Did you know that, within the world of interior design, there are actually many hats a designer can wear? It's true! Since we often get questions about the services we offer here at Surf Road, we thought we would share some of the hats we wear, and explain the differences between Interior Designers, Interior Decorators and Interior Stylists.

Often times, the duties of these different roles can overlap, and it can be tricky to know what services you need for you project.

Understanding the differences between interior designer, decorator and stylist will help set you up for success for your home project in that it will help set expectations and allow you to best utilize the skillset of the person you've hired! As a professional in the field it is also important on our end to understand what lane we are in, and set boundaries so that we are not doing needless work, or work we weren't hired to do!

Interior Designer

An interior designer is a professional who will oversee an entire design project including renovation and build out design. Designers take on a project with the idea of conceptualizing a space based on aesthetic as well as functionality. Designers will often have degrees in their trade - though it is not necessary. Check out this blog post on whether or not qualification is needed to be an interior designer from The Little Design Corner with Clare Le Roy. Interior Designers typically have connections to construction companies and furniture / many other retailers that will save the client big bucks through an interior project! Oversight of a project is a responsibility that falls under the umbrella of designer, as well as providing the client with technical drawings. We use sketchup for this part of the design process at Surf Road - you can check out some of our renderings here.

a sketchup rendering of a build out dining room project

Interior Decorator

An interior decorator falls somewhere between designer and stylist. A decorator may still visualize and plan a space for its permanent stage - however they do not have the ability to plan and oversee elements of a project such as building, carpentry etc. A decorator will focus on the furnishings and decorations of a space, whereas a designer will plan the flow of the space. If you have hired a construction company separately and just want assistance with picking out your decor and furnishings, a decorator is a perfect choice!

A recent home project where we wore ALL the hats

Interior Stylist

A stylist is someone who creates an aesthetically pleasing space for a short time or for an event. Whether it be a wedding, corporate event, dinner party, or photoshoot - a stylist may be hired to create an overall aesthetic that carries the vibe. This blog post from Decorilla, has a comprehensive overview of all a stylist can offer a client. A stylist will usually have access to a plethora of accessories they can use for staging these events temporarily but not permanently.

All in all every one of these creative professionals is impressive, however it is important to understand what your personal project entails and to hire the right fit!