On this page
Homeowners hire interior designers for kitchens and bathrooms, basements and open-concept conversions, whole-home refreshes and new builds where the builder's standard finishes aren't enough. The work can be a single consultation, a design package you take to your own contractor, or full coordination through to installation.
This page explains how interior designers differ from decorators, the title rules in Ontario and Quebec, what the scope typically includes, how a project unfolds, how designers work with contractors, and how to plan a home that stays comfortable as your needs change.
Interior designer vs interior decorator: training, scope and what each can take on
The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different work. A decorator focuses on surfaces and furnishings in a space whose layout stays as it is. An interior designer also reworks the space itself: moving partitions that aren't load-bearing, planning kitchens and bathrooms, laying out lighting and producing drawings for contractors.
- Decorator: colour, furniture, window coverings, art, accessories and styling, usually without construction drawings.
- Interior designer: space planning, construction drawings, finish and fixture specifications, lighting and millwork design, plus the decorating layer if you want it.
- Kitchen or bathroom designer: a specialist in one type of room, sometimes employed by a cabinet maker or showroom, with deep knowledge of layouts and products.
- Architect or technologist: needed alongside the designer when the work touches the structure, the building envelope or permit drawings beyond what the designer can prepare.
Is 'interior designer' a protected title? ARIDO in Ontario and the APDIQ in Quebec
In Ontario, the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario Act was passed in 1984 and amended by Bill Pr6 in 1999, which gives Registered Members of ARIDO who meet its standards exclusive use of the title Interior Designer in the province. Someone who isn't a member can still offer design or decorating services in Ontario, just not under that title. ARIDO's online directory lets you find a member and check their status.
In Quebec, the Association professionnelle des designers d'intérieur du Québec (APDIQ) certifies designers, and the government's occupation profile notes that APDIQ certification is required to hold the title of APDIQ Certified Interior Designer. Other provinces have their own associations and rules, so ask which body a designer belongs to and check its directory. Whatever the title, a designer's drawings don't replace an architect's or engineer's seal where a permit calls for one.
What an interior design project can include: space planning, finishes, lighting, kitchens and baths
Scope ranges from a single room to a whole house, and from a few hours of advice to a complete set of documents a contractor can build from.
- Space planning: measured drawings of the existing space and layout options for partitions, doors, storage and furniture.
- Kitchens and bathrooms: layouts, cabinetry and millwork drawings, fixture and appliance selections, and tile layouts.
- Lighting: a plan that layers general, task and accent lighting, with switch locations and fixture selections for the electrician.
- Finishes and materials: flooring, tile, counters, paint, hardware and trim, compiled in a finish schedule for each room.
- Furniture and decor: selection, sourcing and placement, if the mandate goes that far.
- Documentation: drawings and specifications detailed enough for contractors to price the same scope of work.
How the interior design process unfolds, from first consultation to installation
Decisions pile up in the middle of a project, so settle the big ones, like layout and cabinetry, before the smaller finishes.
- Consultation and brief: how you use the space, what bothers you, the look you like and the budget.
- Existing conditions: the designer measures and photographs the space, noting plumbing, ducts, beams and windows that constrain the layout.
- Concept: layout options, mood boards or three-dimensional views that set the direction before details are drawn.
- Design development: final layout, finishes, fixtures and lighting, with samples to see and touch.
- Construction documents: drawings, elevations and finish schedules issued to contractors for pricing.
- Site coordination and installation: visits to answer questions, check details and resolve surprises, then the final styling.
Interior designers and contractors: who does what, and how to avoid gaps on site
A designer designs and specifies; a licensed contractor, holding an RBQ licence in Quebec, builds and is responsible for the work, the permits it obtains and the trades it hires. Some designers work with contractors they know, some offer design-build with a partner, and some hand over drawings for you to tender. Whatever the model, set out in writing who orders materials, who checks deliveries, who approves changes and whom the trades call with questions.
Problems appear in the gaps: tile ordered short, a vanity that doesn't match the rough plumbing, a light fixture chosen after the electrician has closed the walls. Give the designer's drawings to every trade, and hold a site meeting before work starts so the designer and contractor can walk through the details together.
Accessibility and aging-in-place design: planning a home that works as needs change
Good interior design can make a home easier to live in for years, whether you're planning ahead or adapting to a disability. Many of these features add little when they're part of a renovation and cost far more to add later.
- A curbless shower, with blocking in the walls for grab bars later.
- Wider clearances and doorways, and lever handles instead of knobs.
- Brighter, even lighting, switches at a reachable height and good contrast between floors, counters and walls.
- Slip-resistant flooring and fewer changes in floor level.
- A main-floor bedroom, or a room that can become one, near a bathroom.
Interior Designers: frequently asked questions
Should I hire an interior designer or a kitchen designer for a kitchen renovation?
A kitchen designer knows cabinetry and appliances in depth and may be tied to a supplier, which is efficient if you already like its products. An independent interior designer looks at the kitchen together with the surrounding rooms, lighting and finishes, and can compare suppliers on your behalf.
Can an interior designer remove a wall?
A designer can plan it, but whether a wall can come out is a structural question. A load-bearing wall needs a structural engineer's design and usually a building permit, and the designer's layout is then coordinated with the engineer's drawings.
How do interior designers charge?
Common approaches are a flat fee for a defined scope, an hourly rate or a percentage of the project, and some designers also earn a margin on the furniture and materials they supply. Ask how product pricing works and whether trade discounts are passed on to you.
Is a designer worth it for a small project?
Often, yes. A few hours of consultation on a bathroom layout, a lighting plan or a colour scheme can prevent mistakes that cost far more to fix once the tile is set or the cabinets are installed.
How can I check an interior designer's credentials?
In Ontario, look the designer up in ARIDO's directory, since only Registered Members may use the title Interior Designer. In Quebec, ask whether they are certified by the APDIQ. Elsewhere, ask which provincial association they belong to, and in every case look at finished projects similar to yours.
Sources
Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Reviewed by Zubair Afzal on September 10, 2026. How we write and check our guides