Definition of Interior Decorating

If you love looking at shelter magazines, enjoy shopping for furnishings and have been redecorating rooms in your head or in sketches for what seems like half your life, a career with interiors could be a good choice for you. But often you see the phrase "interior decorator" and "interior designer" used interchangeably. Are they the same thing? Indeed, they are not.

Interior Decorating Defined

An interior decorator finds ways to enhance, embellish or redecorate rooms in private or public spaces. They can provide decoration and furnishings for homes, offices, and even do updates or accessorize yachts, restaurants, model homes and other interior spaces. Whether they work on one room or an entire building, their goal is to make livable, comfortable and lovable spaces.

Interior Design Industry Professional

Interior designers, on the other hand, are highly schooled --- generally three to five years of targeted education --- and are trained individuals who must meet certain field requirements to become certified. The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) in America sets their education and experience standards, and designers are certified and licensed through the auspices of the National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). They often work with architects and know the design and structure of buildings.

Interior Decorator Duties

The responsibility of an interior decorator involves some of these jobs: utilizing the floor plan and space planning of a room, picking a color palette, finding distinctive wallpapers, choosing flooring, carpeting and lighting, finding upholstered pieces and fabrics, and coordinating all the accessories, including plants, art work and artifacts.

Interior Decorator Skill Sets

In order to facilitate her job, an interior decorator advertises her services, meets with clients, provides a plan and sample board for approval, takes measurements, hires subcontractors to do the painting, floor work, etc., selects furniture and the other elements of design, in addition to working within a budget. There is no formal education or association certification needed to work in this field, although there are organizations to highlight expertise and help her to organize her business.

Interior Decorator Business

There are many jobs available to the interior decorator: they can work in department stores and furniture stores consulting for retail clients, they can design shop windows, set up scenes for television and film, decorate for event planners, work in the textiles industry or they might even do some of the crafting themselves such as designing trompe l'oeil painting or murals for a client's home or business.

Interior Decorator Know-How

In addition to the creative side of design, an interior decorator must be a businessperson first and foremost. They will know how to get the best deals, how to price, write and negotiate a contract; be adept at keeping accurate accounts --- including purchasing, billing and filing taxes. They will need to know the fairest tradesmen on the one hand, while trying to decipher home design software and web site content on the other.
One of the best ways to become an interior decorator would be to intern with an established business.

Resources

• Certified Interior Decorators International