Interior Designer vs. Interior Decorator
Our bustling office in Scottsdale has been posting to different hiring sites, such as Indeed and Zip Recruiter to search for qualified help to support our talented staff, and to help us maintain our level of excellent performance for our clients and projects. While I was going through the process, I noticed there were selections for both interior designers and interior decorators within the sites. So when I sat down to figure out a blog for this month, I thought I would explain a little about what an Interior Designer – especially Janet Brooks Design – is and does and how interior designers might be different from interior decorators.
We have been in the Interior Design business both in Colorado and in Arizona for a few decades. Over this time – our company’s motto – “Luxury that Lives Well” has been fueling our passion for designing. I believe wholeheartedly that this is what separates us from other professional interior designers. This is what drives me, and the team at Janet Brooks Design. It is the starting postulate for each project and the ending reality for all of our work – for each and every client. We start the process with the goal that we are going to provide our client the idea of Luxury that Lives Well for them, their family, that their home and the community they live in. Then, we work in concert with the architect, general contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, specialty vendors and the client to make sure the end product is that dream made into reality.
Our clients choose to hire us as an interior designer when they want to properly construct a new home or large scale remodel that truly “fits” them. The scope of an interior designer’s focus includes Interior Architecture, which often involves designing focal walls (such as fireplace walls and art walls), changing floor plan layouts (such as the shape of a kitchen island), designing ceilings (Reflected Ceiling Plans) and use of spaces. We document our designs in AutoCAD drawings, which helps us communicate well with subcontractors who are executing our designs on site. Our years of advanced training, our experience and our overall qualifications allow us to choose elements that fit our client’s vision, while we also follow building codes and understand how construction works. So – the main difference between an interior designer and a decorator is scope and knowledge.
Due to the difference in project sizes and responsibilities, decorators may not have formal schooling or training. Interior decorators typically work with applied materials such as tiles, cabinets, countertops, paint and flooring. They help with colors, style, coverings, furnishings, and accessories to beautify a client’s space, without much change to architectural elements.
Interior design goes beyond these limitations, and our scope of work typically involves adjusting and updating the structure so we can address the form, function and flow of a space to suit our client’s needs in a very custom way. The job of the interior designer is complete when we add our state of the art, unique finishing touches and decorative elements, that bring all of the features of the home together in a cohesive way.
Successful interior designers and interior decorators do share many of the same skills. We both create visually appealing interiors. We often have strong communication skills, which we use to relate our vision. We have strong visual design skills, which help us combine architectural elements, furniture, appropriate lighting, interesting accent materials, paint and other design elements to create an appealing room space.
If you aren’t sure whether you need an interior designer or interior decorator, we can help with a brief talk I am sure. Contact our office and talk to one of our very talented designers or assistants. We are only too happy to help!