Interior Designers near you

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.

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.

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.

Decisions pile up in the middle of a project, so settle the big ones, like layout and cabinetry, before the smaller finishes.

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.

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.