Interior Design vs. Interior Decorating

Interior decorating and interior design are two terms that are often mistakenly used interchangeably. In fact, there are many differences between an interior designer and interior decorator. If you are considering a career in design, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of each job, so you can make the appropriate decision about your education and your career. Below is a quick comparison of the various aspects of interior design and interior decorating to help you make the right career choice for you.

Interior Design

Interior Decorating

Education

It is absolutely necessary for an interior designer to complete formal training – usually a bachelor’s degree – that gives them the foundation needed to understand architectural plans, safety concerns, and building codes.

Interior design degree coursework includes color and fabrics, computer-aided design (CAD), drawing, furniture design, spatial planning, ergonomics, and architecture, among others.

Upon graduation, most design students take on a 1-3 year apprenticeship with an established interior designer at an architecture or design firm.

It is not necessary for an interior decorator to receive formal training to do the job because they focus primarily on the aesthetic and are not concerned with matters such as building exteriors or structures.

Many decorators choose to take design courses or study for an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or certificate in design or decoration. Clients are often more likely to choose a decorator with some sort of formal training.

Certification

Registration or licensing is mandatory in 24 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

It is advisable for designers in any state to take the licensing exam administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) to demonstrate the quality of their work and training. To take the exam, applicants must have a combined six years of education and experience in interior design (of which at least two years must be postsecondary education in design).

Interior designers must complete continuing education courses to remain certified.

There are no mandatory certification or licensure exams for interior decorators.

There are voluntary exams available, such as the DSA Professional Certification Program offered by the Designer/Decorator Society of America. The exam measures the applicant’s knowledge of topics ranging from room layouts and space planning to client style evaluation and color psychology.

Salary

In general, starting salaries for interior designers range from about $22,000-$40,000.

The salary range for interior designers varies greatly depending on such factors as experience, location, specialization, and type of employment.

With experience, designers can earn more than six figures per year.

Freelance interior designers may see their annual salary fluctuate greatly depending on the flow of business but also have earnings potential of $100,000 or more per year.

Recent data shows interior decorators earn anywhere from $20,000-$80,000 per year.

As the majority of interior decorators are self-employed, their annual salaries can fluctuate quite a bit. The amount a decorator earns depends, of course, on their client base, which is why training and certification can be such a huge asset for a beginning interior decorator seeking to build up a clientele.

Job Functions

Interior designers are responsible for enhancing both the look and function of an interior space (and sometimes exterior as well).

They often work closely with a team of architects and contractors to achieve client goals while also adhering to safety standards, building codes, etc.

Interior designers pay special attention to space planning, ergonomics/comfort, lighting, acoustics, and – of course – surface design elements such as color and textiles. Designers are often involved with planning from the very beginning but may also be brought in at any stage of the design and construction process.

Interior decorators are concerned only with the surface look of a space – they are not required to take into account building plans or codes.

Decorators work with their clients to select the design elements of an interior, such as paint, wallpaper, lights, furniture, and flooring.

Interior decorators are usually hired to work on an existing space that needs to be redecorated or updated. They may also work on new constructions, once the structural plans are in order.

Concentrations

Designers usually specialize in either residential or commercial interiors, which can be further broken down into health clubs, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, and so on.

Some interior designers specialize even further, focusing on specific rooms, such as kitchen or bathroom design. Interior designers may also focus on nontraditional interiors, such as yachts or airplanes.

Interior decorators most often work on residential projects, as commercial projects tend to be larger in scale and require the services of a designer.

Some decorators focus on a particular style, such as green/environmental, traditional, contemporary, or eclectic, to build up a reputation and niche in the market.

Featured Interior Design Schools:

Brooks College - Long Beach, CA

Do you have a passion for design? A knack for space-planning? Consider honing those skills at Brooks College in Long Beach. Conveniently located near the Southern California hub of Los Angeles, the college will prepare you to enter this region’s exciting and progressive interior design job market with internship and job placement services. The Brooks College design program is accredited by FIDER, so in as few as two years, you could be starting your new career.

Disclaimer:
Brooks College does not guarantee employment or salary.
The jobs mentioned are examples of certain potential jobs, not a representation that these outcomes are more probable than others. Brooks College does not guarantee employment or salary.

Harrington College of Design - Chicago, IL

Have you always wanted to know how to touch people's lives everyday through the glory of Interior Design? Share your unique talents with families and businesses alike by cultivating your skills in the Associate of Interior Design program at Harrington College of Design. Harrington College of Design's program helps students build a solid interior design foundation for their initial steps in becoming a qualified, licensed professional. Plus, the curriculum includes a general education component so that students graduate with a quality, well-rounded education.

International Academy of Design and Technology - Tampa, FL

If you’re creative but have ended up in a job where that creativity isn’t being put to good use, consider expanding your education at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa, FL. The academy offers exceptional interior design programs that will harness your artistic abilities and will help you to find a career when you graduate. Don’t let your skills go to waste any longer.

International Academy of Design and Technology - Orlando, FL

The International Academy of Design and Technology in Orlando prepares students for exciting, new careers in interior design. You’ll learn design and layout specifications, furniture selection, color coordination, and more. IADT strives to produce graduates with a desire to enhance the function, quality, and safety of interior spaces.

American InterContinental University - Los Angeles, CA

The American InterContinental University at Los Angeles prepares you for your interior design career in the most practical way possible—looking at today’s trends and continually reevaluating what its graduates need to know in order to succeed. With professional interior designers teaching the courses, sophisticated computer technology, and graduates that are qualified to enter directly into the interior design field, AIU gives you the skills you’ll need for tomorrow’s jobs, today.

American InterContinental University - Atlanta, GA

The American InterContinental University in Atlanta teaches the hands-on skills you’ll need for a successful career in the exciting, creative field of interior design. The goal of AIU’s interior design department is to prepare its students to practice as professional interior designers who are qualified by education, experience, and examination. With students from over 100 countries and small classes that allow for personal interaction, the American InterContinental University offers a unique learning experience that will prepare you for a successful career in interior design.

International Academy of Design and Technology - Chicago, IL

The International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago strives to turn students into professionals that are able to enhance the function and quality of interior spaces, thereby improving quality of life and protecting the safety and welfare of the public. With its exceptional program in interior design, the academy prepares its students for the workplace with hands-on, personal attention, and is always focused around your next career.

International Academy of Design and Technology - Detroit, MI

Graduates of the International Academy of Design and Technology in Detroit become specialists in the relationship between people and spaces. The curriculum encourages students to experiment and to develop their own techniques and styles within the structure of the interior design industry standards. Students learn about visual communication, working with clients, perfecting the technical aspects of design, and, overall, environmental and global awareness.

Westwood College - Multiple Locations

If you want to use your creative talents to design someone’s home or office, Westwood College can fulfill your dream. At one of its numerous campuses across the Western United States, the college will rapidly train you in the latest skills and technologies you’ll need to know to succeed in the interior design industry. Furthermore, you’re always welcome to come back to Westwood College for retraining at no charge. It’s a sound investment.

Interior Design Colleges

Featured Interior Design Articles

Interior Design vs. Interior Decorating

Featured Interior Design Schools: