An architect designs the building itself: the plan, structure, façade and approvals. An interior designer works inside the walls: layout, furniture, lighting, finishes and joinery. For a new house it helps to have both from the start; for a flat or a refit, an interior designer is usually enough.
The difference in one table
| Architect | Interior designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Works on | The building: plan, structure, façade, site | The inside: layout, furniture, finishes |
| Registration | Must be registered with the Council of Architecture | No mandatory registration in India |
| Approvals | Prepares drawings for KDA, LDA or other authority sanction | Rarely needed, except for structural changes |
| Best for | New houses, extensions, major structural changes | Flats, refits, offices, shops |
Building a new house
Bring in interior design while the architecture is still on paper. Furniture sizes decide room sizes, switch positions decide wiring, and kitchen layouts decide plumbing. When these are fixed late, walls get broken and budgets grow.
Doing up a flat or renovating
If the structure stays as it is, an interior designer can usually handle the whole job. If you want to remove walls, add a floor or change the façade, you need an architect, and possibly a structural engineer, to make sure the building can take it.
When one studio does both
A studio that does architecture and interiors together draws one set of coordinated drawings, so the ceiling design matches the beams, the lighting matches the furniture and the joinery fits the walls it was drawn for. You also have one person to call when something on site does not match.
Planning a home?
Space Designers has designed homes and interiors across Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi and Uttar Pradesh since 1996. Tell us about your plot and brief.
