INTERIOR DESIGNER VS. INTERIOR STYLIST

So it’s aNew Year and you’ve decided to make afew changes at home, and you realize that you’re going to need abit of help. You begin looking for possible services and find that some professionals describe their work as interior design while others are interior stylists. Suddenly you’re faced with new questions, namely, “What’s the difference?” And more importantly, “Which one do Ineed?”

Interior design and interior styling are often mistaken as the same thing, but theterms are not completely interchangeable. There are many similarities between thetwo jobs—so many, in fact, that opinions vary on exactly where to draw the distinction. There are also more than afew differences between the professions— some subtle, some significant. As you decide whichkind of helpyou need when planning changes in your home, it will help to understand the differences between professional designers and stylists.

Interior Design

Interior design is aprofession that requires specific schooling and formal training. The work involved usually includes studyingcolourand fabric, computer-aided design (CAD) training, drawing, space planning, furniture design, architecture, and more. Upon graduating, designers often apprentice with aregistered and established interior designer before moving on to establish their own companies. Designers are comfortable with spatial planning and can help design and renovate interiors—from drawing up the initial floor plans to placing thelast decorative accent. Designers don’t just enhance the look; they also enhance the function of aroom. Interior designers often work closely with architects and builders to help achieve the look the client desires, whether that client is designing aresidential home, an office, ahotel, or any other interior space.

Interior Styling

To practice professionally, interior stylists don’t necessarily need to have formal training or schooling because they focus primarily on aesthetics and don’t participate in renovations or structural planning. Astylist comes into the picture after the structural planning and execution are completed to focus on the surface look of the space. Most of the interior images and ideas you will see in magazines, on-line interior shops and social media are curated by interior stylists.

Good stylists are skilled at coming into aroom and whippingitinto visual shape. For new spaces, they can help clients decide on astyle, choose a colour scheme, purchase furniture, and accessorise. They’re also often brought in to spruce up an existing space that needs to be updated or redone. Stylists don’t generally work with any contractors or architects since structural work is usually complete before they come on board. They do, however, work with furniture makers, upholsterers, and other industry professionals. Most often, though, they work directly with homeowners or business managers.

Should IHire aDesigneroraStylist?

Who you should hire depends on your needs? If structural changes are needed (such as removing awall, moving plumbingorwiring around,oradding new windows or doors), then generally an interior designer is the better choice. Designers can help plan for significant structural changes and help make them happen by working directly with architects and builders. On the other hand, if there are no structural changes needed but you need aesthetic help— deciding on astyle; choosing wallpaper, paint, and furnishings; picking window treatments, and choosing lighting and accessories—an interior stylist will probably do the trick. Experienced stylists know what works together and can transform aroom to suit aclient’s needs anddesires.

In the end, however, choosing the right professional depends largely on the skills of the particular professional, not the job title. Agreat many designers with formal schooling spend most of their time doing work that can be best described as styling since it involves no renovation or structural work. And there are just as many professional stylists who, through long experience, are perfectly capable of working with builders in the same way as adesigner.

When hiring aprofessional,begin with clearly understanding yourown needs andlook for apro who has a proven reputation for meeting those needs, no matter what the formal job title. It’s generally true that designers are for space planning and structural execution, while stylists are for the final aesthetic decisions. But don’t be afraid to cross lines to hire astylist with areputation as agood designer, or a designer with aflair for styling, provided their skills are proven.

Forfurtherinformationcontact KarenatSouthCoastRevivalsforan informalchaton07818012658.