Everything You Should Know About Interior Decorators (and Why You Should Hire One)

Your living room needs a facelift, but you want a seasoned eye to help you think through the stack of Martha Stewart magazines you’ve been collecting. Hiring an interior decorator is one way to achieve those magazine-ready looks in your home while saving time and boosting your home’s resale value. Read on to learn if you should decorate your home on your own or leave the accessorizing to the professionals.

What Is An Interior Decorator?

First thing’s first: interior decorators are not the same as interior designers. When it comes to interior designers vs. decorators, know that decorators are not interior designers, but some designers can also be decorators. 

An interior decorator uses a number of decor tools and items, such as paint, fabric, furnishings, accessories, and more to modify the aesthetic look of a home or other space. While there are no schooling requirements (though programs and certifications exist, such as from the Certified Interior Decorators International) to become an interior decorator, there are to become an interior designer. (Interior designers require knowledge of architecture, renovation, and constructions.)

The Process of Working With an Interior Decorator

There are a few logistical steps to note before your home is transformed.

Initial Meeting

In the hiring phase, you will meet with a shortlist of decorators to discuss your goals. In this initial consultation, you should talk about the style and aesthetics you prefer, the rooms you want to be decorated, your budget, and your ideal timeline. If you want to paint the room in calming colors, for example, note that. This meeting is a good time to ask your decorator questions about their process: 

• How long have you been a decorator? Do you have any formal training?

• Can you show me samples of your work?

• How often do you like to communicate, and what’s your preferred method of communication—text, email, phone call?

• What are your billing terms? Are the cost of materials built-in to your hourly rate?

You should feel free to bring photographs or objects that will help the designer envision the look you’re after. You could also create a mood board on Pinterest to help them understand the color scheme and decor style you want.

Follow-Up Meetings

The second meeting will be more logistical and happens after you have hired the decorator. The decorator will come to your home and take any measurements necessary—of the rooms and of existing furniture you wish to keep. Additionally, they will photograph the house. Your decorator may have given you a questionnaire to complete, or they will come prepared with some general ideas in the form of Pinterest boards, photos of previous work, or magazine spreads. 

If subcontractors—such as painters, custom furniture makers, or window experts—are necessary, there might be a third meeting to show them the space and take additional measurements. Plan to attend any and all meetings with subcontractors—they may have questions only you can answer, and vice versa!

The Presentation

Now that the decorator understands your desires and preferences, they will work on a final presentation, which might include 3D renderings of the rooms to be designed. It should definitely include a detailed budget, with line items for subcontractors and all furnishings. 

This is the time to ask for any changes to the plan; making changes later could cause additional expenses. Be decisive and opinionated—this helps the designer. If you hate the look of a chair, say so. If you have a piece of wall art picked out, show them.

Work and Installation

Once the terms and design plan have been greenlit, the work can begin. While any painting or any non-decor-related work is being done, the furniture and accessories will be ordered and stored somewhere safe. On installation day, all these items will be brought into your home and you can finally enjoy the new look.

Do You Need an Interior Decorator?

Photo: stokkete / Adobe Stock

There are a few cases in which you might benefit from hiring an interior decorator. 

You’re Short on Time

Whether you just moved into your home or you’ve been there for years and just need a refreshed look, it’s possible you simply don’t have the time to research, shop around, and decorate your house the way you want it decorated. An interior decorator can handle nearly all the logistics, from A to Z, saving you time and energy.

You Want to Save Money

It may sound counterintuitive that you can save money by hiring a decorator, but by being super clear about your budget your decorator’s objective will be to stay within that budget, and they will know all the places to look for furniture, pillows, lamps, and more to find items that meet your aesthetic preferences without breaking the bank. In addition, as they are professionals, they should be able to complete the job correctly the first time, saving you the money you might spend redoing a decor project you botched.

You Want to Connect With Other Contractors

Your decorator will likely have a network of excellent local contractors, from painters to electricians, to help with your project. Not only could you gain a whole new list of contacts from the experience, but you’ll know the initial work will be in trusted hands.

You Want to Boost Your Home’s Resale Value

A professionally decorated home can boost its resale value, with potential buyers walking in and instantly getting that wow feeling, seeing a visual storyline throughout your home.

Where to Find an Interior Decorator

There are a few ways to find interior designers for that initial discovery meeting.

• Talk to family and friends and get referrals.

• Ask your neighbors—especially those whose home design you love—who decorated their house.

• Search on Angi for interior decorators near you.