What is the Difference: Interior Designer, Decorator, Stylist etc?

Who does what? I'm breaking down these careers around interior design

When we think about interior design, do you imagine somebody holding a cushion and waving around paint color swatches? In reality, the work an interior designer does is wildly different to these common perceptions. So, what does an interior designer actually do?

Here we define the professions around interior design, you’ll find they are really quite different. Warning - this is the longest post ever! A lot to cover so grab yourself a coffee and snack.

Interior design by Nicole Hollis

Interior Design

• Interior Design Qualifications

- Paid Subscribers get to read on for the rest of these categories.

Interior Architect

• Interior Designer Fees

Architect

• Architect Fees

Building Designer

• Building Designer Fees

Interior Decorator

• Interior Decorator Fees

Interior Stylist

• Interior Stylist Fees

Editorial Stylist

• Editorial Stylist Fees

Property Stylist

• Property Stylist Fees

Also, a reminder that the Style Studies Essential course is open to enrol. Last week we covered how to choose colour using my 6 Step Process. This week we are unpacking layouts, both for kitchens and furniture for living rooms.

In my experience, the reality of what an interior designer does could not be further from waving a few fabrics around! In fact, in the bachelor degree we did not touch a single fabric, so it was confusing to understand the difference between a decorator and designer.

American movies have a lot to answer for when it comes to how we percieve the interior design profession. I can identify more closely to Sally Fields character in Mrs Doubtfire - she always seemed a bit stressed out! Although I'm sure that Franck of Father of The Bride had more fun!

Inside the industry, we understand the nuances, but I think it would be really useful to be able to explain what each of these different professions does. So here we go!

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Interior Design

Let’s start with interior design. An interior designer designs a space from the inside out. An interior designer designs across a range of sectors.

- Residential

- Hospitality

- Education

- Workplace including offices, laboratories etc.

- Retail

- Medical such as hospitals, etc.

- And more of sub categories under that.

Retail design for Henne by Brahman Perera. Retail design for Grace by Tali Roth

Broadly speaking we work in spatial design, layouts, finishes, selections and fixtures selections, furniture and lighting design.

I’m going to focus on residential design in this case otherwise we would be here all day! In a nut shell interior designers work on new builds, renovations, and decoration projects.

We design joinery such as kitchens and bathrooms. We design internal spaces so that means spatial planning and moving walls. Also the location and design of windows.

Kitchen and interior design by Fiona Lynch Office. Photo by Sharyn Cairns.

We place the most importance on the experience of being inside the space.

I want to understand how they live in the space how they will use the space which means getting to know them as people, and sometimes the whole family, including the dog! The skills and interior designer needs to start with how to understand the client brief.

Bathroom by Pattern Studio. Stair by Luis la Place

We need to understand aesthetics as we need to be trusted to have good taste, but that is the tip of the iceberg because we also need to understand how a space will function.

This means understanding how the client will live in the space so we can design accordingly. We ask the client a lot of questions. It could seem a bit nosy, but we need to understand things like how much wardrobe space does each partner need and even down to not making assumptions because sometimes it’s sometimes the husband that has the massive sneakers collection!

We’re not as concerned about the exterior as architects may be, however the exterior often informs the interiors. Often, the exterior cladding materials are carried inside, such as a fireplace brick for example.

When it comes to windows, I would rather design them considering how the light with affect the interiors and the function when you’re inside the space, than focus on what the window looks like from the outside.

Progress of one of my projects. We literally started from the ground up, there was not even a floor!

Interior designers will need to have a particular skill set that involves creating and communicating the design concept to a client, this can involve sketching and creating 3D visuals. Having a good eye is important, however if you can’t communicate your ideas to the client it won’t be understood. Your brilliant design in your mind won’t happen unless you can explain it clearly using visuals to the client.

We also need to communicate the design to contractors. And we do this using technical drawing.

We often need to coordinate with a lot of other contractors and consultants work rooms and fabricators. I see interior designers act as an advocate for the client during their project. We need to ensure that the design that the client wants, will be build correctly by the contractors.

Interior designers need to be able to manage construction drawings, 3D visualisations to the photography of the finished, styled space. Project by sisalla (that's me) and photographed by Tess Kelly.

We also coordinate projects and these range in size. we manage client budgets procurement deliveries and I’m sorry to say it’s not like TV where there is a big reveal on one day !

In my work, I will coordinate window furnishings, joinery wallpaper, installation, electrical and other ‘light touch’ contractors. I am aware of the risks I undertake when I manage and this is probably a topic for a whole other story to unpack!

Interior Design Qualifications

Technically speaking one does not need a qualification if you want to start your own Interior Design Business. But BUYER BEWARE!

Without a qualification you may need to investigate gaining insurances that cover the risk you take on. I am a huge advocate of education and operating a business without any qualifications is highly risky to the business and client.

There is a lot more to interior design than waving around fabrics - as I say above. Without a qualification, and preferably some design experience, honestly I wouldn’t recommend starting your own business. Unless you have the capital to hire those that do have those qualifications and experience.

Maybe this sounds blunt, but if you want to become an interior designer, I want to give you the honest facts about this and not lead you astray!

If you wish to work as an interior designer in an architecture practice or for another interior design practice, then you will need a qualification just to get an interview.

This is changing fast in the industry as soon interior designers will need to become accredited depending on your state regulations. Watch this space!