Decorative painter, building painter, interior decorator: who should you contact for your project?
It’s not always easy to choose the right professional when you want to transform your interior decoration. Between the decorative painter, painter-decorator, building painter and interior decorator, the professions may seem similar. Yet their skills differ while complementing one another.
Having spent over 15 years on building sites as an architectural interior designer before turning to decorative painting, I offer here a clear breakdown of each profession’s role to help you make the right choice.
1. THE INTERIOR DECORATOR: the designer of the overall atmosphere
The interior decorator specializes in decoration and design. They follow trends and are knowledgeable about the history of styles. Their main role is to develop an overall aesthetic vision for a given space. They design the atmosphere and select colors, materials, textiles, and sometimes furniture and accessories. They generally intervene upstream, before the building painter and the decorative painter.
Their advice is invaluable for:
. Changing the atmosphere of a room, modernizing it, or adapting it better to its intended use
. Rethinking interior layouts according to existing constraints
. Ensuring visual coherence (style, colors, shapes, materials) without complex works (especially structural)
2. THE BUILDING PAINTER: the expert in technical application
A key professional in the progress of your project, the building painter ensures proper surface preparation (filling cracks, removing old wallpaper, stripping, applying preparatory coats) and the application of standard decorative plasters, classic paints, or conventional decorative wall coverings. They often intervene before the decorative painter, allowing the latter to focus on creating the décor.
Their advice is invaluable for:
. Bringing surfaces up to standard and protecting them
. Choosing wall coverings according to the type and condition of the substrate
3. THE DECORATIVE PAINTER or PAINTER-DECORATOR: the expert in artistic finishes
Both artisan and artist, the decorative painter’s vocation is to create a unique, bespoke wall decoration designed specifically for you and your interior, while taking into account the characteristics of the space (architecture, history, materials, light). They possess a triple skill set: technical mastery of materials (pigments, binders, substrates, gilding), in-depth knowledge of decorative styles, and artistic creation (composition, colors, material effects). They create patinas, murals, hand-painted panoramic wallpapers, trompe-l’œil, and material effects. With them, walls tell a story…
Their advice is invaluable for:
. Choosing the decorative techniques to be implemented according to the style of your interior and your desires
. If you are looking for a creative and innovative project with a strong identity
In short
♠ Each professional plays a very specific role: conceptual, technical, or creative
♠ Choosing the right expert mainly depends on the level of uniqueness you are seeking and the desired artistic dimension
♠ The decorative painter (or painter-decorator) is the right contact if you are looking for a unique decoration or exceptional finishes