You didn't waste all those years. 

A Certified Interior Decorator has training (which varies widely) in decorating only - style, color, furniture placement etc..... but is not qualified  to suggest knocking down walls, drafting etc......  However, if it is just decorating the model home they would be qualified based on their work to do that but if the builder is interested in cabinet placement, drafting etc... they would not.

As I understand it one would not be qualified to do that extensive of work even after taking a two year interior design program but only after and completing a four year interior design course.

Hi Ann !

Of course you should be proud of all those years of education. Perhaps this is the kind of builder that knows exactly what kind of floor plan and take care of that.  Perhaps they rather go with a certified stager and it would probably cost less than with a space designer. Don't feel bad!

If you enjoy every second of what you do for a living, then it was worth every second of all those years of studying.

Wow!  You might not like some of the responses you'll receive here.... though I think most will be cordial.  Let me try to give you my perspective as a professional home stager to your questions....

I think having an interior design degree is a valuable commodity.  My daughter is planning on doing this when she graduates high school in about 18 months.  When asked where to move walls, tubs, showers, sinks, stoves, etc.... I would definately turn that job over to someone with a degree. 

Model homes - There are no facts showing that model homes sell any faster or for any more money than a staged home.  Actually here in Charleston we are beginning to actually stage homes where a model home is already in place.  Guess which one sells faster?  (it isn't the model)  The reason is because decorators create personality in an environment, stagers highlight architechtural features & benefits while creating a neutral environment (effectively removing personality from the equation as much as possible).  Designers also often use custom materials - curtains, speciality fabrics on sofas, etc.  Stagers use ready to wear (if you will).... we use what is widely available.  This saves the client money.  One last thing - most of today's buyers in a median priced home, can't acheive what designers do in model homes.  I frequently see model homes with $60K or more in designer duds - the home is only priced at $200 - $300K.  When we stage the home with more like $15 - $25K in furnishings the home seems much more realistic to buyers.  They don't feel the need to keep up with the Jones', so to speak. 

If you were a builder or investor, and you had to choose between spending $50,000 or more to create a model home, or stage a home for $5000, what would you do? 

Hi All,

Thanks for all of your comments, but I still do not know what a certified decorator or certified Interior decorator is. I have never heard of the certified part.

Ann ~ I am a Certified Interior Decorator.  This website might give you more information. 

Having dropped out of an interior design school as a foolish 19 year old, I took up the training for interior decorator a few years ago, not wanting to waste anymore time.  Knowing that I was not interested in town code or working with projects in the building phase I went for the interior decorator aspect.

Ann,

I'm not sure what those are either, I do often ask Why are so many interior designers who spent years in  collage who specialize in personalizing a home, trying to Stage now? 

Staging is the process of De-Personalizing a home and working with the home owner to advise them on how to sell a very neutral feeling house so a wider pool of clients can visualize their items in the home. So for a well educated interior designer to offer Staging, is kind of a mystery in it's self.

Warmest Regards

BB 

Thanks for the comments.

Kathy Thanks for the info I just had never heard of the term before. I had heard of Decorators and Interior Decorators, but never the certified part. Thanks for making this clear to me.

Brian,

I think anyone who is a designer knows or should know the difference between staging and designing a home, they are two completely different animals. I really appreciate yor comment.  

Ann - I would say you definitely did not waste your time and money in design school!  Many, if not most of the Interior Designers that have entered into staging and are truly embracing staging vs. decorating) are doing very well and are able to work in niche markets that may not be available to most stagers and decorators - in addition to your own Interior Design business, should you decide to keep that as well.

Jackie

Ann, staging as Melissa says is very different and depending on the goal of the builder much more cost effective.  Of course they must be good.  But the focus is quite different, but then you know that.  As to the certification, well just as in the staging field, varying degrees of education would be the simple answer.

An interior designer, certified anything is only as good as their work, and as Jackie says, keep doing what you are doing, your skill at it will determine your success.  Thanks for the post.

Ann ~ Just as a post script, I happened to read about Barb Schwarz in a Google alert this morning and it said she was an interior designer before coming into the staging field.

Hi Ann,

There is no turning back...the "decorating"gates have been opened and both the qualified and UNqualified will be out soliciting work in the field that interior designers were told when they were educated would be theirs.  More and more people are entering the field of decorating and it all comes down now to who is the better MARKETEER and SALESPERSON.

With all the inexpensive and often inadequate training for CERTIFIED decorators, stagers and designers we are seeing a saturation of this field  so it is turning into a tough market and only the strong and savvy will survive...

The good news :

In challenging times there is a flight to quality. You are clearly a true professional and should see your business expand even as a market contracts.

Good luck,

Jim In North Carolina

Once upon a time, I took an interior decorating course.  It focused on color theory, furniture placement, different decor styles, window treatments, etc. etc.

It was a good course that taught the basics about design principles, but it did not go into subjects about construction, building codes, drafting, etc.

I was, at one point, "Certified." Legally, I am no longer considered certified, because I do not want to keep paying the yearly dues.

Basically "certified" meant that I learned the required information and passed the tests.  Don't feel that you wasted your time working toward a design degree, an education is a valuable asset that no one can take away. 

Hi Ann, Good for you pursuing you dream! All those years are not wasted and there are wanna be's in many fields. Here in Canada you cannot(by law) refer to yourself as an Interior Designer unless you have completed a 4 year university degree and then completed several years (not sure exact #) as an intern. Interior design covers so much more than aesthetics. Interior Decorators have a diploma usually from a community college and are not required to intern and their specialty is, as the title suggest, decorating. I am an Interior Decorator and have many friends who are Interior Designers and I have great respect for the patience, persistence and hard work they have committed to in order to achieve that designation.