An interior designer is professionally trained to create a functional and quality interior environment. Qualified through education, experience and examination, a professional designer can identify, research and creatively resolve issues and lead to a healthy, safe and comfortable physical environment.

Interior designers provide various services including:

• consulting services to help determine project goals and objectives
• generating ideas for the functional and aesthetic possibilities of the space
• creating illustrations and renderings
• developing documents and specifications relative to interior spaces in compliance with applicable building and safety codes
• allocating, organizing and arranging a space to suit its function
• monitoring and managing construction and installation of design
• selecting and specifying fixtures, furnishings, products, materials and colors
• purchasing products and fixtures
• designing and managing fabrication of custom furnishings and interior details
• designing lighting and specifying

Most salaried interior designers work for furniture and home furnishings stores, interior designing services, and architectural firms. Others are self-employed and do freelance work-full time or part time-in addition to a salaried job in another occupation.

Interior designers plan the space and furnish the interiors of private homes, public buildings, and business or institutional facilities, such as offices, restaurants, retail establishments, hospitals, hotels, and theaters. They also plan the interiors when existing structures are renovated or expanded. Most interior designers specialize. For example, some may concentrate in home interior design, or home interior decorating and others may further specialize by focusing on particular rooms, such as kitchens or baths.

Interior designers are professionally trained in space planning. In 18 states, they must pass a strict exam and be licensed. While both designers and decorators are concerned with aesthetics, style and mood, interior designers have comprehensive training and command skills that may include an understanding of:

• flame spread ratings, smoke, toxicity and fire rating classifications and materials
• space planning for public and private facilities
• national, state and local building codes
• standards regarding the needs of disabled or elderly persons and other special needs groups
• ergonomics
• lighting quality and quantity
• acoustics and sound transmission

Source: American Society of Interior Designers

The terms interior designer and interior decorator are sometimes used interchangeably. However, there is an important distinction to be made between the two. Interior designers plan and create the overall design for interior spaces, and interior decorators focus on the decorative aspects of interiors. In other words, interior design includes interior decoration, but interior decoration does not encompass interior design.

INTERIOR DESIGNERS plan and design or redesign attractive and useful interiors for homes, hotels, ships, hospitals, office buildings, and other commercial structures.  They can be classified by the following general categories:

1. Designers who own and operate design studios
2. Designers who work as assistants or associates in design firms
3. Designers employed by retail or office furnishings stores
4. Designers employed by architectural firms
5. Designers employed in the design departments of large firms and institutions

Designers often work from blueprints, make detailed floor plans, and draw furniture to scale.  They shop in wholesale markets to locate furnishings and accessories, and, when necessary, design original pieces to be made to order.  They often work closely with both building and landscape architects in planning the interiors of new buildings or remodeling old ones. Presentations for client approval usually include a sketch or scaled floor plan showing furniture arrangement, colour charts, and samples of upholstery, draperies, and wall coverings.  The complete proposal includes an estimate of the cost for the installation.  After the proposal is accepted, Interior Designers assemble furnishings and act as agents for their clients by contracting and supervising the services of craft workers.

Some Interior Designers may specialize in colour coordination, lighting, furniture or fabric design.  Others may teach at universities, art schools, or adult education facilities.

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