Interior Designer vs. Interior Decorator: What Boston Homeowners Need to Know

The Terms Are Often Used Interchangeably—But They Shouldn't Be

Walk into any dinner party in Brookline or Wellesley and mention that you're working with an interior designer, and someone will inevitably say something like: "Oh, my decorator did the same thing for our living room." The terms are used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but professionally, they represent very different skill sets, scopes of work, and qualifications.

Understanding the difference isn't about professional gatekeeping—it's about ensuring you hire the right person for your specific project. The wrong choice can cost you time, money, and frustration.

What an Interior Decorator Does

An interior decorator focuses on the aesthetic treatment of existing spaces. Their work involves selecting and arranging the visual elements that make a room feel complete and beautiful.

Typical Decorator Services:

• Furniture selection and arrangement
• Color palette development and paint selection
• Fabric and textile selection for upholstery, drapery, and pillows
• Accessory and art curation
• Styling and visual merchandising of shelves, mantels, and surfaces
• Holiday and seasonal decorating

What Decorators Typically Don't Do:

• Create or modify architectural plans
• Work with contractors on structural changes
• Design custom millwork or built-in cabinetry
• Specify plumbing, electrical, or HVAC modifications
• Manage renovation or construction projects

Think of a decorator as the person who makes a structurally complete room look beautiful. They work within the existing architecture and floor plan.

What an Interior Designer Does

An interior designer does everything a decorator does—plus a great deal more. Interior designers are trained to work with the architecture of a space, not just its surface treatment.

Interior Designer Services Include:

• Everything a decorator does (furniture, color, textiles, art, styling)
• Space planning and floor plan development
• Custom millwork design—built-ins, cabinetry, architectural details
• Material specification—flooring, tile, countertops, hardware
• Kitchen and bathroom design including layout, plumbing coordination, and fixture specification
• Lighting design—both architectural and decorative
• Contractor coordination and construction administration
• Code compliance and accessibility considerations
• 3D renderings and technical drawings

At Jessie K Homes, our design services span the full spectrum—from space planning and renovation management to the final accessory placement. Whether we're designing a complete new home in Newton or renovating a kitchen in Reading, our scope extends well beyond decorating.

Education and Credentials

Interior Designers

Professional interior designers typically hold a bachelor's degree in interior design from an accredited program. Many also pursue additional certifications:

• NCIDQ Certification: The National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam is the recognized benchmark for professional competence.
• ASID Membership: The American Society of Interior Designers requires education and examination credentials.
• State Licensing: Massachusetts doesn't currently require a license for interior designers, but many states do—and the credential standards still apply to serious professionals.

Interior Decorators

Decorating has no formal education requirements. Many excellent decorators have a natural eye for aesthetics and have developed their skills through experience, mentorship, or certificate programs. However, there's no standardized credential or examination.

When to Hire a Decorator

A decorator is the right choice when:

• Your space is architecturally complete and doesn't need structural changes
• You need help selecting furniture, accessories, and finishes for an existing layout
• You're refreshing or restyling rooms without renovation
• Your budget is focused on furnishings and visual updates
• You're staging a home for sale

A good decorator can transform a room's appearance dramatically through smart furniture choices, layered textiles, and curated accessories—all without touching a wall.

When to Hire an Interior Designer

An interior designer is the right choice when:

• Your project involves new construction or renovation
• You're changing floor plans, removing walls, or reconfiguring spaces
• Custom millwork, built-in cabinetry, or architectural details are needed
• You need kitchen or bathroom design with plumbing and electrical coordination
• Your project requires contractor management and construction administration
• You want a comprehensive, fully managed design experience

For the Somerville condo development, for example, our work began long before any furniture was selected. We collaborated with the developer on floor plans, specified every finish and material, designed custom kitchens and bathrooms, coordinated with contractors throughout construction, and then furnished and styled each unit for market.

Can One Person Do Both?

Absolutely. Most interior designers also handle the decorating elements—furniture selection, art curation, styling—as an integrated part of their service. In fact, the most compelling residential design happens when the architecture, finishes, furniture, and accessories are all conceived as a unified vision.

The reverse isn't always true: decorators generally aren't equipped to handle construction-related design decisions, technical drawings, or contractor coordination.

Cost Differences

Because their scope of work differs significantly, so does pricing:

• Decorators: Typically charge $100–$300/hour or flat fees of $2,000–$15,000 per room
• Interior designers: Typically charge $150–$500+/hour or flat fees starting at $5,000+ per room, with whole-home projects ranging from $25,000 to $200,000+ in design fees

The designer's higher fee reflects the broader scope of work, the level of expertise required, and the project management responsibilities involved. For a comprehensive look at pricing, check out our guide to interior design costs in Boston.

The Boston Context

In the Greater Boston market, the distinction between designer and decorator matters particularly because of the region's architectural diversity. A home in Lexington might require sensitive renovation of historic details. A new build in Woburn needs design input from the blueprint stage. A Back Bay brownstone demands understanding of load-bearing walls, historic guidelines, and creative solutions within fixed architectural constraints.

These are challenges that require design training and construction knowledge—not just a great eye for accessories.

The Bottom Line

Both interior designers and interior decorators provide valuable services. The key is matching the professional to your project's actual needs:

• Room refresh or styling project? A decorator may be all you need.
• Renovation, new construction, or comprehensive design? You want an interior designer.
• Not sure? Start with a consultation. A good designer will honestly assess whether your project needs their full scope of services or whether a lighter touch would serve you better.

At Jessie K Homes, we work with homeowners at every level—from virtual design consultations to full-service luxury renovations and new construction. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your project and find the right level of design support for your goals.