify it. The job of an interior designer is to plan, design, and furnish living spaces that enhance their client’s daily habits, family flow, style preferences, and lifestyle requirements. This is done by collecting information about the client and applying a systematic, coordinated approach, to implement creative and functional elements within a home or business that are also stylistically complimentary and aesthetically pleasing.
Interior Designer vs Decorator -Education
In many cases, an interior designer has a portfolio of hands-on experience or a degree in interior design. Interior design education comprises usually a two-year, or, in some cases, a four-year classes carried out at an accredited institution. The education will include classes in color, computer-aided design (CAD), space planning, furniture design, fabric and architecture.
Designers are also expected to apprentice with a reputed interior design firm before they can practice solo or join a firm full-time.
On the other end of the spectrum, interior decorators excel in intuitive stylistic choices, that do not always require a degree, demonstrating their competence through successful projects with trusting clients who enjoy their decorators sense of taste and curation of furnishings, colors, textures, and materials. Though interior designers can also work without having a degree, they will typically have on-the-job training with planning, blueprints, visualization, construction, and project coordination.
Do Interior Designers and Decorators Need A License?
Currently, no US states require a license to work in residential interior design, though some states require a license for commercial interior design (Louisiana, Florida, Nevada, Washington, D.C). That said, there are standards like the NCIDQ Certificate, which is the industry’s indicator of proficiency in the field relating to interior design principles. It demonstrates that the interior designer in question is experienced and has the required qualifications to work on an interior design project. Interior decorators don’t have a certification, which makes the barrier to entry for an interior decorator much lower compared to an interior designer.
What Do Interior Designers Do Versus What Do Interior Decorators Do
An interior designer researches and analyzes their clients' home, movement, and lifestyle, and then designs, or redesigns, an interior layout to complement the client’s needs. Once the research phase is complete, the design phase begins to plan thematic and aesthetic interiors that enhance the client’s style, social behavior, and familial movement. When it comes to what an interior designer does, they focus on functionality as much as they do on form or aesthetics, which merits the use of terms such as interior architecture to describe the profession.
Conversely, the interior decorator's main role is the curation of decorative furnishings for a client's existing spaces and home. Alongside selecting wall paint colors and finishes, the interior decorator chooses furniture pieces, window treatments, textiles, lighting fixtures, and accessories—according to the client’s budget and taste. Interior decorators are primarily concerned with the work of improving the aesthetics of a space. The resulting décor may improve comfort, add more natural light, or make the space look more modern.
Interior designers are required to have excellent decorating skills as well, but do not stop at decoration. Aware of structural and functional possibilities, interior designers may transform a space physically as well as aesthetically, while keeping homes compliant with code. Experienced interior designers are practiced in the use of design technology (CAD) to aid in the creation of virtual plans before they work with construction teams to make the design possible. Unlike decorators, interior designers are trained to ensure they adhere to present building codes and work within the regulatory framework which is beyond mere decorative details.
Bottom Line: Interior Designers provide interior decorating services, but interior decorators do not provide interior design services.
Cost of Interior Decorator vs Cost of Interior Designer
So, is there a significant cost difference between working with an interior designer and an interior decorator? The short answer is, yes. Though interior designers and interior decorators may choose to bill by the hour, interior design typically requires a greater number of hours because it involves both design and decoration. Last year, the average cost of an interior designer per room, ranged from $5,400 to $11,200—not including the cost of furnishings. Last year the average cost of an interior decorator per room, ranged from $2,500 to $6,250—not including the cost of furniture.
Most interior decorators do not design or work with contractors, which reduces their time involvement. In some cases, interior decorators may not even implement your decorations, rather only selecting the furnishings and accessories and creating a decor plan that the client will procure and implement themselves. To get an idea of how much your total project costs will be, you’ll need to estimate the cost of furniture based on the room you are decorating, and add your designer or decorator cost.
Interior Design Services
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![Living Room Interior Design with Brick Fireplace]()
Residential Interior Design
It all begins with an idea. Our residential interior designers guide you to the best options for decorating your home .
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Construction Consulting
Before you even start construction, consider dreaming and planning every space to have intentionally and beauty.
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![Comfortable arm chairs, a bench, bed, and Armoire within a bedroom looking our of bay windows windows]()
Furnishings
Whether you have furniture pieces you want to work with or a blank slate, our interior decorators help you make the most of your space.
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![Remodeled Kitchen Greeville, SC]()
Kitchen Remodeling
The kitchen is the heart of the home. Gourmet chefs and microwave masters alike, delight in the kitchen remodeling Greenville SC loves.
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![His and Hers Bathroom countertop against stylish green wallpaper]()
Bathroom Remodeling
Your walls may need an update, or you may be considering a full renovation. Create bathroom spaces you enjoy.
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Lighting Design
Lighting design and fixture selection make an incredible impact on a room. BoCo curates interior decoration Spartanburg SC trusts.
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![Beautiful living room with pink arm chair and gold lamp with brick fireplace]()
Styling
Style your rooms with art, colors, and cherished pieces. Boco’s Greenville interior design can be functional and safe or palatial and decorative.
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![Color Selection and Interior Painting Greenville SC]()
Paint Selection
Paint is a foundational element to your spaces. Our selections and interior painting relationships provide a finish you will love.
“While deciding on an interior designer, trust was a huge factor. BoCo delivers just that and was the key to an overall successful build. Grace started helping us from the blueprints, to paint and stain colors, to cabinets and lighting to shades and decor. During each step she was willing to hear my thoughts and ideas as well as my husbands and then offered her resources and expertise. Sometimes this would lead us to a new and even better result that my husband and I could of imagined. Each step was so detailed and she always could see the end result. BoCo is aware of time frames and when things need to be ordered or decided on to not hold up the contractors on your new build or renovation. They know about different aesthetics and could pull some new things that would be paired perfectly with the old. We have a modern farmhouse style with some rustic elements. Grace and Jenny were able to tie in all of those styles while mixing some antique elements in as well. BoCo will lead you in the right direction while truly making your space home. They are a great team and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.”
— Custom Home Build Greenville, SC | BoCo Interior Designs Reviews
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