What is the real difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?

Answer 1

The designer's orientation is to structure and spatial geometry, and broad visual schemas and functionality. They lean toward architectural considerations. Think, "strategy."

The decorator's orientation is toward details of color, texture and other visual cues that create impressions. They lean toward furnishings, wall, floor and window treatments. Think, "tactics."

Obviously, they share a lot of territory, and compete for the territory. But the good decorator will defer to a designer on matters of over-all treatment of space, and the good designer will defer to the decorator on matters of detail, fit and finish.

If you were preparing for Christmas, the designer might specify type of tree and what ornamentation would work well; the decorator would select patricular light colors and map out placement on the tree of lights and specific ornaments. If you're going to have BOTH present when the tree goes up, serve a lot of egg nog. Everyone will agree to that!

Answer 2

This is a complicated question.
I am a Certified Kitchen Designer who is also a Certified Interior Designer in California.
The reason I studied and took the exam for Certified Interior Designer was because there was, and remains, some threat to my ability to practice.

Back to your question:

For residential interiors, interior decorator or designer makes no difference. There is no licensing for either and what they do depends more on the individual's talents and abilities than anything else.

For commercial interiors, like hotels, restaurants and offices, however, the difference is huge.
Those interior designers who do commercial work deal with the health safety and welfare of building inhabitants and the laws and codes that govern them.

Most commercial interior designers are highly educated, degreed, and many have passed the NCIDQ examination.
Those who have passed the NCIDQ can use ASID after their names, and are the exalted few.
It would be rare for an interior decorator to do commercial work. The designer needs to be able to document the flammability of every product used: from carpets to furniture to paintings on the walls.
Commercial interior designers quite often work in lieu of architects in established buildings and do everything except structural design, completely renovating office spaces for new tenants, and so on.
Architects feel threatened by this incursion into what they regard as their territory. Thus there is a constant push and tug between the two disciplines...Which comes back to my reason for becoming a Certified Interior Designer.

Answer 3

A interior designer usually encompasses more of the house than a decorator. The designer works with layout of the house appliances, lighting, flooring and they can go further and due paint color accessories. If you ask a designer or decorator this question you might get the idea they do the same thing. The most accurate definition is a decorator will help you get your house looking nice by adding to it. A designer can do the same thing but usually will want to either make existing changes like walls, flooring, appliances.

Answer 4

indoors clothier many times is extra in touch in structural issues, like the place to place the partitions--sort of like an architect for the interior. An indoors decorator many times in simple terms does the ornamental issues, like photographs, vegetation, etc. Now people can misuse those words and an indoors decorator might verify with themselves as an indoors clothier.

Answer 5

the designer does just that design the interior decorator does what the designer wants

Answer 6

the designer designs. the decorator decorates.

Answer 7

About 200 bucks an hour!

Answer 8

one thinks up ideas the other actually dose most of the work

Answer 9

It's means the exact same thing, as far as I know.

Answer 10

Nothing at all, just a matter of semantics.