Design vs. Decorating: What the Room Remembers

Heather
Jun 18
2 min read

Design vs. Decorating: What the Room Remembers

When you walk into a space that feels good—really good—you often can’t explain why.It’s not just the light. Or the sofa. Or the color of the paint.

It’s the intention beneath it.

At Metta Home, we design spaces that feel as good as they look. And while the words “design” and “decorating” are often used interchangeably, they shape a space in different ways.

So… what’s the difference?

Interior design is about reshaping the structure of a space—whether that means removing walls, designing an addition, or reconfiguring the layout—with a clear understanding of why the change is needed (more room to grow, better natural light, a new way of living) and how the space will be used. It focuses on function, flow, and structure—reimagining how your home will evolve with you.

Interior decorating builds on that foundation with softness, mood, and meaning. It’s the artful layering of furnishings, color, texture, and light to create a room that reflects who you are and how you live in the space.

At Metta Home, we offer both—but not always at once. And knowing which one you need (or whether you need both) is often the first point of confusion for potential clients.

A Real-World Example: The Dark Academia Project

In this project, the client initially asked us to “finish the rooms.” the dining room and living room. But as we listened, we heard something deeper.

We renovated the basement into a deeply layered retreat for reading and relaxation —relocating the hot water heater to open up the space, concealed a safe beneath the stairs, and cladding the walls with trim to hide the additional storage we created and added colors that would live up to the project's name sake.

We transformed the back porch into a screened-in outdoor lounge, and reworked the kitchen layout by removing two walls to make space for a combined butler’s pantry and mudroom—creating a stronger connection between the compact square footage of the home and utility of each space in the home.

What started as a decorating request became a full-bodied interior design project. A reimagining of the space that could support and reflect the way she lives.

The Takeaway

Interior design solves problems. Decorating gives joy. One builds the bones. The other brings the breath.

When they come together, your home begins to hold you the way you need it to. And that's what we’re here for.

When you walk into a space that feels good, you often can’t explain why. It just works. It holds you, remembers you, reflects something back that makes you feel—safe, seen, inspired.

That feeling doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of design and decorating working together, with intention.

In this first installment of At Home in the Metta, we’re exploring what interior design is (and isn’t), how it differs from decorating, and why that distinction matters when you’re building or renovating a home that’s meant to evolve with you.

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