Can Anyone Call Themselves an Interior Designer? Rules, Facts, and Realities

Jun, 24 2025

Ever met someone who instantly calls themselves an interior designer right after rearranging their sofa? It's like saying you're a chef because you made breakfast once. The title sounds glamorous, and social media is packed with 'before and after' room makeovers. But does moving furniture or picking paint colors mean you can truly claim the name 'interior designer?' The reality is muddier (and more interesting) than you might expect. Getting to the bottom of it means looking beyond pretty rooms and understanding what the job really takes in the modern world.

What Makes Someone an Interior Designer?

First, let's cut through the confusion: being an interior designer isn't just about having style or pinning nice rooms to a board. A real interior designer deals with way more than aesthetics. We're talking about creating spaces that are safe, functional, and compliant with legal codes. In the U.S., the terms "interior designer" and "interior decorator" often get used interchangeably—though there's a big difference. Decorators focus on finishes and furniture; designers dive deeper into things like spatial planning, lighting, building regulations, and accessibility.

Now, the big twist: there's no federal law in the U.S. that prevents anyone from calling themselves an interior designer. It's not like medicine or law, where you legally can't practice without a license. But that doesn't mean the title is just for the taking. Some states—think Florida, Nevada, and Louisiana—have actual regulations. Want to use the title "registered interior designer" in those places? You need to pass exams, usually the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification), and get officially registered.

In states without strict regulations, you could technically slap "interior designer" on your resume after one living room refresh, but good luck getting hired by serious clients or recognized firms. Big clients, architects, and construction companies want proof that you know your stuff, not just that you have a knack with throw pillows. If you're aiming for healthcare, hospitality, or commercial design, expect a demand for certifications and genuine experience.

Design school isn't required everywhere, but it's the path most pros take. The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) reviews and approves college design programs. Graduates of these programs get real-world knowledge, from reading blueprints to drafting, materials safety, and even project management. Skipping these steps and winging it? You'll quickly hit a wall on complex projects.

The world of design is changing, too. Online courses make it easier than ever for self-taught enthusiasts to learn, but hands-on work with codes and clients sticks out on any résumé. And don't forget—insurance, permitting, and staying up-to-date on building laws separates amateur efforts from professional ones. In short, calling yourself an interior designer is easy. Doing the job so clients, builders, and city inspectors trust you? That's another story entirely.

The Difference Between Interior Designers and Interior Decorators

If you're scratching your head over the difference between "interior designer" and "interior decorator," you're not alone. Instagram makes it tricky—one day, someone posts a mood board, and suddenly they're a designer. But there's a real split worth understanding, especially if you're thinking about a career (or hiring for a big remodel).

Interior decorators focus on the look and feel. They pick colors, select curtains, arrange furniture, and hunt down those perfect antique lamps. Awesome skill, no doubt. But they don't usually mess with walls, change the electrical setup, design how the space flows, or check if things are up to code. It's a creative job—often self-taught, sometimes backed by a certificate or short training program, but generally not tied up with safety regulations or formal schooling.

Interior designers, in contrast, get stuck into the nuts and bolts. If a space needs new walls, accessibility changes, or an HVAC overhaul, that's their turf. Designers regularly work side by side with architects, engineers, and city inspectors (yeah, it gets technical). They read blueprints, calculate light and sound, and figure out how people actually move through a space. While decorators transform what you already have, designers can reimagine it from the ground up.

If your job is just picking out rugs or matching paint chips, you're in the decorator lane. But once you cross over to structural changes, legal compliance, or complex planning, you need design chops—often proven through education, exams (like the NCIDQ), and active membership in professional organizations (like ASID or IIDA).

So if you're hiring, it's smart to check someone's portfolio and credentials, not just their Instagram feed. And if you're itching to make a leap from picking art to actually designing spaces for a living, be ready to hit the books and gather real-world skills to back up your creativity. The market knows the difference—even if the average casual observer doesn't.

When Does It Become Illegal to Call Yourself an Interior Designer?

This is where things get tricky. Technically, anyone can slap the job title "interior designer" on a business card—no secret handshake or regulatory squad will knock on your door. But in a handful of U.S. states and around the world, the law steps in. Florida, for example, is famously strict. Try to work as a "registered interior designer" on certain commercial or government projects without the right qualifications, and you're risking a fine. Other states get specific: Louisiana, Nevada, and a few others require licensing for specific jobs, usually tied to safety-sensitive spaces like hospitals or public buildings.

Europe isn't much different. The U.K. doesn't legally protect the title either, but it does have a strong professional body. Many European countries use variations on licensing or require professionals to register with government or industry boards for commercial work. Go rogue or fudge your qualifications and you're flirting with trouble, especially if you take on jobs that require safety clearances.

But here's the honest bit: most legal trouble starts with insurance. Try getting liability coverage (which is required for big jobs and even smart to have for residential work) without some proof of real expertise. Insurance companies usually want a degree, exam credentials, and membership in a reputable design organization. Cut corners, and you might land the odd decorating gig, but try running a serious business and you'll hit administrative red tape fast.

For anyone dreaming of being a TV design star, the rules are looser—but the risks are lower, too, because cosmetic makeovers don't impact laws or safety codes. Once you wrench open a wall or mess with plumbing and electrical, legal and ethical lines start showing up fast. Most reputable designers are careful not to overstate their expertise, and many will clarify exactly what qualifications they hold.

Here's a tip: If you're hiring or want to claim the title for yourself, check out local regulations, join a respected association, or take that extra course. It gives you credibility with smart clients and adds a safety net if things don't go as planned. The design world rewards people who take it seriously—half-baked claims backfire sooner than you think.

How to Credibly Become an Interior Designer

If you've read this far and you're thinking, "All right, so what does it actually take to become a real interior designer?"—here's how it goes, stripped of sales talk and marketing glitz. The most respected path usually looks like this:

• Go to a good design school. College programs approved by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation give you way more than color theory—they dive deep into structural systems, spatial layouts, drafting, building codes, and the psychology of how spaces work.
• Intern, intern, intern. Getting hands-on with real projects under a pro designer is the single best classroom there is. You'll learn about timelines, budgets, client quirks, and what can actually go wrong—stuff textbooks barely touch.
• Take the NCIDQ exam. Passing this test means you've covered all the core skills—safety, construction codes, mechanical basics, and health standards. It's recognized across North America and is the gold standard for showing you're ready for tough projects.
• Build a killer portfolio. Start small if you have to—personal projects, friends' apartments, or side-hustle gigs—but work up to pro-quality, diverse work. A strong visual portfolio often gets you interviews and serious trust way faster than a flashy business card.
• Join a real design association. Groups like ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) offer industry clout, insider job leads, and continuing education. They help with networking, resources, and staying up to date—not to mention, heaps of credibility if you ever land in a legal gray area.
• Stay current. Codes, styles, and technology shift fast. Leading designers take workshops, subscribe to trade journals, and use digital tools (think 3D modeling, AR visualization) to keep sharp.

Interior designer isn't just a job title—it's a mix of skills, genuine knowledge, and real-world experience that keeps clients, contractors, and even city inspectors happy. The world doesn't stop self-taught folks from trying, but the game rewards those who put in the work and earn their stripes.

There's a wild energy in the design industry today. TikTok and YouTube have democratized taste, and there's huge opportunity for smart, ambitious people. But the fast track is rarely the one with shortcuts—especially when real safety, legal issues, and serious money are on the line. Want to make the leap? Build your foundation, know the difference between hype and skill, and treat that title with the respect it deserves. Then you'll know for sure: you're not just calling yourself an interior designer—you're actually doing it.