What Does an Interior Designer Actually Do—And Do You Really Need One?
Even if you religiously read design magazines and take on home improvement projects, you may not be entirely certain as to what exactly the role of a professional interior designer entails. And you're not alone in wondering. Even design aficionados have questions including, what are homeowners looking to achieve, specifically, when hiring a designer? Does every home reno need an interior designer? And what's the difference between a designer, architect, and contractor?
There's no need to wonder any more. We've put together a guide that answers the above questions from the experts themselves. Read on to learn about an interior designer's main roles and responsibilities, the essential skills and qualities necessary for success in the field, and more.
The Difference Between an Interior Designer, an Architect, and a Decorator
If you're renovating your home, you might be working with all three of these—or just one, depending on your needs. So, how do these three roles differ?
"An interior designer has a large impact on the interiors of a home—including, but not limited to, the interior millwork, layout, flow, and most importantly elements that contribute to creating an atmosphere," says Clara Jung, the founder of Banner Day Interiors. "For most of the projects we work on, the architect is largely focused on the envelope of the home, alongside structural and mechanical considerations, and conversely, a decorator has a strong hand in soft furnishings and accessories." These latter responsibilities fall within a designer's purview, too, but may be viewed through a different lens. "Interior designers have an additional focus on perfecting the bones of the space, so they are ready for decorating," says Jeanne Barber, the founder of Camden Grace Interiors. "We don’t want to put lipstick on a pig."
In other words, an interior designer usually gets involved earlier in the process than a decorator would, working with an architect to start shaping the look of the space from the inside out. A decorator, on the other hand, doesn't deal with structural changes to the home, building codes, and other architectural details. They come in once all that is settled (if needed) to work on style—patterns, colors, fabric, furniture, artwork and the like. If you have an interior designer, you may not need a decorator. If you have an architect and a decorator, you may not need an interior designer. Or you might want all three—and they may in fact prefer working together.
Some interior designers work within what is known as a design-build firm, which Barber describes as "a one-stop shop bringing designers, architects, and a construction team together under one roof." This type of firm "really focuses efficiency and consolidation—on having all stakeholders of a project under one umbrella," Jung says.
Traditional design firms, on the other hand, draw from an extended network of professionals in these fields as needed. This approach, Barber says, "offers flexibility in assembling the right team for each project scope, budget, and timeline."
Generally speaking, when working on a project, an interior designer will be responsible for developing the floor plans, selecting elements including the millwork, cabinetry and hardware, tile, appliances, plumbing fixtures, and also developing the home's lighting plan and elevations, Barber says. "We create very precise spreadsheets of all selections, and the contractor generally handles the procurement of these items and coordinates and oversees installation," she explains. Next, she notes, the designer will identify and purchase everything that goes within each individual room of the home—furniture, window treatments, rugs, lighting, and more.
Why Hire an Interior Designer?
What are most homeowners looking to achieve with the help of an interior designer? According to Barber, "Clients often express that they want a cohesive, timeless home that is both functional and beautiful." Many times, she shares, clients can identify individual styles and furnishings that they like but "struggle pulling it all together," and that's where she draws on her professional expertise.
Jung explains that she has been brought in to tackle everything from evaluating architectural drawings to assisting with smaller details, and she enjoys the versatility of her work. "The wide swings in decision-making designers are asked to do are unique and special," she says. "It also makes the job interesting."
An interior designer can also function as a bit of a project manager. Managing a home design project from conception to completion is an extensive undertaking, which can oftentimes take many years.
"We often say that designing a home is a lot like planning a wedding: it’s an exciting, transformative investment that requires thoughtful execution, trust in the process, and patience," Barber says. She explains that the first step of the process is meeting with clients to understand their vision—going over inspiration photos is key—and answer their initial questions before completing a site survey of the property in question, during which the designer gathers measurements and photos.
Each project a designer takes on is thoughtful and bespoke. "We meticulously plan each space with our clients' lifestyle and needs in mind," Barber explains. "This entails developing scaled furniture floor plans, elevations and renderings, and sourcing case goods, soft furnishings, window treatments, rugs, flooring, fabric, paint, art, wallcoverings and finishes—all in a way that results in a cohesive design."
Once that is done, a designer will show a client a design presentation and proposal, which serves as an opportunity for the clients to review everything that their designer has conceptualized as well as go over a breakdown of budget. "I am a big advocate of showing clients everything together, at once, because that is what they are hiring us to do—create a cohesive vision," Barber says.
If a designer is not just revamping an existing home but is working on a new build or renovation, there are additional steps involved, including giving feedback on architectural plans, functional needs, and more, Barber says. "Depending on the project, we also conduct on-site walkthroughs with contractors to take measurements, assess feasibility, identify potential issues, and discuss the general design direction," she adds.
What to Look for in an Interior Designer
Designers must possess a multitude of skills in order to be successful in their field. "It's a very right brain/left brain profession," Barber says. "Designers need to possess creativity and vision, but they also must be excellent issue spotters, problem solvers, and team players."
Designers never stop learning or sharpening their toolkit, either. "I have personally found an inquisitive nature to be very helpful," Jung says. "Constantly asking questions and learning about the build side will often make one a stronger designer."
Strong organizational capabilities are also essential. "The number of spreadsheets we maintain for every project is insane, but necessary," Barber says. Additionally, she notes, maintaining strong, respectful relationships with trades and craftspeople is also key.
Interior designers can get state certification, and there is also the National Council for Interior Design Qualification certification, which, Jung says, "means that a designer has met various criteria in technical knowledge and skills." But the most important things to consider are whether you like the designer's style and their personality. "Check references and their body of work," says Jung, who also advises, "The Expert would be a great place to start for someone looking for a designer." Barber adds, "I would suggest looking until you find a designer who is someone you'd be okay spending a weekend away with because it’s a long relationship so that fit is really important."
With regard to the designer-client relationship specifically, being able to help to manage expectations is a key skill, Jung notes. "Giving sometimes hard to hear news directly and with utmost transparency is something that has served me really well," she says. "Our primary job alongside design is to be a guide and advocate for our clients."
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