VLOG – Interior Designer Vs Interior Decorator

Interior Design 36 Comments



Hey all! In this vlog Im sharing my thoughts about interior designers vs interior decorators, what the differences are and why we all need a better understanding.

36 thoughts on “VLOG – Interior Designer Vs Interior Decorator”

  1. Exactly that's what I get annoyed with when you're looking at job roles interior stylist they want you to do AutoCAD 3D max now learning floor plans that in interior designer not an interior stylist then if you've got visual merchandising experience style fashion stylist and interior stylist all in one they still don't want you the employer agencies annoy as they are clueless myself I tend to be contracted more abroad on my work and called in for interview for interview stylist than in UK there is a problem.

  5. In the USA, they do the same thing – everyone calls themselves an "interior decorator" even if they never drew a floor plan in their lives. "Designer" comes with more prestige, but it's an entirely different role. Designers know how to place electrical outlets, structural beams, lighting ports for chandeliers / sconces, and so on. Decorators pick fabrics and paints… it's so different. They can (and should) collaborate, but people don't understand the differences.

  6. I just finished a interior decorating course and have to go back for 6 months to be a designer but I am so scared because I did the other course part time but have to do the design part full time and I’m scared that if I fail or find it to full on that everyone will see me as a failure including myself I have 4 kids and don’t even know if it’s even gonna be possible so I’m so glad knowing that there are other people that are decorators and not designers I’m in Australia and I don’t think anyone knows the difference here either thankyou for this blog it has made me feel a bit relieved that I can still have a career decorating 😃

  8. You want to be an FF&E designer. I worked in the industry for years as an Interior Designer but classed myself more as an Interior Architect. However, there is apparently no such thing! I worked with lots of talented FF&E designers who were fantastic with fabrics, colour, furniture and lighting. Good luck!

  11. I'm so glad I came across your video, I wanted to do an Interior Design course but have no interest in learning how to draw a floorplan or elevations… I'm more on the creative side decorating residential homes. Does anyone know any good online courses for interior decorator?

  13. I finished BA Hons Interior Design last year. It gets really annoying at times when people ask me to design (decorate is what they meant) but can't blame them because even I didn't know see the difference. I went in thinking decoration too. But I am so glad it was so much more. It was overwhelming but absolutely an amazing experience 😍

  14. I'm an incoming eleventh grade student. This past few months I've been really fascinated with decorating. I thought that's what I want to do. However, when I started doing research about the course (universities offering them), the closest thing I can find was Interior Design. I was skeptical about the word 'design' that comes with it. I don't trust my drawing skills to be enough for that field. I have this side of me that loves color palettes and patterns and textures but I'm not the type who loves to draw that much. I've already acknowledged the creative side of me long ago and I want to follow this path but sadly, no formal education (I think) that introduces us to this career is available. A formal education that will nurture and let it bloom.

  15. Hi Sarah! This is a very good informative video, I appreciate your honesty! 🙂 im currently studying a diploma of interior design online in Australia, but i definitely think i underestimated how challenging it would be as well haha! It takes so much discipline and motivation to do the assignments, so yeah, I feel you haha!

  16. 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽people need to understand that I move walls, I don't pick throw pillows, INTERIOR DESIGN IS A LICENSED PROFESSION like thank you for this video

  18. If you don't try you will never know, you dont like it. Successful people tried many things. Failing in a lot and then succeed in One, Sarah! Anyway, you are Pretty !!!

  20. I am an "interior designer" Dallas, Texas. The states have the same difficulty in understanding the differences. You have done a wonderful job in explaining. Thank you! The average person still doesn't get it. But that's okay. We just keep on explaining and working. And you are right, some are overwhelmed with the technical aspect of design, but do a wonderful job with their clients. For you, I think at some point when you daughter is older, being a decorator will bore you and you will want more control of your projects. I was a stay at home mom of two boys, and a student of interior design at the same time. Totally understand where you are!

    GREAT JOB!

  21. Thank you for sharing your story, I can completely relate I started my journey the exact same way. I was a working and started a distance learning course and found I suddenly had no time and was not prepared for all the practical work involved. That was last year but now I'm studying decorating full time but it's not simple as it seems. I love how relatable you are, keep it up.

  23. Finally someone speak up about this. Yes interior design is different from interior decorating/styling. I'm more think of interior design as brother/sister of architechture. They're on more technical side. Interior decorating is more on creative/fun side I think.

  24. Great video Sarah! I am an interior designer living in the US, and I do agree with the confusion of having people think that I am a decorator! I wanted to do interior design because I do have a passion for it, and I love the architectural part of it. A lot of schools and firms started calling it Interior Architecture, as it makes more sense for us because we don't really do the "decor" part that much. I still do pick colors and furniture pieces, but this isn't the focus of an interior designer. Keep up the good work!

  26. So what do you call yourself decorator or stylist? Since you didn't finish school is it difficult to explain to clients…What does your contract look like? I don't feel I need schooling to help someone style or decorate. I'm 40 with a 1 year old and dont have time to attend formal training. I love this vlog.

  27. Hello Sarah,
    I really want to study Interior Decorator, but everytime I search at Google. I can't find anything about it, only Interior Design everywhere. Do you know any schools that has decorator course? Like a undergraduate course. It would be really helpful! Thanks anyway 🙂

  29. Hi Sarah – just wanted to say a BIG thank you for posting this. As a qualified interior designer and having studied almost 6 years+, I get so angry with people who call themselves designers when they are either decorators or stylists. As you mentioned, there is a HUGE difference. Interior designing is so much more technical and in depth than any of the others. I often wanted to quit as it was so complex and working full time too started to take it's toll, but I can say, it is the best thing I have ever done! Once qualified, you are armed with a ton of transferable skills that can take you anywhere! I wish you well in whatever you do Xx

  30. When you understand who you are, what you love to do, and know what your doing, you can get success, by spending time learning the specific craft, investing money into materials and resources you'll need, and getting hands on experience are important for developing a skill set for your appropriate career, no matter it is that your doing.

  31. Hey Sarah – I think you're such an inspiration. I found this video because I wanted to learn more about interior design. I recently had a baby and left my career working in software product development so I felt like "ahh…finally, someone who understands how crazy it is when you have a kid AND you moved on from a job AND you're trying to find your voice and your creative outlet". I've been considering some different careers that make use of my creativity and interior design is one of them. Haven't yet decided if I'll do interior design but watching your video makes me want to tune in more to learn about my strengths and my style and not just go after what everyone else is doing, or what's safe.

  32. Hey. Months later I know so I don't know if you'll see this. I've been wondering recently about retraining to do something hands on & creative after a period of illness. I've done painter/decorator/carpentry/odd jobs before while studying something completely unrelated and quite enjoyed it but felt that I'd like to expand it into something a) with more room for creativity and b) with the chance of being more lucrative. I'm still undecided as to whether I'd prefer to try my hand at interior design or interior decoration, both interest me, but thank you for putting your experience and thoughts on the matter out there.

  35. So interesting… I am an interior designer in the US and trust me, there is just as much confusion here as there is in the UK. The main difference, is the design education gives a designer the tools, not to only draw floorplans, elevations, etc. but a complete understanding of the "space planning" of a building. We plan commercial spaces including restaurants and bars, offices, medical and retail facilities, etc. We don't merely pick out the "decor" including the furniture, accessories, and paint. But we do all of those things as well. We can also design custom millwork and builtins as well as lighting and ceiling designs. SO much to cover, it would be impossible.
    Good luck to you 🙂

  36. Sarah – I cannot tell you how DELIGHTED I am to have found this vlog! I am curently at the beginning of my course (same open learning one as yours), and am struggling to come to terms with what I've actually let myself in for. I think that I will push on with it (for now) but I can totally relate to the misinterpretation of what you thought the course would be about. I wish that I had done the actual degree course when I first left school, as I think that it is a brilliantly comprehensive preparation for becoming an interior 'designer'. However, as a busy mother tentatively exploring a second career, it's becoming apparent that my aspirations lie closer to the styling and lifestyle side of the interiors industry – something that drawing mathematically accurate room plans has brought sharply into focus!! Basically, I'm just so happy that i'm not the only one who has realised this 'after' commiting to 18 months of paying – duh! x

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