What is the difference between an interior designer and a decorator?
In a nutshell: education and experience.
A decorator is someone who primarily deals with colors, finishes and furniture and typically stays within the residential boundary of interiors. Most decorators’ work individually and without a contract. Furniture mark-ups and hourly fees vary widely among decorators.
An interior designer has the necessary education, experience and is often affiliated with professional organizations such as ASID. They are knowledgeable in building codes, building departments and licensed contractors. Interior designers can complete residential and commercial projects from start to finish, read architectural plans and prepare construction documents for subcontractors. Generally a contract or letter of agreement is standard and spells out the projected fees and the specific services they will provide for a project.
