Overview: Interior Designers and Decorators
In Ontario, the words on the business card carry legal weight. The title interior designer is reserved by law for registered members of ARIDO. The law protects the title, not the work, so a decorator can still plan your living room under another name. Elsewhere, ask what the letters after a name really mean.
Ask how the firm charges before anyone brings out paint chips. Some bill by the hour, some set a flat fee for a written scope, and some earn their money on the furniture they order for you. Then ask which stages are in: the concept alone, or drawings, ordering and installation day as well.
Condos add their own layer. In Ontario, most changes to common elements need board approval and a written agreement with the condo corporation. Moving walls or plumbing usually needs a municipal building permit too. Get both answers before the drawings are final.
Our listings show what each firm states on its own website, from services to hours. Choose your province, then your city, to reach designers and decorators who work on homes like yours.
Frequently asked questions
What separates a designer from a decorator?
A decorator works with the room you have: colour, furniture, fabric and light. A designer changes the room itself and produces drawings that trades can build from. In Ontario the difference is also legal, since the interior designer title belongs to ARIDO members. Anyone can offer either service, so ask what the firm will actually draw, and who takes responsibility for it if a permit is needed.
Can a designer draw the plans for my building permit?
In Ontario, only if they're qualified for it. Permit drawings have to come from an architect, an engineer or a designer registered with the province, unless an exemption applies. Designing your own house is one common exemption. Ask for the designer's BCIN, the identification number the province issues, and search it on the province's QuARTS registry. Many interior firms hand structural work to an engineer anyway.
Who keeps the trade discount on furniture?
It depends on the deal, so ask which one you're in. Some firms pass their trade price on and bill for their time. Others keep the margin and charge a smaller fee or none. Watch the border too. Furniture shipped from the United States is usually taxed on arrival, and the carrier can add its own brokerage fee. Get all of it written down before the first order.
What if furniture arrives late or damaged?
Settle the receiving plan in writing at the start: who takes delivery, who opens and checks each piece, where it waits, and who chases the carrier. Damage found after the driver leaves is much harder to claim. Anything coming across the border can sit in customs for a while, so ask for lead times in writing and leave slack before the install date.
Do the changes I want need permission?
Paint and furniture, no. Moving walls, drains or wiring usually needs a municipal permit and inspection. In a condo, ask the board before you touch anything outside your unit. Ontario's Condominium Authority says most changes to common elements need board approval and a written agreement that sets out costs and responsibilities. Read the declaration and rules before you fall for a hardwood sample.
How do I check that a designer is really registered?
In Ontario, search ARIDO's public directory. It lists registered members in good standing, and it's how the association expects you to confirm the title. The directory doesn't recommend anyone, so you still need references and a careful read of the contract. For permit drawings, the province's QuARTS registry is the place to check. A polished portfolio proves taste, not registration.
