If you’re looking to make an affordable design change in your home but don’t know whether you need the help of an interior decorator or an interior designer, don’t worry! You’re not alone. And some people don’t even know the difference – so here it is.
People oftentimes use the terms “interior decorator” and “interior designer” interchangeably. Though the professions do share similarities and overlap in many aspects, they are actually quite different from one another. To keep things short and sweet, interior designers can change structural components of space, whereas interior decorators focus on elevating existing details in a home (aka: cosmetic changes).
***We LOVE to add soul to a space through thrifted and antique items! Check out some of our favourite ways to use one-of-a-kind pieces in your space.
Your home – likely one of the biggest investments of your life – will benefit tremendously from the expertise of either an interior decorator or interior designer. Both aim to provide custom curation and personalization to a space in order to make you fall in love with your home over and over again. They also follow trends and know what design and decor will ensure your greatest ROI. That said, it’s important to evaluate which route best suits your needs, your bank account, and your time.
So, How Can Interior Decorating Help Me Re-Love My Home For Less?
Less Money
Interior decorators differ from interior designers in that they do not undertake anything structural, which keeps costs down in a big, BIG way. Because interior decorators focus on cosmetic improvements to modernize the house on the surface (i.e. tile, flooring, painting, furniture, styling, etc), a huge renovation budget is not required. Interior decorating is an affordable design alternative that can have just as much impact as a large-scale renovation if done correctly. Think of interior decorating as the “no demo reno” that HGTV has made oh so popular!
Less Time
Remodels and renovations need building permits, which can take weeks, or sometimes months, to issue and may hold up construction. Given that projects like this usually need a number of different trades involved to be successful, you’ll also likely find yourself at the mercy of other people’s timelines. Decorating does not require permits, and tradespeople can often fit these smaller jobs into their schedules more easily, making decorating a quick, easy, and convenient option to spatial re-design.
Less Commitment
Because interior decorating focuses on the “surface” of space, it’s much less commitment than interior design. For example, say you want to paint down the road – it’s a lot cheaper and easier to paint a wall than it is to move one! A professional interior decorator will help identify your current style and bring it to life in the space. If you are someone who likes to change things up every now and then, decorators can also make suggestions for pieces that could be easily swapped out to suit your future style.
If you are interested in revamping your space and want a quick, easy, and affordable design solution, then look no further than interior decorating! We offer a few interior decorating services in Calgary to help with every budget and scope (and yes it says ‘interior design’ on our website instead of ‘interior decorating’ but that’s for SEO!). Not sure where to begin? Contact us if you’re ready to fall in love with your home all over again!
Curious what else interior decorators do? Well… we recommend you read the blog we wrote for that very question: What interior decorators do. What do we do specifically? Check out our 15 Step Project Management Process