Interior Designers: What Do They Do? When Do You Need One?
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2025Interior design covers numerous areas, from space planning to color schemes, material choices, furniture styles, and placement. There are so many things to think about when renovating or building new. You've probably heard of interior designers but may not actually know what they do. Today, we'll help you sort through the clutter and help you decide whether you need one for your project.
Table of Contents
- What Is An Interior Designer?
- How Is an Interior Designer Different From an Interior Decorator?
- When Is It Worth Hiring an Interior Designer?
- Should I Hire an Interior Designer or an Architect First?
- How Can an Interior Designer Help You Build a Sustainable Home?
- Can an Interior Designer Help if I'm Building a Passive House?
- How Do I Find an Interior Designer?
- What Happens at a Meeting With an Interior Designer?
What Is An Interior Designer?
Interior designers design solutions that are safe, functional, and attractive. They may work independently or as an employee of an architectural or building firm. Regardless, projects are most successful when the interior designer collaborates with other building professionals on a job.
How Is an Interior Designer Different From an Interior Decorator?
Anyone with a sense of style can call themselves an interior decorator. That person may bring excellent skills to the table, but they don't have the formal education required of an interior designer.
In the United States, a professional interior designer holds at least an associate degree and has taken courses in construction, design theory, business and communications. Some states may require an interior designer to take the NCIDQ exam given by Council for Interior Design Qualification. Some states require licensure, particularly for those interior designers working in commercial or code-regulated settings. An interior decorator, on the other hand, does not need to be licensed.
In Canada, interior designers have similar requirements, including a minimum of a four-year baccalaureate (except in the province of Quebec). They must follow educational standards set by CIDA, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.
When Is It Worth Hiring an Interior Designer?
In the past, consumers may have thought of hiring an interior designer as a luxury. But now, there are many points of entry at all affordability levels. "Many interior designers are offering more a la carte services," says New York City-based interior designer Diana Mosher. You don't have to purchase all your furnishings directly from them, which was often the case in the past. You can choose to work with an interior designer on just one room and not a whole house. "They are more open to consulting opportunities."
Now, many designers offer e-design services, where you can pay per room rather than per hour because of the Internet. You might fill out a questionnaire, upload measurements and as-is photographs. An interior designer then responds with a plan, color concepts, and furniture selections. Then, you can purchase products yourself.
Ultimately, an interior designer can save you money by helping you make the right choices and avoid costly mistakes.
How Do I Find an Interior Designer?
You can start by looking at the Find a Pro page of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) website. There, you can search for professionals for residential or commercial projects. Online platforms also have myriad images posted by interior designers, and, of course, you can ask a builder or friends, relatives, and colleagues for suggestions.
Stacey Freed
I’m constantly on the hunt for a way to hike and write simultaneously.
