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Difference Between Interior Designer and Interior Decorator
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Design as a career offers plenty of opportunities due to its wide range of specialisations. Two popular design specialisations that are available include Interior Designer and Interior Decorator. Many people are of the notion that interior decorators and interior designers are the same. However, both are different professions, but they work along the same lines. This article discusses the difference between interior design and interior decoration, skills of an interior decorator and a designer, the qualifications or the degree required, and careers in both.
This Story also Contains
- Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator
- Difference Between Interior Designer and Decorator - Highlights
- Interior Decorator vs Interior Designer: Qualification
- Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator Salary and Career Scope
- How are Interior Decorators and Designers Paid?
Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator
The difference between interior design and interior decoration can be best understood by understanding what kind of job they do.
Who is an Interior Designer?
Interior designers are those people who bring ambience and functionality to the same space within our home or office. They help us to reflect our personalities on our walls, furniture, and decor. A skilled interior designer has an eye for detail, an understanding mind that can bring the clients desires into their lifestyles.
Who is an Interior Decorator?
An interior decorator is a person who decorates an already existing place in terms of colour and design. They help one enhance the place by making it look more pleasing through changing the texture, furniture or colour of a house, office, or shop. They select the various decorative elements given under a client’s budget. They focus more on the visual aesthetic than the spatial aspect of a place.
What is Interior Design?
Interior design is the process of planning and building spaces focusing on improving the aesthetics, functionality, safety, comfort, and design elements. It is a much broader area than interior decoration and involves working at the structural level rather than just on the surface level, which interior decoration deals with.
What Is Interior Decoration?
Interior decoration refers to the art and science of enhancing the interior of a space to create a more aesthetically pleasing and functional environment. It involves the selection and arrangement of furniture, color schemes, lighting, textures, and decorative elements to transform an interior space into a cohesive and visually appealing setting. Interior decorators consider the client's preferences, functional needs, and the architectural features of the space to create harmonious and balanced interiors. They utilize their expertise in design principles, spatial planning, and creativity to achieve a desired ambiance that reflects the personality and lifestyle of the occupants. Interior decoration focuses on creating attractive and comfortable spaces that enhance the quality of life and well-being of the inhabitants.
Difference Between Interior Designer and Decorator - Highlights
The table summarises the difference between interior designer and decorator.
Difference between interior design and interior decoration
Particulars | Interior Designers | Interior Decorators |
Job | To make an indoor space functional and visually and pleasing | To enhance the looks of an already existing space |
Education | Requires Formal Education like BID, BDes, MDes or diploma degrees | No requirement of formal education |
Skillset | Spatial knowledge, 3D Modelling, knowledge of materials | Colour Theory and Texture knowledge |
Salary | 4-9 LPA | 2-3 LPA |
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Interior Decorator vs Interior Designer: Qualification
Education Required by an Interior Designer
To become an interior designer, one needs to have a degree in interior designing. One can acquire Interior Designing Degree in at different stages of life through various courses available. The courses can be opted based on one’s education level, age and financial aspect. But don’t worry Careers 360 has you covered up with a list of degrees one can opt for in order to start a career in designing.
Interior Designing Degree
Degree | Details |
Bachelor of Interior Design (BID) | BID is an undergraduate degree for Interior designing aspirants. The duration of the course is four years. This course offers a basic knowledge of interior design, encompassing spatial design, aesthetics, functionality, and safety considerations. The program comprises eight semesters, combining practical and theoretical sessions to provide a comprehensive education in interior design. |
Bachelor of Design (B.Des) | B.Des is a four year course that many colleges offer across various specializations. One can choose to specialize in B.Des in Interior Designing. The course teaches you basics in design and then trains students for specialization in interior designing. |
Master of Design | Similar to B.Des students can opt for a degree specialised in interior designing after graduation. |
Diploma in Interior Designing | There are several types of diploma courses in India that one can pursue in order to start a career in interior designing. The courses include Diploma courses and Advanced Diploma Courses. These courses can be helpful to those who want to change their career or want to pursue interior designing after 10th or have financial or time constraints. |
Education Required by an Interior Decorator
Interior Decorators require no formal level of education to start their profession. They may or may not belong to the design field. However, experience counts a lot in becoming successful in interior decoration.
Difference Between Interior Designer and Decorator: Skills
Interior designers and Interior decorators require different skills as their works differ.
Skills Required by an Interior Designer
Difference between designer and decorator can be best understood when one understands the skills these professionals have. Interior designers need to have skills like 3D Modelling, knowledge of various materials and textures and be aware of the spatial aspect of design. They need to make a physical space appealing.
Skills Required by an Interior Decorator
The major difference between designer and decorator in terms of skillset is that instead of spatial knowledge that required by an interior designer, decorators need more of colour theory and knowledge of what will look good. They need to shop and curate pieces from shops and catalogues to fit the client’s taste and budget.
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Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator Salary and Career Scope
Interior Designing career have a lot of scope – one can become an Interior Designer, a consultant, a teacher, or a product designer. One can also choose to work freelance and get their own clients. Interior designer vs interior decorator salary can also vary significantly based on the scope of projects undertaken and client expectations. The salary of all these profiles vary according to experience and position. They can range from somewhere around Rs.4,00,000 per annum to 9,00,000 per annum. On the other hand, interior decorators can work for their clients and build a profile. The average salary in India for an interior decorator is Rs. 19,878 per month which may turn out to be 2-3 LPA. With experience and type of projects, the pay might significantly increase.
The interior designer vs interior decorator salary can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and specialization. Interior designers, who typically require formal education and often work on more complex projects involving structural changes and space planning, tend to earn higher salaries. On the other hand, interior decorators, who focus on aesthetic elements like furnishings, color schemes, and accessories, may earn comparatively lower salaries. Both professions offer opportunities for growth and higher earnings with experience and expertise in the field.
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How are Interior Decorators and Designers Paid?
Interior decorators and designers can be paid in various ways depending on the type of project and the agreement with the client. Here are some common methods of payment:
- Many interior decorators and designers charge an hourly rate for their services. This rate can vary widely based on the designer's experience, location, and the complexity of the project.
- Some decorators and designers may offer a flat fee or package fee for specific services or entire projects. This payment structure is agreed upon upfront and covers all aspects of the design process, from initial consultations to final installations.
- In a cost-plus arrangement, the interior decorator or designer charges for their services based on the cost of materials, furnishings, and other goods purchased for the project, plus an additional percentage (often around 15-30%) as their fee. This method is transparent but requires trust between the designer and client regarding budget management.
- For projects where furnishings, artwork, or other items are sourced through the designer, they may earn a commission from the vendors on the items purchased. The client pays for the goods at retail price, and the designer receives a commission, generally negotiated beforehand.
- Some decorators and designers may charge a percentage of the total project cost as their fee. This percentage can vary but commonly falls between 10% to 30%, depending on the scope and complexity of the project. This method aligns the designer's payment with the project's scale and budget.
- In some cases, interior decorators and designers may require a retainer fee upfront before starting work on a project. This fee ensures commitment from both parties and may be deducted from the final total fee or used to cover initial expenses.
The payment structure and terms are typically outlined in a contract or agreement between the decorator/designer and the client before the project begins. It's essential for both parties to communicate clearly about expectations, scope of work, budget, and payment schedule to ensure a successful collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Which is best interior designer or interior decorator?
A:
Depends on personal choice. Interior designing is a more formal career with education and more scope. However, a person can become an interior designer and still earn decent money with experience.
Q: What's the difference between interior designer and interior decorator?
A:
Interior Design includes creating space that will suit to the client’s lifestyle and interior decorator makes the place aesthetically pleasing.
Q: Can you be both between interior designer and interior decorator?
A:
A interior designer can make a place visually aesthetic and take up the role of an interior decorator. But an interior decorator cannot work as an interior designer because the latter requires a formal degree.
Q: What does an interior decorator do?
A:
An interior decorator chooses colours, objects and furniture for a given space to enhance its looks.
Q: What is the role of an interior designer and interior decorator?
A:
An interior designer modifies the structure and works on the layout and interior decorator just adds or removes objects from the existing space.
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No specific stream is required in Class 11 for BDes admissions. You can join B.Des (Bachelor of Design) with any stream in Class 11th (Science, Commerce, or Arts/Humanities). Top design institutes like NID ( NID DAT scores) and NIFT ( NIFT Entrance Exam ), as well as IITs (via UCEED),
Hi Paavni,
You can change your course from Bachelor in Fashion Technology to Bachelor of Design in NIFT. Please remember that Physics and Mathematics are compulsory in Class 12 for BFTech. However, BDes programme is open to all streams. Click on the link below for details:
Yes, you can secure admission into BDes or similar programmes without appearing for an entrance exam. Institutes such as the Army Institute of Fashion and Design offer direct admission based on marks in 10th and 12th. Additionally, you can also apply to private universities such as UPES, which offer design
Hello, the UCEED cut-off marks is expected to be higher this year. The UCEED 2026 Part A cutoff score is 83.76 marks which is higher than last year. After also, accounting for marks in Part B, 120-125 marks is expected to be a good score for IIITDM Jabalpur. Additionally, you
Hello,
Getting admission in IITs or NID for BDes depends on a few things: your entrance exam score, portfolio, and sometimes your interview performance.
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IITs (for BDes) : Admission is mainly through UCEED . You need a good rank in UCEED to get in.
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NID : Admission is through NID
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