Difference Between Interior Decorator and Interior Designer

When it comes to home improvements, you often hear the terms Interior Decorator or Interior Designer. Usually these terms are interchanged, but did you know these two actually differ? Let us learn and differentiate the two, should you be interested to pursue a career in either one of them.

First let us look at what an Interior Designer does. They are the creative professionals who work on the structural aspect of a house. They need to make designs, sketches, plans under strict safety codes and regulations. But prior to this, an Interior Designer is required to take classes to get at least a diploma, better yet a bachelor's degree or even proceed for masters. After that, they are still subjected to licensing exams, which would allow them to work especially in certain states. Some Interior Designers who get enough education and experience can also proceed to work as certified architects.
An Interior Decorator on the other hand does not require that much formal training and a license in order to work. Their training demands are less rigorous. Some Decorators are self-taught, as long as they have the right aesthetics to beautify a space, while others can opt to take short training programs or an associate's degree in a community college.

The nature of their work also varies in that an Interior Decorator is concerned mainly on the appearance of a space. This would include things like what colours the walls should be, what drapes would complement it, how many throw pillows to include, or should you be placing a carpet in the area. They can even change the floors or mouldings on the ceiling, but they cannot change any standing structure. Just as their title imply, they only make decorative alterations and improvements.

Interior Designers work more closely with architects, although Designers cannot alter or move load-bearing structures, they can change the non-load bearing fixtures in a space. To do this, they would need a design, which can range from a sketch to a plan which he can also render in 3D. They also work with other elements such as lighting, doors, or windows. It is also their job to see to it that a design falls within safety regulations.

A Designer's concern is more about the total appearance of an area, including its architectural elements, while a Decorator is limited only on good arrangements for a better living space.

If an Interior Decorator selects the kind of furniture to place in a room, the Interior Designer goes steps further because they know how to design, select materials and make furniture. Another thing is that an Interior Designer focuses on one area, while a Decorator can work with various spaces.

These differences make it clear that an Interior Designer and Interior Decorator are two different professions. Although they are in the same ballpark, but they both play different games.

If you find yourself interested in the interesting and challenging field of Interior designing, we at Raffles Design Institute can provide you with the best education and training. We prepare our students to be globally competitive through our industry relevant curriculum, intensive training programs, and experienced lecturers. We have a total of 38 colleges, in 35 cities, in 14 countries.

French Style Furniture For a Vintage Interior Design!

The subtle Design and elegance of French Style Furniture is the perfect choice if you want to bring out an old world feel for your house. Many home owners want a classy and simple Design that speaks by quality rather than decoration. You can choose a different theme or layout for each of the rooms, depending on your preferences. The casual, country feel is in popular demand when it comes to purchasing French Style Furniture for a new home. The beautifully crafted patterns allow a lot of creativity with colors and shades so you can fill up each room with a different mood for a beautiful collage of emotions.
The main material used in such Furniture Designs consist of hardwood or different variations of raw wood crafted into various Designs. The long deep cuts and free flowing lines are symbolic of French Style bedroom Furniture, allowing you to build up a relaxed and comforting environment all around. If you are into French home décor, you would notice the lush flower patterns and natural curves that are common to all household items. You can easily get attracted to antique French Style Furniture because of the deep, brooding textures and color elements.

When it comes to selecting a proper color for your Designs, you will be amazed to see the number of beautiful contrasts that country French Style Furniture can offer to you. Most of the Styles are a mix of bright and subtle colors to capture the proper atmosphere. You would see shades of arctic green or bright gold interspersed with more dull colors like greys and blacks. The painted French Style Furniture makes for a lush and colorful Interior without going overboard. If you want an artistic Design without complex patterns, this is the best option to try out in your new home.

The brilliant Designs and colors complement the sharp and durable texture that is associated with all Vintage French Style Furniture in stores. Many Designer shops stock such items on a regular basis so you can always keep a tab on your local stores. If there are any festival or special sale offers, you have the opportunity to get amazing French Style Furniture discounts for your purchases. In this way, you can decorate your home the way you want while sticking to the recommended budget limits. It is a great opportunity for Furniture lovers looking to add a fresh touch to their homes.

In case you are just remodeling your home and don't want to bear such expenses, you can always go for used French Style Furniture found at retail and thrift stores. They are available at affordable prices and you can refurnish them the way you want. The traditional carvings found in French Style provincial Furniture are a sign of rich cultural heritage. If you are a connoisseur of good living, you would enjoy the intricate beauty and richness that French décor has to offer to your home. It fills up a home with its own essence, making it a place worth living in.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Interior Designer

Many people are wary when it comes to hiring a Professional Interior Designer to choose home accessories and decor for their space. In fact, many people think they can find the same home accessories and create a Designer look without any experience what-so-ever. Unfortunately, this isn't true. Home decor is an art and a Professional Interior Designer is the artist. Fortunately, there are many benefits to hiring a Professional, whether it's a big shot New York Interior Designer or a small town Designer.

Unlimited Access

When decorating a home, some people think they have access to all the same home accessories and decor items that a Professional has access to. Unfortunately, this isn't true. There are many manufacturers and even some stores that are strictly "Designers only." This can be frustrating to the amateur decorator. However, this can be one of the biggest benefits to hiring a Designer.
By hiring one, you open up an entire new world of products, materials, textiles, furnitures and more that you would not have had access to before. This means you're less likely to see your custom made sofa or other furnitures in your neighbor's living room.

Discounts

It's true, by hiring a Professional, you may be privy to certain discounts. Many stores offer discounts on home accessories, furnitures, other products and services in hopes that they'll return and bring additional business.

Discounts are often offered because the store knows that should the Interior Designer photograph the room, another client may want a specific accessory or furnitures that happened to have come from their store. This guarantees repeat business for the store and thus gives the Interior Designer you are working with discounts.

This could mean you spend less money overall, however you must be clear with your chosen decorator that you expect to see these discounts reflected in your own bill. After all, they would have made a commission off you even if they hadn't received those discounts; so you see also see benefits from this.

Proper Lighting

Another huge benefit of an Interior Designer is that they will ensure your space is not only beautiful, but that it is properly lit. Many people forget to take lighting into account when picking out home decor, but it's a huge part of good Interior design.

Color Palette

It's not uncommon for people to struggle with a color palette for their space. They often make the mistake of choosing paint first and then trying to find home accessories to fit into the space. An Interior Designer will better be able to come up with a color palette and find the right accessories to fit seamlessly.

Despite any misconceptions you may have heard about Interior Designers, hopefully you see now that there are more pros than cons to hiring a Professional!