The Difference Between Decorator and Designer

While Interior Designers and Interior Decorators share a similar passion for creating beauty in the spaces they inhabit, the two have very different roles. Interior Decorators are individuals skilled in selecting decor, furniture, and color schemes. They focus more on spaces as they currently exist. They will posses vast knowledge about how to improve a space without changing the actual architecture or structural elements.

Designers are separated from decorators by the requirement for an advanced degree and specialty. They’ll be equipped to make recommendations about architectural changes, and will posses a knowledge base about the various trades involved with the entire scope of a job, like plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work. Interior designers need to know the specific elements related to these fields for selection, as well as practical knowledge about installation to determine whether a design is accomplishable.

While these professions sound similar, they serve very different roles in the community. If you’re considering a home renovation project, its important to know where to start. If you’re looking for a soft refresh on a small scale and are satisfied with your physical space as it exists, a decorator would be right for you. However, If you’re looking to make changes to your flooring, layout, tile or other elements that involve an understanding and management of a specific craft, an interior designer is the right choice for your project.

This is a great opportunity to give a shout out to the interior decorating field. Some of the greatest and most accomplished figures in our field are interior decorators. One of my personal sources of inspiration, Joanna Gaines never went to school for design, electing to study communications instead, with her design studies coming later. The spaces she creates are absolutely gorgeous, and her choices perfectly suit the atmosphere of the rooms she decorates. She now does the job of an interior designer transforming incredible spaces.

There are several levels within the category of “Designer” as well. There are kitchen designers, bathroom designers, and commercial designers that specialize in large-scale projects. There are many specialties within these fields, focusing on schools, hotels or doctors offices specifically. The label of designer is tied into the idea of a specialty, having a specific type of space that allows them to do their best work creatively. Every type of design is governed by its own set of rules, and having a specific knowledge of these rules allows a designer to create the best space possible. No matter what kind of interior creator you’re working with, a knowledge of their specialties and background is invaluable when deciphering whether or not they’ll be a good fit for your project.

When I started DMB, my dream was to take all of the experience I’ve had working with builders, stylists, kitchen designers, and furniture designers and combine it into creating large-scale residential projects with a particular eye to aesthetic consistency. I’ve had the privilege of working in a hands-on context with so many different industries and specialties. It brings me incredible joy to bring these different kinds of design together, united by a singular aesthetic vision. A space is most beautiful when every individual part is connected. I love what we do now because it draws from such a large range of experiences. I’m incredibly grateful to have found a specific niche of residential design that allows me to work with and use what I’ve learned from so many talented specialists and craftsmen.

The goal of this mindset is to bring out the best in the tradespeople I work with, and in turn have them bring out the best in me. When you have team of talented and experienced individuals organized around a single focused goal, the quality of the work speaks for itself. I was tired of only doing a piece of the puzzle. I craved the opportunity to work towards a single final vision, and I know that I work best when I can coordinate and manage the practical challenge of making a design a reality.

Whatever changes you’re looking to make, it helps to make sure that whoever you choose knows where they do their best work. Decorators and designers hold the common ground of a deep love for making a space feel fresh and new, and a dedication for making a room into the best version of itself.

Happy Designing!