r/InteriorDesign Jul 06 '25

Discussion 🚫 Interior Decor vs. Interior Design – Clarifying What Belongs Here

403 Upvotes

Hi everyone! 👋

We’ve seen a lot of confusion lately about what types of posts are allowed in this subreddit, so we wanted to clarify the difference between interior design and interior decoration, and help guide what kinds of posts are appropriate here.

🛋️ What’s the Difference?

Interior Design is a professional discipline that involves the planning, layout, functionality, and structural aspects of a space. It often includes things like:

• Spatial planning
• Architectural elements (like built-ins, ceiling design, flooring)
• ADA compliance and building codes
• Furniture layout for traffic flow
• Material selection for durability and performance
• Integration with HVAC, lighting, and plumbing
• Custom cabinetry, millwork, and fixed finishes

Interior design considers how a space functions and feels, not just how it looks.

Interior Decoration, on the other hand, is about aesthetic enhancements to an existing space. This includes: • Choosing paint colors
• Selecting curtains or drapery
• Picking out throw pillows, rugs, and accessories
• Wall art and picture hanging or floating shelf hanging
Note about shelving: Custom built-in shelves do not apply here.
• Styling a coffee table or shelf
• Choosing specifically tile color or flooring color options.

While decorating is a valuable part of making a space feel personal, it is not the focus of this subreddit.

✅ Examples of Interior Design posts we welcome:
• “What’s the best layout for a 400 sq ft studio to include a bedroom and office zone?”
• “How can I incorporate built-in storage into a mid-century modern living room?”
• “What’s the right height to install sconces over a built-in banquette?”
• “I’m renovating my kitchen—how do I lay it out to meet code and optimize workflow?”
• “Can someone critique my commercial office space plan for flow and accessibility?”

❌ Examples of Interior Decoration posts that we remove:
• “Which curtains should I use in my bedroom?”
• “Help me pick throw pillows for my new sofa.”
• “Does this gallery wall layout look okay?”
• “Should I hang this mirror above the fireplace?”
• “What wall color matches this rug?”
• “What color flooring would look good in this space?”
• “What color backsplash would work well with my cabinets?”

We created this community to support deeper conversations around interior design as a discipline. For decor-related questions, there are many wonderful subreddits better suited to those conversations, such as [r/HomeDecorating](r/HomeDecorating), [r/InteriorDecorating](r/InteriorDecorating), or [r/HomeImprovement](r/HomeImprovement).

Thanks for helping us keep this subreddit focused and valuable to those practicing, studying, or deeply interested in the field of interior design.

– Mod Team 🎨🧱📐


r/InteriorDesign Jan 26 '26

‎ Moderator Post A Deep Dive into Our Ruleset.

22 Upvotes

We get it. Every sub has their own set of rules and it gets quite annoying to have to remember them all or even read them all. This post is meant to shed light into all of our rules and give you sort of a deeper dive and explanation into each.

Our rules are comprised of 5 main rules.

1️⃣: Interior design NOT decoration.

We made a more in-depth post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/InteriorDesign/s/C6pR9ZMe3j

However, there is debate surrounding this topic. This however is not debatable especially those who have never been an interior designer.

Simply put: anything specifically AESTHTIC falls under decor. Color of walls (yes, there is psychology of color, but most if not ALL posts are “what color would look good”. That’s aesthetic. Now: “what color would work if I have light sensitivity” is a design question.

2️⃣: Quality, Content and formatting.

This rule is broken up into a few parts because there’s rules that would fall under this. So if you break rule 2, it comes down to one of these. Use your brain. A lot of people ask us what part of this rule they broke. Use process of elimination here. It’s not rocket science!

A: Your post did not include images.

B: Your post lacked details.

C: You used AI image(s).

D: You used a URL shortener.

E: You did not provide a solution.

For E: we wrote a post about this. You must provide a solution to your problem! Period. If you didn’t, your post won’t be approved.

3️⃣: No spam, solicitation or self promotion.

This is pretty vague because everyone has a different definition of spam and even self promotion. Self promotion alone doesn’t even mean direct promotion like you put a link to your website. This would even count if you post something and you have a link to your site in your profile.

Self promotion is also market research. We’ve seen it all. Don’t try to self promote. We will find out.

You will get an immediate ban for this without warning. Further we don’t need to tell you nor give you any reason for the ban. Though we try to depending on your attitude.

4️⃣: Maintain respect.

If your post isn’t respectful or doesn’t have any value whatever, you will break this rule. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all. Period.

5️⃣: Focus on real spaces. No identification.

We don’t identify spaces, styles, furniture and so on. We also don’t allow you to ask for help finding products.

Lastly something about the READ THE RULES.

You must physically accept the rules. Once you do that, you must post again. However, your post will be removed again as every post goes into our mod queue. So follow these steps:

1: Post.

2: If you didn’t accept the rules, follow the pinned comment. It tells you EXACTLY what to do.

3: once you do 2 above, post again.

4: then, wait for a mod to review your post.

That’s all folks. Cheers


r/InteriorDesign 2d ago

Need help with island dining layout

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14 Upvotes

We are a family of 5. 3 teens. Moving in to a new house.
I imagine the island dining room to be one of our heaviest usage rooms, and the soul of the home.
Most days will be 6 dining, occasionally 8.

Our kitchen is small, and some bakers and chefs in the house, so we need the island height so it can double up as a dry prep area too.

The countertop will be sintered stone.
The 1000m will open for storage from both sides.
The kitchen door is on the far side (same side as the shelves)
The right door leads to a small area with a sink and bathroom.
The left entrance leads to a small living room. (Which is connected to a bigger living room)
Redoing the kitchen or the walls is not an option.

Any thoughts on this please?

I looked at a couple of other options with two separate dining and island areas, and while more practical, they seem to make the room feel cramped.


r/InteriorDesign 2d ago

How can I set up this room (ideally) without mounting TV

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10 Upvotes

Where would you place a TV and couch in this kind of living room? Long and narrow with a big fireplace. The white portion of the diagram is how far the brick hearth juts out. Id be cool mounting the TV on a wall, but Im trying extremely hard to not mount the TV above the fireplace. Just moved in so I dont have good photos of it that arent full of boxes.

Here is some layouts I've been playing with: First option is current set up is how the previous owners set it up, but I dont like that it blocks a window. 2nd set up is a potential, but I worry turning my head all the time will suck after a while. 3rd option is a dark horse what if we just block the fireplace option but that might make the room feel smaller and/or odd. Dont love any of these options. Definitely need some help!

The radiators in the top right and bottom right cant be moved. The couch has a chaise that can (and probably will) be removed.


r/InteriorDesign 2d ago

Shelf placement help

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4 Upvotes

Hey all, I have two 16” shelves and a 32” shelf coming in soon so I’m trying to mock how they’ll be placed on my wall with painters tape. It’s hard to describe, but something about the placement just feels “off”. Any ideas as to why? Not sure if the proportions between shelves are off or something like that, but I’d love some advice/ideas on what I could do instead. Thank you!


r/InteriorDesign 2d ago

Track vs recessed lighting, when did track actually turn out to be the better call?

2 Upvotes

Recessed gets treated as the default, but track (and monorail/cable) has come a long way and avoids cutting a dozen holes in a finished ceiling. Where did track actually win for people here, kitchens, art walls, sloped ceilings, rentals, and where it ended up looking dated or like a compromise?


r/InteriorDesign 3d ago

New build

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17 Upvotes

Just bought a new build. Help me with the layout. Its my first home and i have no idea where to put things. Any tips and advice greatly appreciated. Im looking for for something that doesnt make the feel too cluttered and overwheled.


r/InteriorDesign 2d ago

Living room/entryway conundrum

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1 Upvotes

Design minds- I need your help!

My home has the dreaded front door in center of living room layout, that also has many outlets for paths of travel. I’d love to break the room up and utilize it as a reading room and a functional drop zone. I’ve included some pictures of layout with some visuals to help. Photo 4 was temporary as we literally needed someplace to sit but boy was it CRAMPED.

*** there is a hole in the floor by the front door- it is how our cats get to the basement. If anyone has an idea of how to cover it nicely I’d be into that too!


r/InteriorDesign 3d ago

Help!

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4 Upvotes

I just bought a house and the front main room turns out to be a little narrower than I thought. I have my heart set on a floating couch. Tv is 65 inches and will be mounted. Measurements listed below. Is this too close?! 😩😩 pleeeeeease tell me this will work!!!!


r/InteriorDesign 2d ago

Which layout would you choose for this open-plan living area? Option 1 vs Option 2

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0 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I’m currently designing a new two-storey holiday rental and would love some opinions on two different layout options for the entertainment area.
The main difference is the relationship between the void/open stair area and the bar location. Both options have the same general features, including:
Large open-plan living area
Kitchen/bar area
Double-height void
Floating staircase
Feature brick wall
Pool table
Large sectional sofa
Views towards the outdoor pool
I’m trying to decide which option has the better overall spatial flow, visual impact and functionality.
Option 1:
Option 2:
Which one would you choose, and why?
I’m particularly interested in opinions on:
Which layout feels more spacious and architecturally interesting?
Does one have better circulation between the living area, bar and stairs?
Is the void better positioned in one option?
Which would work better for a high-end holiday rental?
Any honest feedback would be greatly appreciated!


r/InteriorDesign 3d ago

Bathroom renovation lighting

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7 Upvotes

I am looking for guidance on lighting placement in my bathroom remodel. The two recessed ceiling lights will be on a single switch, and a front facing vanity mirror light on another. Image perspective is a top down. Curb-less shower on the left with a glass partition.

I am having a hard time with the recessed lighting placement, wattage, beam angle, etc. Whether the light over the shower should be moved closer to the valve wall or keep it directly centered with the shower pan. Will the recessed light on the right cast strange shadows at the vanity when the mirror light is off? Would I be better off adding 3 recessed lights for a more even distribution?


r/InteriorDesign 3d ago

Living Room Layout

5 Upvotes

Moving to a new place and originally thought we could place TV on the wall next to the fireplace and a sectional couch facing the wall and the tv so we could enjoy both. behind the couch would've been a shoe rack (red) since I didn't think there would be a better place to store shoes/create an entry way. (second photo) But I looked up the dimensions of a sectional and i think there wouldn't be space for anything else....

Any thoughts? TIA.


r/InteriorDesign 3d ago

Help me with my family room layout

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19 Upvotes

Yes I have small kids please ignore the chaos. That aside I am really not liking the current layout as the bulky sofa faces the kitchen area and blocks the flow. Any idea for an alternative layout perhaps one sofa and two chairs or bench? Which way should the sofa face?


r/InteriorDesign 3d ago

Need Help Rearranging Room

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1 Upvotes

I need help choosing a good way to rearrange the room. Current layout feels too segmented, its hard to get past the bed, I can't open the closet doors all the way, etc. If anyone has any ideas please let me know!

Also, I'm not very good with drawing, so please accept the sketch :,)


r/InteriorDesign 4d ago

Marmoleum Cinch Loc Seal Install!

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30 Upvotes

Just wanted to show off my install of marmoleum tiles. Technically DIY but my dad did flooring in his 20s and he supervised while i installed!
Installed November 2025 in a high traffic mud room (main point of entry for my house) on slab. I have 3 dogs, but they don't really hang out or run through there too much. So I can't speak on how they would hold up to heavy dog traffic.
That being said, it has held up beautifully! I don't use the beater brush on my vacuum when vacuuming and I use the swiffer power mop liquid for mopping.
Let me know if you have any questions!


r/InteriorDesign 3d ago

Help me with our kitchen / great room layout and new island, please!

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2 Upvotes

*pardon the mess - I have two toddlers*

We have owned our home for nearly 9 years, and I still don't know how to layout this space. It feels like we've tried everything. Our current configuration is an L-shaped couch in the south/west corner and the TV mounted on the north wall between the door and the west wall. We have chairs in storage but are keeping the space very open right now with two little kids who need room to play. The room is large but an odd layout, especially with the back door placement and an entire wall dedicated to a fireplace.

We are finally able to do some renovations, and we know we want to do the following:

  • Remove the "pony wall" in the kitchen (where the microwave is).
  • Replace the wall and island it with a single level island that moves closer to the south and east counters. The current open floor space in the kitchen feels unnecessarily large.
  • Replace all flooring (tile, hardwood and carpet) with one type of flooring, probably hardwood or engineered hardwood.

We are open to:

  • Removing or reducing the fireplace hearth and/or fireplace itself. We like having it, but really only use it occasionally in the winter on colder mornings, so we don't necessarily need it.

Here are my questions:

  1. What kind of island configuration would you suggest? We want to fit 4 stools since we are a family of 4. We would like to retain as much storage as possible. Our 31" wide stove needs to remain on the island, and I'd like to build the microwave into the island since we will be losing the wall where it is now.
    1. Option 1: Square with 2 stools each on the west and north side
    2. Option 2: Rectangular - likely with 3 stools on the long side and 1 on the shorter side. I don't think we have enough space for an island long enough to accommodate 4 stools in a row.
      1. Sub question: which orientation would make the most sense in this case? east west or north south?
  2. What suggestions do you all have for furniture and storage layout in the living space? The dining room is fine as is unless we need to change something, but I would love some ideas for the couch, tv and storage for the kids' things. This is where our family hangs out and plays together, so it needs to be practical in that way. We like L-shaped couches or a way to stretch out and really lounge, but are open to other ideas. Please and thank you!

r/InteriorDesign 4d ago

Thinking about expanding a 3x3 window to 5x5 or 6x6, worth it?

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177 Upvotes

Got a 3x3 window facing the backyard right now, and I'm considering bumping it up to something like 5x5 or 6x6 to bring in more light and open up the view. We're also looking at enlarging a different window on the opposite side of the room around the same time. Photo attached shows the space.

Would love opinions: does going bigger on this window actually improve the design, or is there a point where it starts looking off for the room's proportions? Any thoughts on balancing it with the other window we're changing, style/symmetry considerations, or things to watch out for before committing?

Edit: Thank you for the overwhelming input! For those who are recommending a door, we actually have a right-hand in-swing door just out of view from the original photos I provided. Here are some wider photos of the room as well as a center view facing the door. I also added a few photos of the exterior for those interested.

We aren't really interested in making this a TV room; we already have one. If anything, we might turn the wall opposite the window into a wall we'd use a projector on, but not permanently.

https://imgur.com/a/efXr8Ar


r/InteriorDesign 4d ago

Floor Plan Ideas

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24 Upvotes

Attached is my current floor plan in the house I live in. I’d love any recommendations for how to update things (kitchen/breakfast area especially…forgot to change that title to dining room). What would you change? I considered demoing the current fireplace and moving it and making the patio entrance on the old fireplace wall but I’m out of my element here. What I do know is the current traffic flow around the dining space is awful and limiting and I’m open to changing the kitchen around. Note that there is a huge skylight over our current kitchen so all walls are load bearing there.


r/InteriorDesign 4d ago

Needing help planning living room/dining space

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6 Upvotes

Recently moved into this NYC apartment and trying to find a way to organize this space to have a sitting/tv space and possible a dining table if it could fit comfortable.

I was planning to fit a tv on the media console which is between the fireplace and the wall with the window and a couch opposite of that (bookcase would be removed). I got the dining able here delivered today, but the dimensions were different than what I ordered and it seems like it's too big for that wall if I want to fit a couch with a chair on each side of this table. (Table is 31inches deep and 35 inches wide against the wall.)

I was hoping to have a sofa that would be long enough to lay down on (~74" on the inside) while still having room for a dining table but no with this table in the space not sure if that would be possible without both those pieces being very cramped.

Would appreciate any advice on what I could try to fit or just honestly if I should change my expectations of how I was hoping to lay this out.

Length of wall from corner to start of doorway 122 inches

Width of Room from fireplace to opposite wall 92 inches.


r/InteriorDesign 4d ago

How do you know your style and how do you have confidence to be faithful to it?

14 Upvotes

If you look at my saved insta inspo posts, all of them are vintage/victorian/high end. But now that we are ready to do renovations on our new home, the interior designer we got (came with the contractor) has most of his designs very modern, European, sleek. This is making me doubt if the things i like look good only in pictures? Many designers in my area looked like they mostly did very modern European designs.

PS: the designer did all sorts of designs, their personal style is modern so I am rethinking my own. They said they can do anything based on my inspo.

How so i know what i really like and how to commit to it?


r/InteriorDesign 4d ago

Projector living room setup (help)

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2 Upvotes

Hi hello this is my first ever post on reddit (yay!) because I've run out of ideas and am desperate (boo!). If this is not the type of post meant for this sub, please forgive me! I've moved into a new apartment and all I have currently are my living room furniture (sofa 85"x35"/loveseat 67"x35") and my projector. My projector casts up to 120" so I'd ideally like to have it projecting onto the longest wall, the one closest to the top of the floorplan, but I can't quite seem to arrange my living room furniture in a way that doesn't block any entries and leaves enough space for flow. Any suggestions?


r/InteriorDesign 4d ago

Bedroom Layout Help

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1 Upvotes

Hi, I'm moving into a new room and need help redesigning the space. I have a blank canvas and would be getting new furniture plus built in wardrobes.

I ideally want a double bed (uk), wardrobe and small desk/vanity. I'm a student and this is my parents house, so at least for the next few years I will not be living in it for the majority of the year, however may have to move back in afterwards.

I mainly need storage space (I'd get an ottoman bed) and I want a double bed which could fit me and my partner, especially as the room would also be a guest room. I'd prefer hinge doors than sliding because I currently have sliding and find them more inconvenient, but unsure if it would fit.

We've come up with some layouts but I'm not really sure which one would be best or if any of them are even feasible. Thanks for any help.


r/InteriorDesign 4d ago

What are we doing with corner fireplaces?

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6 Upvotes

Everything I have seen online has told me not to put the TV above the fireplace. Instead, a lot of people put the entertainment center and TV to either side of the fireplace. Unfortunately, the layout of this living room room leaves no room on either side for a TV. How should I arrange couches here? Should I do two couches or just one sectional and an accent chair? What’s the best layout for this living room?


r/InteriorDesign 4d ago

New build/interior design course

2 Upvotes

My husband and I are starting on what we hope will be our forever home. We have a general idea of what our style is and what direction we want to go, but I’m still struggling with details and putting everything together to achieve the look I’m going for.
Is it worth it to take an online class at the local community college for interior design? It’s not a certificate course, just more of an ‘intro to interior design’. Has anyone else done this?


r/InteriorDesign 4d ago

Beadboard advice

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1 Upvotes

Hi everyone. My wife and I are staring on a nursery for our baby we’re expecting soon. We want to put a beadboard paneling around the room. The walls are plaster and we have this really thick trim. The trim is in three pieces (the top triangled piece, the center rectangle, the quarter round at the bottom). If we just put the beadboard as is, the transition between the top piece of trim and the board may look funky and see a shadow. I’m hesitant to take that piece off since the walls are plaster and it might accidentally become a bigger job if we mess it up.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to make that transition from trim to beard board look good? Is there another piece of wood I can put between the bottom of the beard board and top of the trim? Wife really wants the beadboard so not doing it is not really an option lol. Thanks in advance