Interior design professionals are not in this business on accident. They love what they do, and take great joy in seeing their design implemented. An interior designer has an internal love for design, and they have invested in their love for design.
Let’s talk about what separates an interior designer from a “decorator”.
A sure way to offend an interior designer is to call her a decorator. It is like calling a psychologist a counselor. Or a CPA a bookkeeper. Like counselors & bookkeepers, decorators can be anyone who hangs out a shingle.
A professional interior designer has a bachelor degree in interior design, and take their profession seriously. There are interior design school such as Harrington College in Chicago that offer degrees in design.
A decorator can be anyone who says they are a decorator. Now I have nothing against decorators nor do I think designers look down on them, however they are not professionally trained. Interior designers spend a minimum of four years in college, and some go on to get master degrees in design.
So if you are a professional, or have a company, you may want to make sure that you have a professional interior designer designing your space.
Or you could just hire anyone to do the job!
May 10, 2009 at 7:24 am
Your article is a whole lot of garbage. You OBVIOUSLY do have a problem with interior decoraters. Whilst interior designers might specialise in certain areas they are not able to specialise in areas where we qualify. And for your information we to have an internal love and passion for our line of work and have also been professionally and formally trained!
May 10, 2009 at 9:00 am
Lidia,
I was not aware that there was a school for decorators. While I meant no disrespect to decorators, my post is comparing and contrasting the differences of a decorator and an interior designer.
Can you point me in the right direction for the school on decorators?
October 14, 2009 at 8:30 am
Thanks for sharing nice view on interior designers
http://www.designaddict.us
February 7, 2010 at 10:02 am
The difference is simple. A Decorator has not gone to school for Interior Design. In order to officially be called an Interior Designer, you must:
1. Obtain a degree in Interior Design.
2. Work in the field for a minimum of years.
3. Take the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualifications) Examination, and PASS.