Decorating vs. Interior Design

The terms "decorating" and "interior design" are often used interchangeably. I'm guilty of doing this myself and I obviously know the difference. I came across a very good definition of interior design that comes from the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) and thought I would share it here for those of you who may not know the difference between a Decorator and Interior Designer. As someone who had considered quitting her job and doing "decorating" work after starting her family, I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to invest the time and money towards obtaining a degree in Interior Design beforehand so that I could learn about things such as architecture, psychology, the use of space, sustainable design, functional planning and safety issues. All these things should be considered when designing a space. After all the blood, sweat and tears, I will be proud to call myself an Interior Designer upon the completion of my education.

"Interior design is a multifaceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants, and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with the building 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 environmental sustainability. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals." - NCIDQ