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The profession of interior design is not clearly defined and projects undertaken by an interior designer vary widely. Terms such as decorator and designer are often used interchangeably. However, there is a distinction between the terms.
Interior decorator
The term Interior Decorator emerged in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It applied to those practitioners who specialize in arranging interiors in various styles. In this context style refers to a composition based on an image of a certain idea, time, place, etc. For example: Victorian, Georgian, Art Deco, Modernist, etc. The term Interior decorator also suggests a focus on designing the ornamental and the movable aspects of the interior such as the color, furniture, furnishings, moldings and paneling. A helpful way to make the distinction between an interior decorator and interior designer is that decorators can work within the walls of a room, while a designer also has the ability to move walls.
Interior designer
Interior Designer implies that there is more of an emphasis on Planning, Functional design and effective use of space involved in this profession, as compared to interior decorating. An interior designer can undertake projects that include arranging the basic layout of spaces within a building as well as projects that require an understanding of technical issues such as acoustics, lighting, temperature, etc. Although an interior designer may create the layout of a space, they may not build the space without having their designs stamped for approval by an architect, which is why many interior designers also complete school to become architects as well. An interior designer may wish to specialize in a particular type of interior design in order to develop technical knowledge specific to that area. Types of interior design include residential design, commercial design, universal design, exhibition design, spatial branding, etc.
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