When many people hear the term, “interior design,” they often think of HGTV, “room makeover” challenges, or decor DIY projects on Pinterest. But what they are actually thinking of is interior decorating. While decorating plays a role in creating functional, beautiful living spaces, the work of an interior designer differs from interior decorating in critical ways. So, what is the difference between interior design and interior decorating?
Design Vs. Decorating In a Nutshell
While there is some overlap in interior design and interior decorating, they are fundamentally different. Interior design is the art and science of understanding people’s behavior to create functional spaces within a building, while interior decorating is the furnishing or adorning of a space with decorative elements to achieve a certain aesthetic. In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design.
What Interior Designers Do
The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology—including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process—to satisfy the needs and resources of the client.
Whether working in a corporate or residential space, interior designers are challenged with applying creative and technical solutions within a structure that are functional, attractive, and beneficial to the occupants’ quality of life and culture. Designers must respond to and coordinate with the building shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. By implementing thoughtful solutions, interior designers can create spaces that greatly improve the experiences of the people who inhabit them.
For example, there has been a lot of research around how design elements in healthcare institutions affect patients. Studies have shown that the recovery of surgery patients who had views of scenery in their room recovered faster than those who did not. Another study found infants who experienced daylight cycles while staying in a neonatal unit developed their own wake-sleep cycles earlier than those who were exposed to constant, dim hospital lights.
Professional Requirements for Interior Designers
Because of the complexity of their role, interior designers are generally expected to achieve a higher level of education than interior decorators, who require no formal training or licensure.
In addition to learning principles of applying gathered knowledge to the creative process of designing a space, designers must also adhere to code and regulatory requirements and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability.
Many U.S. states and Canadian provinces have passed laws requiring interior designers to be licensed or registered—documenting their formal education and training—and many of them specifically require that all practicing interior designers earn the NCIDQ Certificate to demonstrate their experience and qualifications.
Interested in Interior Design?
Interior designers are given the ability to think creatively to create functional spaces that can genuinely improve people’s lives. If this profession sounds interesting to you, consider learning more about RMCAD’s Interior Design Program.
FAQs: What is the Difference Between Interior Design and Interior Decorating?
What is the difference between interior design and interior decorating?
Interior design focuses on creating functional spaces by understanding how people use an environment, while interior decorating focuses on furnishing or adorning a space to achieve a specific look. The article summarizes it as designers may decorate, but decorators do not design.
Can an interior designer also be an interior decorator?
Yes. The article explains that interior designers may decorate as part of a project, whereas interior decorators typically do not assume the planning and technical responsibilities inherent in interior design.
What does the interior design process include?
The article describes interior design as a systematic, coordinated process that includes research, analysis, and integrating knowledge into the creative process to meet a client’s needs and resources.
What kinds of problems do interior designers solve beyond aesthetics?
Interior designers apply creative and technical solutions within an existing structure to make spaces functional, attractive, and supportive of occupants’ quality of life and culture. They also coordinate with the building shell and the project’s physical and social context.
Why does interior design matter for health and well-being?
The article cites research examples from healthcare settings, including findings that patient recovery and infant sleep patterns can be influenced by design factors like views of scenery and daylight cycles.
Do interior designers require formal education or licensure?
Often, yes. The article states that interior designers are generally expected to have more education than interior decorators, and it notes that many U.S. states and Canadian provinces have laws requiring designers to be licensed or registered.
What is the NCIDQ Certificate, and why is it important?
The article explains that many jurisdictions require practicing interior designers to earn the NCIDQ Certificate to document experience and qualifications, especially where licensing or registration is required.
Should I hire an interior designer or an interior decorator?
The right choice depends on your project. If you are changing the function or layout of a space, working with the building’s structure, or need work that meets code and safety requirements, an interior designer is the better fit. If your space already works well and you simply want to refresh its look with furnishings, color, and décor, an interior decorator can handle that. Designers can also take on decorating, so for projects that involve both structural changes and styling, a designer offers the wider skill set.
How long does it take to become an interior designer?
Becoming an interior designer typically takes longer than becoming a decorator because the role requires formal education. Many designers earn a bachelor’s degree, which usually takes about four years, then build supervised work experience. In places that require licensure or registration, designers also need to pass a qualifying exam such as the NCIDQ before they can practice independently. Decorating, by contrast, requires no formal training or credential, so the timelines differ significantly.
Do you need a degree to be an interior decorator?
No. Interior decorating does not require formal education or licensure, which is one of the main distinctions from interior design. Many decorators build their skills through experience, short courses, and a strong portfolio rather than a degree. That said, formal training in color, space planning, and design principles can make a decorator more competitive and better equipped to serve clients, even though it is not a legal requirement.
Is interior design a good career?
Interior design can be a rewarding career for people who enjoy combining creativity with problem-solving. Designers shape spaces that affect how people live, work, heal, and feel, which gives the work real impact. The field spans residential, corporate, healthcare, hospitality, and more, offering a range of specializations. As with any profession, building a strong education, portfolio, and any required credentials is key to long-term success.
What is the difference in salary between an interior designer and an interior decorator?
Earnings vary widely by location, experience, specialization, and whether a person works independently or for a firm. Interior designers often command higher fees because the role requires more education, technical knowledge, and in many regions a license or certification. Decorators’ income depends heavily on reputation, clientele, and the scale of projects they take on. Because pay differs so much by market and country, it is worth researching current figures for your specific region.
Can an interior decorator become an interior designer?
Yes, though it requires additional steps. A decorator who wants to move into interior design generally needs to pursue formal education in design principles, space planning, building codes, and technical drawing. In regions that regulate the profession, they would also need to meet licensing or registration requirements, which can include passing a recognized exam. The transition builds on a decorator’s existing eye for aesthetics while adding the technical and regulatory knowledge that design work demands.
What skills does an interior designer need?
Interior designers combine creative and technical abilities. They need a strong sense of space planning, color, and aesthetics, along with knowledge of building codes, safety standards, and environmental sustainability. Research and analysis skills matter because the design process depends on understanding how people use a space. Communication and project management are equally important, since designers coordinate with clients, contractors, and the existing structure throughout a project.
Popular Interior Design Articles:
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