Deadly in the hands of an amateur
I stumbled on this as my wife and I investigated the possibility of her setting up a business as an interior design consultant. 22 States and the District of Columbia require a license to be an interior decorator, which technically means, as Reason so pointedly puts it, that moving a throw pillow could theoretically get you jailed or fined.
How can this be? All professional licensing creates a bar to membership, making such licenses targets of Libertarians and other critics. But at least most professions requiring a license have a plausible argument for the certification based on health and the protection of the public welfare. Lawyers, doctors, dentists, builders, electricians…that makes sense. Real estate brokers, teachers, personal trainers…er, okay, I guess so. But interior decorators? Isn’t this just an example of nakedly restricting competition, and using the sordid process of buying state legislators to do it? What other justification could there be?
Well, industry groups argue that unlicensed interior designers are dangerous. “Every decision an interior designer makes affects the health, safety, and, welfare of the public,” says the American Society of Interior Designers. One group claims to have figures showing that “confusing floor patterns” and other features by unlicensed interior designers cause 11,000 deaths per year.
Let me say that I am dubious. An organization called the Interior Design Protection Council is trying to fight this transparently dishonest, and so far, successful, campaign to make it difficult to enter the field. A 2009 study entitled “Designed to Exclude” found that…
- Interior design firms in regulated states earn significantly more than those in unregulated states—about $7.2 million in a city with a population of one million. That means higher prices for consumers, as lower-cost competition is simply outlawed by the licensing regulations.
- In regulated states, the number of interior designers fell by an estimated 1,300 between 1990 and 2000, demonstrating that regulation is limiting economic opportunity in interior design.
- Black and Hispanic interior designers are nearly 30 percent less likely to have college degrees than white designers. Thus, regulations with academic requirements disproportionately shut minorities out of the field.
- Similarly, older interior designers are 12 percent less likely to have college degrees in regulated states, indicating that these regulations keep out those who switch to an interior design career later in life. (You can download the whole study here.)
In fairness, I have not read or heard the designers’ side of the controversy. But if “confusing floor patterns” is typical of their case, I’m not sure I have the patience for it.
Ethics Alarms 
You have no idea how dangerous bad feng shui can be, Jack. The negative energies created by an amateurish interior designer can get you killed by a terrorist or something. *snickers*
In other news, I moved the chair and IV pole in my hospital room. Does this make me a criminal?
Also, your link to Reason is a 404.
Ack. That link was hard for some reason. I think its fixed—thanks, sorry for the inconvenience.
Hmm. Don’t know if hospital interior design counts. They sure could use some help—very drab and unimaginative.
I think everybody’s wife has thought about setting up an interior design business at some point. I still have half a filing cabinet filled with materials from my ex’s short lived dabbling in that career. The ridiculous licensing procedures definitely contributed to her giving that up.
Considering that our marriage failed in part due to the career she picked up instead of interior design, I think I’m going to blame unnecessary protectionist licensing for destroying my marriage. Think of the children!
Um…yeah. Is there a difference between being an Interior Designer and an Interior Decorator?
If you can be the latter as an unlicensed professional, then fine. If the distinction is that a Designer can alter floor plans, and that the former can paint walls, then I’m indifferent.
….but then, I think the proper name for that job is “Architect”, not Interior Designer.
At least in MD, there is no difference between an Interior Designer and an Interior Decorator.
Note that anyone can paint walls, but you can’t suggest yellow unless you are an interior designer.
Well, at least in Colorado, it appears that you need to be “registered” if you want to use the phrase “registered interior designer” and if you want to submit drawing plans for a building/construction permit.
If you engage in only non-permit related activities, it would appear that registration is completely optional….but I’m no lawyer.
I think that looks to be about the most lenient of the 22 states with “licensing” requirements, but I didn’t look at them all.
I am a sophomore Interior Design student, and from what I see, many decorators call themselves designers and really aren’t. Decorators are allowed to call themselves decorators and make a business decorating and organizing things, but designers do more than fluff pillows and choose the colors of walls. it’s architecture without the structural aspect and excluding the outside of the building. we have to abide by certain codes and health regulations, such as Americans with Disabilities Act, like an architect. It really can be dangerous if someone tries to truly design a space without the education that they need. Someone could fall or something could happen to the space you decorated, like a fire. There are different chemicals in different materials that can be dangerous, so if there is a fire, what fumes are the people inside inhaling? if someone falls, were the stairs too steep or was there something wrong with the floor you chose to put in? You need to have knowledge of preventative things you can do to the space to preserve the welfare of the people using it. Without a license, how is the anyone to know that you will abide by those standards? If you want to call yourself a designer instead of a decorator, you need to get a license.
I am a sophomore Interior Design student, and from what I see, many decorators call themselves designers and really aren’t. Decorators are allowed to call themselves decorators and make a business decorating and organizing things, but designers do more than fluff pillows and choose the colors of walls.
You seem to be assuming that all states are the same as your state. You’re wrong.
we have to abide by certain codes and health regulations, such as Americans with Disabilities Act
Actually, no, you don’t. Architects don’t have to follow the ADA either.
Businesses have to be ADA compliant, but that’s a completely different thing.
it’s not that different. if a business needs a space that is ADA compliant (which is all of the time) and they hire interior designers to design the space, the designers obviously need to understand the regulations. And regardless, the point is that decorators and designers do different work, so to call yourself a designer instead of decorator, you should have the credentials.
That some job opportunities for interior designers require knowledge of the ADA does not mean that interior designers have to follow the ADA. The government is not going to fine an interior designer because the designer wanted the couch to go in a spot that limits wheelchair access.
In your state, designers and decorators are not the same thing. In my state, they are. You want a business where you pick out couches, drapes and wall colors for private residences in MD? You have to be certified. That is truly ridiculous.
And again, they don’t just rearrange furniture. They make changes to things like stairways and walls (as long as the wall isn’t structural) and things like that. It’s not as easy as you think.
And again, they don’t just rearrange furniture. They make changes to things like stairways and walls (as long as the wall isn’t structural) and things like that
Decorators do that? Really? I thought: “Decorators are allowed to call themselves decorators and make a business decorating and organizing things, but designers do more than fluff pillows and choose the colors of walls.”
The point was that in MD, people who just want to decorate are regulated the same as people who actually do want to make real changes.
I was talking about designers in the last post. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about, so I’m done talking about it.
I was talking about designers in the last post.
You used the term “they” with no clear antecedent. Since I had just explained, again, that interior designers and interior decorators are interchangeable to some states, I think I can be excused for not understanding what you meant to say.
That said, interior designer do move couches. They are not going to be fined if one of the couch placements violates the ADA. The interior designer will also not be fined if the stairs they design violate the ADA. The actual business would be the guilty party.
Read the link I just sent, then read this one. It’ll take about 2 minutes.
http://www.ncidq.org/AboutUs/AboutInteriorDesign/HowInteriorDesignersProtectthePublic.aspx
What do you think in that link contradicts anything that I said?
Well, architects are the same state to state. contractors have the same job description state to state. It’s not going to be any different for designers. The only difference is that different states have different laws for the name. It doesn’t mean that decorators and designers are the same; it just means there are different laws.
In MD, the laws that apply to people whom you would consider designers also apply to people whom you would consider decorators. In my state, there is no legal difference between a designer and a decorator.
You keep reasserting a counter factual different. You’re not intending on moving after you get certified, are you?
Msybe this link will clear things up for you:
http://www.ncidq.org/aboutus/aboutinteriordesign/differencesbetweeninteriordesigndecorating.aspx
NCIDQ is the National Council for Interior Design Qualification. This is probably the most credible site I could have used, since you don’t believe me.
That there’s a national organization that separates interior design from interior decorating is irrelevant to the fact that, in some states, ridiculous regulations apply to people who are simply decorating.
I’d also point out that the condescending language of that website suggests a bit of a complex.
In the article, design and decorating is used interchangeably, so if the man and his wife saw things talking about design, they may have thought it was the same as decorating. Notice that the main points he made in the middle and at the end ALL said “interior designers” not decorators. That’s why I pointed out the difference. And there was nothing condescending about the NCIDQ site; they are just stating how it is. And the second link doesn’t contradict what you said, it just points out things that qualified Interior Designers need to know… i’m just supporting what I already said about ADA and things like that. You aren’t willing to listen to the way these professions actually are, because of your preconceived notions of them, so I am finished debating with you. Have a nice day.
In the article, design and decorating is used interchangeably, so if the man and his wife saw things talking about design, they may have thought it was the same as decorating. Notice that the main points he made in the middle and at the end ALL said “interior designers” not decorators. That’s why I pointed out the difference.
Where Jack lives, interior designer and interior decorator ARE interchangeable terms. It’s you who are confused on this matter.
And there was nothing condescending about the NCIDQ site; they are just stating how it is.
Really? “Interior design is the art and science of understanding people’s behavior to create functional spaces within a building. Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things.”
Interior design is an “art and science” but decorating is just about fashion. That’s condescending.
And the second link doesn’t contradict what you said, it just points out things that qualified Interior Designers need to know… i’m just supporting what I already said about ADA and things like that.
You said that interior designers are required to follow the ADA. I pointed out that was false. Your links don’t support the idea that interior designers are required to follow the ADA and health regulations. The link suggests interior designers can help people follow the ADA and health regulations. That’s a big difference.
You aren’t willing to listen to the way these professions actually are, because of your preconceived notions of them, so I am finished debating with you. Have a nice day.
My “preconceived notions” are the laws of my state and some basic logic. Your statements about “the way these professions actually are” contradicts reality.
I’m perfectly willing to be corrected on anything, but, if you’re going to change my mind, you actually have to support your position.