Interior Design vs Interior Decorating: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to transforming a space, the terms interior design and interior decorating are often used interchangeably. However, while they may seem similar on the surface, these two disciplines serve distinct purposes in shaping how a home or commercial space looks, feels, and functions.
In this blog, we’ll break down the key differences between interior design and interior decorating, explore which is best for your project, and how they complement each other when creating stunning interiors.
What Is Interior Design?
Interior design is the art and science of enhancing a space’s function, layout, and aesthetics. A professional interior designer focuses on both the structural and aesthetic elements of a space, ensuring that it is not only beautiful but also highly functional.
Key Aspects of Interior Design:
Space Planning – Optimizing layouts for efficiency and comfort.
Structural Considerations – Involves working with architects, contractors, and engineers.
Building Codes & Safety – Works with other professionals to ensure compliance with local regulations.
Material & Finish Selection – Choosing flooring, cabinetry, lighting, and fixtures.
Furniture & Custom Millwork Design – Often designs custom or bespoke elements.
Technical Drawings & Renderings – Creates CAD drawings or 3D models, detailing how all the elements of the design fit together and are to be constructed.
Interior designers often work on new builds and renovations, reconfiguring layouts, knocking down, or building new walls, and improving the overall flow and functionality of a space for a specific client or end user.
Read more about my personal approach to space planning, and my thoughts on technology as it relates to this subject.
What Is Interior Decorating?
Interior decorating, on the other hand, focuses on styling and aesthetics rather than structural changes. A decorator’s role is to curate furnishings, colours, and accessories to create a visually appealing space that reflects a client’s personality and lifestyle.
Key Aspects of Interior Decorating:
Colour Schemes & Paint Selection – Choosing colours that enhance the mood and ambiance.
Furniture Selection & Placement – Finding the right pieces for function and style.
Lighting Design & Decor – Enhancing spaces with lamps, chandeliers, and sconces.
Accessories & Styling – Rugs, artwork, plants, and decorative elements.
Window Treatments & Soft Furnishings – Curtains, blinds, cushions, and throws.
Unlike interior designers, decorators do not alter floor plans or work on structural elements. They enhance what is already there, making a home feel more cohesive and inviting.
Key Differences Between Interior Design & Interior Decorating
When to hire an Interior Designer?
Choosing between an interior designer and an interior decorator depends on your project’s scope.
Hire an Interior Designer If:
Building a new home or undergoing a major renovation.
Structural changes are needed, such as removing walls or reconfiguring layouts.
Expert guidance is desired on space planning and material selection.
Professional help is required while navigating building codes, permits, and contractor coordination.
Education & Training
Interior designers often have formal education - whether a degree, diploma, or certification - and in some regions, they may require licensing. Their training allows them to collaborate with architects, builders, and contractors, ensuring that their designs are both functional and aesthetically cohesive. Interior decorators, on the other hand, do not require formal education or licensing. Many develop their skills through experience, online courses, or certification programs, relying on a strong eye for design, an understanding of trends, and the ability to layer elements beautifully. While education can provide a foundation, many skilled designers and decorators are largely self-taught, making the distinction between the two professions less about credentials and more about scope of work - especially in residential design, where their roles often overlap.
Although I have a degree in interior design, read more here and get my thoughts on whether Interior Design can be self-taught as many of the designers that I admire most are self taught through experience, talent, and trial and error.
Interior Design vs. Decorating: A Blurred Line
At the end of the day, the distinction between interior designers and decorators isn’t always as clear-cut as it might seem. While formal education and technical knowledge set interior designers apart - especially in commercial design - many talented professionals in the field are self-taught, gaining expertise through experience, mentorship, and hands-on work. Unlike some regulated professions, there are no universal requirements dictating that an interior designer must have a degree to be proficient in their craft.
What’s important to recognize is that an interior designer is fully capable of doing the work of a decorator. Enhancing a space through thoughtful colour choices, selecting furniture and furnishings, accessorizing, and improving organization are all well within an interior designer’s skill set. In residential projects, the roles often overlap so much that the distinction becomes less relevant - both aim to create beautiful, functional, and cohesive spaces tailored to a client’s lifestyle.
While a decorator focuses primarily on aesthetics, an interior designer can take a project further, considering spatial planning, built-in elements, and technical details like lighting plans and material specifications. That said, these professions are highly complementary, and many designers incorporate strong decorative skills into their work. Whether you call yourself a designer, decorator, or something in between, what matters most is the ability to transform spaces in a meaningful way.
“I believe that if you are true to expressing yourself, coupled with the right amount of discipline and routine, your space can reflect your personality, and you can turn your home into your haven.”
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