| The other day a real estate agent whose listings I | | | | based upon the tastes and lifestyle of the client, |
| stage for sale introduced me to someone as a | | | | whereas the interior designer would take it a step |
| "designer". I didn't want to take the time to correct him, | | | | further and look at usage, sound transference, |
| but I thought to myself, "This isn't the first time I've | | | | flammability, etc. |
| heard people use 'designer' erroneously. It's often used | | | | - An interior decorator would select lighting fixtures, |
| to label someone who's an interior decorator. So, why | | | | whereas the interior designer would plan for the |
| does everyone lump us all in one category, when we | | | | location of lighting and ensure that it is in compliance |
| all clearly do something different?" | | | | with building and safety codes. |
| To put the differences succinctly: | | | | - An interior decorator does not need to have any |
| - Interior Design involves, among many other things, the | | | | formal education and/or work experience, testing or |
| preparation of documents often by a licensed | | | | licensing, whereas an interior designer does. |
| professional for the construction of an interior space | | | | Home Staging |
| such as plans and elevations, and details and | | | | Home staging is the art and science of preparing a |
| specifications, including lighting, power and | | | | home for sale so that it appeals to the broadest range |
| communication locations, materials and finishes, and | | | | of buyers in order to sell quickly and for top dollar. The |
| furniture layouts. | | | | objective is to make the potential buyer fall in love with |
| - Interior Decorating involves the adornment of | | | | the home, envision themselves living there and aspire |
| surfaces in the interior space, such as fabrics, wall | | | | to the lifestyle the home portrays. |
| coverings, furniture, decorative accessories, flooring, | | | | According to the Real Estate Staging Association's |
| light fixtures etc., and takes into account the lifestyle, | | | | Consumer's Guide to Home Staging, it is a "systematic |
| taste, needs and preferences of the user of the | | | | and coordinated methodology in which knowledge of |
| space. While interior designers may decorate, interior | | | | real estate, home renovations and creative design |
| decorators don't design. | | | | principles are applied to attract a buyer." |
| - Home Staging is preparing the home for sale through | | | | Home staging involves any or all of the following: |
| updates and "decorating" so that it appeals to the | | | | - Evaluating what furniture and decorative accessories |
| broadest range of buyers for the market that the | | | | (throw pillows, artwork, decorative objects, lamps, |
| home is in. | | | | knickknacks, etc.) the owner has, and: |
| - Interior Redesign is often done by home stagers for | | | | - eliminating some of the furniture and/or decorative |
| homeowners not currently selling because it employs | | | | accessories, otherwise known as decluttering as well |
| many of the same principles that home stagers use, | | | | as depersonalizing (removal of family photos, trophies, |
| such as primarily using what furniture and decorative | | | | collections etc. so the buyer can envision living there) |
| accessories the homeowner already has, with an eye | | | | - arranging the furniture and accessories for optimal |
| towards the future sale of the home. | | | | placement to enhance flow (the ability to walk freely |
| Now, let's explore each one more in-depth. | | | | through the room), focal point enhancement (e.g., |
| Interior Design | | | | emphasizing a fireplace or a beautiful view), balance |
| According to the National Council for Interior Design | | | | (are there too many or too large pieces in the |
| Qualifications (NCIDQ): | | | | bookcase or on only one side of the room?) and the |
| - Interior design is a multi-faceted profession in which | | | | positive aspects of the home while downplaying the |
| creative and technical solutions are applied within a | | | | negatives |
| structure to achieve a built interior environment. | | | | - Carefully selecting for purchase or rent, if necessary, |
| - These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of | | | | the appropriate furniture and accessories for the style |
| life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically | | | | of the home and it's market. |
| attractive. | | | | - Recommending, implementing and/or arranging for |
| - Designs are created in response to and coordinated | | | | enhancements, updates and repairs such as painting, |
| with thebuilding shell and acknowledge the physical | | | | flooring, sink fixtures, lighting fixtures, window |
| location and social context of the project. | | | | treatments, landscaping, etc. |
| - Designs must adhere to code and regulatory | | | | Interior Redesign |
| requirements, and encourage the principles of | | | | As stated above, interior redesign is like home staging, |
| environmental sustainability. | | | | however it enhances the home for the homeowners |
| - The interior design process follows a systematic and | | | | rather than for potential buyers. And it does so with an |
| coordinated methodology, including research, analysis | | | | eye towards its future sale. It is like home staging in |
| and integration of knowledge into the creative process, | | | | that it primarily uses the client's existing furniture and |
| whereby the needs and resources of the client are | | | | decorative accessories to transform the space, and |
| satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the | | | | may also involve the purchase of additional furniture |
| project goals. | | | | and accessories as well as updates to the wall colors, |
| The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is | | | | window treatments, lighting fixtures etc. |
| the leading organization for interior design professionals. | | | | Summary |
| Certain levels of its members must meet certain | | | | To summarize the differences: |
| education, work experience and examination | | | | - Interior Design involves the planning of all aspects of |
| requirements administered by the NCIDQ. Further, | | | | interior space often by a licensed professional. |
| some states have licensing requirements for interior | | | | - Interior Decorating involves the adornment of |
| designers which include the passage of this exam. | | | | surfaces in the interior space. Interior designers may |
| ASID also has continuing education requirements for its | | | | decorate, but interior decorators don't design. |
| members. | | | | - Home Staging is preparing the home for sale through |
| Interior Decorating | | | | updates and showcasing so that it appeals to the |
| No wonder people often confuse Interior Decorating | | | | broadest range of buyers for the market that the |
| with Interior Design. Even I had trouble finding a | | | | home is in. |
| definition for Interior Decorating. Often it said "see | | | | - Interior Redesign employs many of the same |
| interior design". | | | | principles that home stagers use, such as primarily |
| Perhaps its best to understand interior decorating as it | | | | using what furniture and decorative accessories the |
| exists in contrast to interior design: | | | | homeowner already has, with an eye towards the |
| - An interior decorator would select floor coverings | | | | future sale of the home. |