Interior designers and interior decorators
Career Overview
Interior designers and interior decorators make inside spaces useful, comfortable and appealing. They determine what is needed in the space and choose elements including lighting, colours and materials.
While interior designers and interior decorators have some things in common, they are two distinct jobs that have different education and training requirements, skill sets and responsibilities.
Interior designers enhance the function and quality of interior spaces. They may specialize in residential, commercial, institutional, cultural and industrial buildings. They may also design for aircraft, ships or trains, trade shows and exhibitions. Their work can improve office productivity, create a relaxed feeling in a home, provide a connected cultural or social experience and can increase the value of a building. They typically work with architects, construction managers, electricians, other building and renovation specialists, as well as inspectors.
Interior decorators make a physical space look and feel good, while being functional. They develop a plan that includes creating the foundation of colours used in the rooms. They choose and place wall coverings, window treatments, furniture, décor and other accessories. Interior decorators work in homes, restaurants, hotels, cruise ships, offices and other spaces to make them feel welcoming, comfortable and useful.
In some cases, an interior designer may take on the duties of an interior decorator, but without the required education and training, an interior decorator cannot act as an interior designer.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, interior designers and interior decorators:
- Meet with clients to understand their needs and goals
- Develop design concepts to fit the clients’ needs, create functionality and that follow health/safety codes and standards
- Develop and present final design ideas to clients
- Estimate costs and materials
- Negotiate prices for items/materials
- Oversee the purchase of additional services, materials and other items for the client
- Manage the project at each stage
- May direct the work of subcontractors and other vendors
More specifically, interior designers:
- Analyze, plan, design, document and manage interior non-structural/non-seismic construction and alteration projects
- Ensure compliance with building design and construction, fire and energy codes, standards, regulations and guidelines, including universal accessibility guidelines
- Read and understand blueprints and other architectural design plans
- Prepare drawings and specifications for non-load-bearing interior construction, reflected ceiling plans, lighting, interior detailing, materials, finishes, space planning, furnishings, fixtures and equipment
- Develop detailed plans and 3D models showing arrangement of walls, dividers, displays, lighting and other fixtures using computer-assisted design (CAD) software and other graphics software
- Collaborate with licensed practitioners in the technical areas of mechanical, electrical and load-bearing design
- Review and evaluate design solutions during implementation and upon completion
More specifically, interior decorators:
- Plan and prepare building interiors for effective use
- Develop visuals that show what the room or space will look like
- Identify the colours to be used
- Plan the style of the room/space and choose/place wall coverings, window treatments, furniture, décor and other accessories
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
4,660% Employed Full Time
44%Interior designers and decorators may work for or with homeowners, real estate firms, architectural firms, interior design or decorating firms, retail businesses, construction companies, hospitals, airlines, hotel and restaurant chains and other establishments. They may be full-time employees or contractors. Interior decorators may work for REALTOR® and real estate companies to provide staging services, preparing homes to appeal to potential buyers.
Interior designers must understand building and fire codes and should be able to address accessibility for those with physical challenges. Often, interior designers are required to work with architects, electricians, and other contractors to make sure building designs are compatible with building codes and regulations.
People with these careers often work in an office or studio, and go to the construction site, the building or space. Some interior designers go to the worksite to make sure the correct directions are given to construction or tradespeople.
Career Pathways
For interior designers and interior decorators, there are different specialities to focus on, depending on their training, skill level and interest. For both careers, this could mean a concentration on residential (homes), commercial (hotels, restaurants, retail stores), corporate (offices and businesses) and healthcare (hospitals, clinics and health/wellness spaces). Some may specialize further. For example, an interior designer might focus on kitchens or bathrooms and an interior decorator might only work on small condos, single family homes or corporate offices.
A growing area of focus is sustainable interior design, which tries to minimize the environmental impact of the materials used in the building while still providing an attractive, comfortable space with good flow. This could include using bamboo flooring instead of hardwood or adding a rooftop garden. It could also include ensuring that air quality in the home is clean and promotes a healthy living environment.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the leading organization for interior design certifications that offers the designation as a sustainable designer.
For interior decorators, this may include using recycled and fair-trade items to furnish and accessorize the home. It may also include ensuring that paints, wall coverings and other elements do not contribute to poor air quality.
Interior decorators may decide to open their own firm when first starting their career. Interior designers are more likely to work with established interior design firms or other related companies as they build their experience and credentials. People in this career who work for a larger organization often have opportunities for training, mentorship and the ability to work with senior interior designers or decorators on larger projects.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Interior designers:
- A four-year university degree in interior design is required.
- The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination may be required after six years of combined study and experience
- Certification by a provincial institute or association is required to use the designation Interior Design Consultant (IDC) in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
- Must meet annual regulatory requirements for ongoing education and training
Interior decorators:
- A college certificate or diploma in interior decoration is preferred but is not an industry requirement
- Membership in the Canadian Decorators' Association is available to qualified decorators
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Convincing others to change their mind or behaviour.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
4,660Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | 0.4% |
| Kootenay | 65 | 1.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,460 | 74.2% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 15 | 0.3% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 470 | 10.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 625 | 13.4% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
2,460Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | -0.6% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 1.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,970 | 1.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 200 | 1.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 270 | 1.0% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 1,720 |
| Construction | 340 |
| Retail Trade | 180 |
| Manufacturing | 40 |
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 30 |
Insights from Industry
Good communications skills are important for people in these careers. Also, they should be able to manage a budget, negotiate with suppliers/vendors and work with clients. Time management and being able to juggle several tasks at once is important.
Interior designers and decorators must meet deadlines and stay on budget, identify potential problems and offer practical solutions. Having a calm, positive attitude, even under pressure, is an important skill.
It’s important for interior designers and decorators to keep up to date on trends and new technology. They need to understand what the client expects and make that happen on time and on budget.
An increased area of focus for both interior designers and interior decorators is sustainability and reducing the environmental footprint of materials/goods used.
It’s important to understand that what is shown on television or in the movies is not the reality. A person considering a career as an interior designer or interior decorator should understand how different these two roles can be, even though there are some similarities.
A career as an interior designer requires specific education, technical skills and knowledge related to architecture, engineering, construction and other building trades. Interior decorating focuses on the look and style of rooms or spaces within a building. This includes furnishings, art, wall colour and accessories that make a room welcoming, comfortable and visually pleasing.
Resources
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Canadian Decorators’ Associationwww.mdhinteriors.com/CDECA.html
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Decorators & Designers Association of Canada (DDA)ddacanada.com
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Green Building Canada – LEEDgreenbuildingcanada.ca/2013/leed-exam-canada
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Interior Designers of Canada (IDC)www.idcanada.org
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of an interior designer is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of an interior designer is like.
