Mini blog: The difference between interior design and interior decorating
Often we tend to confuse the terms "interior design" and "interior decorating", thinking they both mean the same thing. Well, we're here to tell you that there is, in fact, a difference between both things.
The NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification), says "Many people use terms "interior design" and "interior decorating" interchangeably, but these professions differ in critical ways. Interior design is the art and science of understanding people's behavior to create functional spaces within a building. Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things. In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design.
Interior designers apply creative and technical solutions within a structure that are functional, attractive and beneficial to the occupants' quality of life and culture. Designs respond to and coordinate with the buildings shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements and encourage the principles of enviromental sustainability. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology -- including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into creative process-- to satisfy the needs and resources of the client
U.S. states and Canadian provinces have passed laws requiring interior designers to be licensed or registered and to document their formal education and training. Many states and provinces also specifically require all practicing interior designers to earn the NCIDQ Certification to demonstrate their experience and qualifications. By contrast, interior decorators require no formal training or licensure."
