CityRealty Insider > Decorator or D.I.Y.?

Decorator or D.I.Y.?

MARCH 25, 2010

They’re always in demand for their expertise and access, but you may be better off outfitting your space without the help of an interior design pro.

Just as an architect can help shape the infrastructure of your home, a decorator or interior designer can make your living space actually feel like home. The two terms are often used interchangeably; in general, an interior designer addresses all aspects of your environment from a design perspective, while a decorator is mainly concerned with surface appearance, i.e. paint, furniture and lighting. In either case, experience and access to resources available “to the trade” allow the pro to cover more ground faster. Magazines and friends’ homes are good places to find a decorator whose style you like. Decorating sites like Addicted 2 Decorating can help by providing a directory of local home design pros.

If you decide to cut out the “middle man” to cut costs—or if you’d rather rely on your own creative side—you can get inspiration from web sites like Apartment Therapy, AOL Home and others that feature great project instructions and tips from home design pros and folks who have undertaken similar tasks. A good list of services can help you find resources for tiles, curtains, shelving and other home decor items. There are even Meetup groups to get like-minded D.I.Y.ers together to exchange ideas.

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