Maybe I’m writing this post for no one. Maybe everyone already knows this stuff, but I kind of think that there are some misconceptions that I wouldn’t hate to clear up, if given the chance. So, if you’ve stumbled onto this page by accident and you have a few minutes to indulge in explanations about things you may or may not already know… please, read on.

Okay, let’s start at the start. What is the difference between Interior Design and Interior Decorating? (And Architecture, because that’s the magic triad of building design professions.)

We often use the words “design” and “decorating” interchangeably, but there is a difference. If you think of professions involved in creating an interior space as a spectrum with architects on one end, and decorators on the other, designers would fall in the middle.

Architects are focused on the structure of a building, heavily relying on math and science to be sure the building is designed with peak efficiency and structural integrity. Some of the architect’s personal aesthetic comes into play with the building’s design, but the core of their work is about maximizing function.

Interior designers are usually not involved in the earliest stages of designing a building, but do come in to help with decisions that will shape the semi-permanent features of a building. These are things that are integrated into the building on a level that could be changed in the future, but you’re not planning to do it often. (For example, locations for ceiling lights and bathroom layouts– changeable, yes, but not like how adding or removing a floor lamp is changeable.)

Designers are responsible for choosing things like flooring material, light fixtures and placement, plumbing fixtures and placement, the layout and specific features and functions of built-in cabinetry, countertop material, wall coverings (paint, wallpaper, feature walls, etc.), and essentially all of the semi-permanent elements of a space. They may further develop their project’s design, and choose furnishings and décor as well, but not always.

Interior designers are taught principles of human behavior and psychology, and of course a great deal about a variety of materials and lighting, as well as some less-exciting, but very important, building requirements. Designers work with all of these concepts and collaborate with other trades to design spaces that meet the needs of their clients.

Interior decorators are focused on the most superficial layer of an interior space: furnishings and décor. For the most part, the choices made by interior decorators are based on changing the aesthetics of a space. There are times when their better-than-average technical knowledge about materials is necessary, such as when their client wants a fabric that’s durable and easy to clean, or when they need to explain why we don’t paint cabinets with standard latex wall paint. (That’s a common DIY mistake, and it’s really not a good idea.) But, for the most part, decorators are focused on styling, and aren’t working in arenas that require highly specialized knowledge on the same level that designers and architects need.

What level of education is required to work in this field?

Architects MUST have a formal education in order to provide either residential or commercial architecture services. Interior Designers usually have a formal education, but it’s not a requirement in the United States. The laws vary from state to state, and in the state of Nevada, Interior Designers must be licensed in order to take on commercial work, but are not required to be licensed for residential work. (More on that in a sec.) Interior Decorators are not required to have a formal education at all, but that doesn’t mean you should assume that they don’t.

While each of these professions requires different degrees of formal education, that is not a reflection on how challenging or fulfilling they are for the people who practice them. Interior decorating can be substantially more stressful than architecture for some people, because it so heavily involves consumers with a wide range of expectations, assumptions, and knowledge. For some people, that kind of daily interaction with clients would be awful; for others, it’s where they thrive!

Nevada’s laws about licensing are a little confusing… can you explain that further?

I sure can! I’m very familiar with the laws here because it was one of the first things I needed to look into when I decided I wanted to start my own design company.

Here’s how it works:

• Commercial projects (when the client is a business): only designers who are licensed in Nevada are allowed to work on commercial projects (there are further tiers of licensing here, but it’s not relevant to residential projects, so I won’t go into that)

• Residential projects (when the client is a homeowner, and their project space is a private residence): in Nevada, there are no legal requirements for the qualifications of the designer. This is a total “buyer beware” situation in our state.

How does a designer get a license for Interior Design (in Nevada)?

First, they must pass a qualifying exam called the NCIDQ: the National Council for Interior Design Qualification. This is administered by the CIDQ– the Council for Interior Design Qualification, and it is the only nationally-recognized standard that determines whether a designer has adequate knowledge and experience to effectively, and safely, provide interior design services.

After passing the NCIDQ, the designer must register for a license with the Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design, and Residential Design (NSBAIDRD). Yeah, that’s a really long acronym.

Can anyone take the NCIDQ? As long as they pass, they can register as an interior designer??

Yeah… no. Nope. Just like you can’t just sign up to take the bar exam to become a lawyer, you can’t just sign up for the NCIDQ.

In order to apply to take the exam, you have to prove that you’ve met educational and work experience requirements.

Education: Bachelors degree from an accredited institution in the field of interior design, or a Bachelors in another major plus at least 60 credit hours of accredited interior design coursework

PLUS

Work: a minimum of 3,520 hours of documented work experience

As you can see, there are a lot of tiers of qualifications within this industry, which are in place to make sure everyone is safe in the buildings they inhabit. The more technical the work, the more you need to prove to the state that you know what you’re doing. While it can feel a little bit “red-tapey”, these laws are important to ensure that we all feel comfortable using the structures we inhabit in society.

The work I’m doing is not typically safety-sensitive, and when it is, I’m using licensed contractors to carry out the work. So, for me, the interior design license is more of a “nice to” certification than a “must do.” I’m happy that I’m able to use my creative skills to develop aesthetically beautiful spaces, and not spend too much of my time worrying about building codes, however interesting they may be.