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By: Sarah West on Wed Aug 27, 2008

Interior decorator is a term normally used to describe a person in the business of decorating. But most people use the word interchangeable with the word interior designer. These two however are not the same. There is a marked difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator. An interior decorator main function is to improve the aesthetic value of a room. They do this by “feel” gained from experiences or their own talents. They normally do not have formal training unlike interior designers who have tertiary educations.

Because of this, anyone with a little “talent” can call themselves interior decorators. Engaging the wrong person as such can prove to be an expensive adventure. Therefore before embarking on a decorating escapade there are a few tips that one can follow to avoid a costly exercise in decorating.

• Assess the extent of decoration in the room or dwelling that you wish to decorate. This will give you a rough idea of how much work is required. By proper planning, you will save time and hire the right kind of manpower needed to do the proper job. You do not need a plaster ceiling specialist to have a white ceiling; a painter can also achieve the same effect.

• Research and read up as much as you can on the relevant aspects of decorating that you wish to undertake. Having additional general knowledge will help you spot any deficiencies in the skills of the interior decorator that you wish to hire.

• Call for quotations from several contractors and compare them. Make a note of what is quoted. A quote can be cheaper maybe because a contractor deliberately left out an element to quote into the quotation.

• Check the interior decorator portfolio of his or her previous work. This will help you assess his or her capabilities as well as their “taste”.