Anyone who’s made the mistake of winging it with respect to the design part of their home renovations probably won’t go that route again, or recommend it to anyone else. Sure, the quality of the actual construction is extremely important, as is the choice of good quality materials, but don’t forget that what will make or break the success of how all of that gets put together is paramount.

Make sure you hire a reliable builder who has a team with the creativity and ability to bring you professional home design services as part of what they offer.

Designer and Decorator: Which is Which?

A surprising number of people think that these two roles are pretty much the same or even identical, but that’s simply not the case. Though you’ll sometimes hear the terms “interior design” and “interior decorating” used interchangeably, they are in fact not the same profession. The fundamental differences are worth getting a handle on, especially if you’re in the market to use the skills of one or the other in the near future. Let’s compare the roles and training for each.

Designer:

• In terms of education and credentials, someone entering the interior design profession requires specific schooling and formal training. The aspects of home design they study generally include CAD (computer-aided design), drawing, space planning and theories of architecture.
• Graduates of designer programs might apprentice with a reputable registered home design company before working on their own. In many states, interior professionals must pass an exam and register with a governing body before being designated designers.

• Designers are well versed in spatial planning, and can assist in planning home designs and interior renovations. They have knowledge of floor plans and can work closely with architects and contractors.

Decorator:

• Interior decorators do not necessarily need formal training, although there are certainly many programs and courses available to those interested in an interior décor career, focusing on everything from room layouts to color theory.
• Their primary focus of decorators is on esthetics; they wouldn’t usually participate in structural planning. Once construction is complete, an interior decorator can concentrate on the overall look and style of a space, working with wall covering specialists, window treatment companies and upholsterers, for example, and those in various aspects of the decorating industry.
• Interior decorators are adept at envisioning possible successful design options for a particular space, and work diligently with their clients to consider personal taste and style when creating the right ambience.

In a sense, interior design can be viewed as the ability to understand human behavior in order to generate pleasing practical spaces within a building, whereas decoration is more about the furnishing or embellishing of those spaces to make them visually appealing and stylish. An interior designer might also decorate—but decorators do not design in the same structural sense. Both, however, do require a well-developed esthetic sense.

Greg Nelson
Greg Nelson is the owner of Nelson Construction & Renovations Inc. He is a Florida State Certified Building Contractor, creating artistry in all areas of design and construction projects. He is a musician, and artist. A husband and father, Greg appreciates all the wonderful elements of family life.

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