What Is the Difference Between an Interior Designer and an Interior Decorator?

Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas // September 1, 2022 // Interior DecoratorInterior Designer

When designing and decorating your space, it can be challenging to figure out what will work best and what will not. It can be challenging to figure out what you want to add to your space and what might not work. Understanding the difference between a designer and a decorator can help you determine what will work for you and which service you need.

What Is an Interior Designer?

An interior designer uses science and the way that people interact with the environment that they are in to help create a space that is functional and beautiful, but that still has decorative elements. An interior designer is likely to be part of the process of designing a functional space and may be part of the process from the very start when the space is first created.

They may also be part of a redesign or a renovation to help make a space that might not be super functional to begin with and make it a space that you are going to love and that you are actually going to be able to use. An interior designer might do some interior decorating and might even bring in some décor pieces, but their main goal is to make a space more functional and designed so that it is pretty and works well. You may need a residential interior design specialist to help you get a great outcome.

What Is an Interior Decorator?

An interior decorator is more concerned with a space’s decoration or extra elements. This might be someone that helps to figure out what type of rug or furniture will work best for the space and what will make it look the best. An interior decorator does not design and does not make any major decisions about the space or about the function of the space.

Their main goal is to make the space look great. They are not necessarily concerned with making the space functional, but rather, with ensuring that the space is pretty and put together. They will work with you to determine what will look best and fit your personal style and the vision you have for the space. An interior decorator is likely to be called in if you are staging a house for photos, if you are selling the home, or if you just want to change up the home’s overall style.