03/08/2026
Do you need a decorator, an interior designer or an architect for your commercial fitout?
It depends on what you are actually changing.
A decorator can help with the visual layer of a space: furniture, artwork, styling, paint colours and accessories. This may be suitable if the layout, services and built elements are staying as they are.
An interior designer looks at how the space needs to function as well as how it looks. For a commercial fitout, this can include:
📐 Space planning and layouts
🪵 Custom joinery design
💡 Lighting and electrical coordination
🎨 Finishes, fixtures and furniture selections
🚪 Partitions, doors and accessibility considerations
📋 Detailed drawings for builder pricing and construction
An architect may be required where the project involves significant changes to the building itself, such as extensions, structural alterations, façade changes, planning requirements or more complex approval pathways.
Some projects need one of these professionals. Others need a team.
For many internal commercial fitouts, an interior designer can manage the overall design and documentation while coordinating with the builder, certifier, engineers and other consultants as required.
The most important thing is choosing someone whose experience matches the type and complexity of your project, not simply selecting the broadest service.
Did you know the difference between these roles before starting your fitout?
Send me your tenancy plan and a brief description of what you are changing, and I can help you understand what level of design support your project is likely to need.
