Difference Between an Interior Designer & an Interior Decorator

by Kristine Tucker, studioD

An interior designer is often required to obtain a license to practice.

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The terms interior designer and interior decorator sometimes are used synonymously, but each has its own job description and function. Designers study people's needs to create functional, structural living or work spaces to satisfy those demands. Decorators furnish interior spaces with furniture and accessories, creating an aesthetic environment. An interior designer must obtain a license to practice, but an interior decorator isn't required to do so. As a result, interior designers may decorate, but decorators are not permitted to design.

An interior designer creates interior living or work spaces to accommodate people's needs. A designer problem-solves difficult structural living arrangements to create spaces that enhance residents' qualities of life. According to the Patty and Rusty Rueff School of Performing and Visual Arts at Purdue University, interior designers must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, encouraging environmental sustainability. An interior designer researches, analyzes and plans interior layouts to make them physically, socially and aesthetically functional. Students in Purdue's interior design program develop analytical skills to plan commercial, institutional, health-care, retail, and residential interiors. Modern technology and advanced computer programs allow interior designers to create virtual living areas before finalizing them for development or construction.

Interior decorators don't create interior spaces; they embellish interior spaces that already exist. The National Council for Interior Design Qualifications, NCIDQ, states, "Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things." An interior decorator often paints walls, hangs wallpaper, selects and places furniture, installs window treatments, and adds accessories such as throw rugs, lamps, throw pillows and wall art to a room. An interior decorator doesn't knock out walls or structurally change the layout of an interior space. An interior decorator often uses her skills to adorn a living space once an interior designer has made necessary structural or functional changes.

According to the NCIDQ, many U.S. states and Canadian provinces have laws that require interior designers to be licensed or registered before they can practice. These laws require designers to provide documentation of their formal education, including degrees and training certifications. Some even require practicing interior designers to earn an official NCIDQ Certificate to demonstrate their expertise and qualifications in the industry. Formal training and licensure isn't required for interior decorators.

The job outlook for interior designers is just above average when compared to all occupations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of interior designers is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2010 to 2020. The job prospects are likely to be higher at corporations that are striving to create environmentally friendly structures to support sustainability. The job outlook is also highest in wealthy communities where employers and individuals can afford remodeling and redecorating projects. Jobs for interior designers in specialized design firms are expected to grow by 27 percent from 2010 to 2020. As this specialized industry develops, there will be a continuing need for designers to work with decorators and others in design-related fields. Interior Design Schools reports a higher than average job growth rate for interior decorators; those who demonstrate a high degree of talent are most likely to gain employment. Since a large number of interior decorators are self-employed, precise job growth numbers are difficult to predict.

As curriculum developer and educator, Kristine Tucker has enjoyed the plethora of English assignments she's read (and graded!) over the years. Her experiences as vice-president of an energy consulting firm have given her the opportunity to explore business writing and HR. Tucker has a BA and holds Ohio teaching credentials.

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Difference Between an Interior Designer & an Interior Decorator