In spite of the popular perception, interior decorating is an incredibly time-consuming profession. It has become a matter of cultural ridicule to cast interior decorators as flamboyant personalities that manage to tie a room together with a simple throw pillow. To be sure, a simple throw can indeed pull a room together but that sensibility comes from the union of innate style and a trained eye. As with any professional, an interior decorator must work hard to earn the respect of his or her peers and clients.
The two most important qualities an interior decorator can bring to bear are design and an impeccable aesthetic sense. The decorator must balance the desires of the client with the fundamentals of design. Merely placating the client is sure to ruin the decorators portfolio, making it more difficult to retain future clients. Just because a client wants zebra stripes on everything does not give you carte blanche or justification to stop being discerning.
Decorators are judged by the themes they favor. Decorating themes are used to create a sense of wholeness throughout a room, ensuring all the pieces are more or less consistent with one another. Themes are designated by period styles such as Louis XV, Victorian, French Provincial, Georgian, and Art Deco to name a few. Though a theme can be comprehensive, it is by no means dogmatic. Pieces from other themes can be used interchangeably. Think of themes as general guidelines rather than dogmatic principles.
For some decorators, a specialization is necessary to give them a framework to work within. For instance, some decorators are strictly commercial decorators, designing functional spaces for offices, hotels and governmental agencies. Others specialize in certain design thematic or even in environmentally sound decor. Specializations are strictly a matter of personal taste, though the curriculums of some institutions are geared towards certain specialties.
Above all else, an interior decorator needs to work well with people. Clients are only one set of people a decorator will encounter in any given day. Tradesmen, architects, merchants, an effective decorator must be able to clearly communicate will everyone involved in the design process. Indeed, a decorator rarely has the luxury of working in solitude. Interior decorating is not the life of quiet reflection, but of active, energetic engagement. - 15252
The two most important qualities an interior decorator can bring to bear are design and an impeccable aesthetic sense. The decorator must balance the desires of the client with the fundamentals of design. Merely placating the client is sure to ruin the decorators portfolio, making it more difficult to retain future clients. Just because a client wants zebra stripes on everything does not give you carte blanche or justification to stop being discerning.
Decorators are judged by the themes they favor. Decorating themes are used to create a sense of wholeness throughout a room, ensuring all the pieces are more or less consistent with one another. Themes are designated by period styles such as Louis XV, Victorian, French Provincial, Georgian, and Art Deco to name a few. Though a theme can be comprehensive, it is by no means dogmatic. Pieces from other themes can be used interchangeably. Think of themes as general guidelines rather than dogmatic principles.
For some decorators, a specialization is necessary to give them a framework to work within. For instance, some decorators are strictly commercial decorators, designing functional spaces for offices, hotels and governmental agencies. Others specialize in certain design thematic or even in environmentally sound decor. Specializations are strictly a matter of personal taste, though the curriculums of some institutions are geared towards certain specialties.
Above all else, an interior decorator needs to work well with people. Clients are only one set of people a decorator will encounter in any given day. Tradesmen, architects, merchants, an effective decorator must be able to clearly communicate will everyone involved in the design process. Indeed, a decorator rarely has the luxury of working in solitude. Interior decorating is not the life of quiet reflection, but of active, energetic engagement. - 15252
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The profession of interior decorating is wide open. Be forewarned and do not be culled by what popular perceptions would have you be. When practiced by genuine, passionate professionals, interior decorating can truly be an art form.
