What Interior Design Actually Involves (And Why It's Not What You See on TV)

If you've ever watched a home renovation show and thought "I could do that" — you're not alone. And honestly, the best ones are brilliant at capturing the excitement of transformation - I love them too! But there's a version of interior design that television has created which bears very little resemblance to what a professional designer actually does day to day.

That gap matters — particularly if you're about to spend a significant amount of money renovating your home.

What you see on screen

TV design tends to focus on the reveal. The before and after. The paint colour, the sofa, the carefully placed cushions. It's compelling to watch, and the aesthetic decisions are real — but they represent perhaps 20% of what a qualified interior designer actually does on a complex residential project. The other 80% rarely make it to air. It's not entertaining.

What actually happens behind the scenes

A registered interior designer working on a full renovation is coordinating a significant professional undertaking. That means working alongside architects, structural engineers, planning consultants, contractors, specialist trades, and suppliers — often simultaneously. It means understanding building regulations, managing procurement schedules, reviewing technical drawings, and making sure every decision made in the design phase can actually be built.

It means being the person who spots that the beautiful island your client fell in love with won't clear the run of units opposite once the fridge is accounted for. Or that the recessed lighting plan needs to be signed off before the ceiling goes in, not after.

These aren't glamorous moments. But they're the ones that determine whether a project runs smoothly or unravels.

What BIID and SBID registration actually means

The interior design industry in the UK is unregulated — which means legally, anyone can call themselves an interior designer. Registration with the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) or accreditation with the Society of British and International Design (SBID) is voluntary, but it carries real weight.

To hold either, a designer must demonstrate verified professional experience, commit to ongoing development, and operate within a professional code of conduct. It's a signal that the person you're hiring has been assessed against a recognised standard — not just that they have good taste.

For a client, that matters. You're not just hiring someone to choose finishes. You're bringing someone into one of the most complex and costly projects your home will ever go through. Knowing they carry professional accountability is part of what makes the process feel safe.

The question worth asking

Before hiring any designer for a significant project, it's worth asking: are you BIID registered or SBID accredited? Not to be difficult — but because the answer tells you something about how seriously they take the profession, and how protected you are as a client.

The best designers aren't just creatively talented. They're technically rigorous, professionally accountable, and experienced at leading a project team through complexity. That's what you're really hiring — and it's rarely what ends up on television.

No Ordinary House is BIID registered and SBID accredited. If you're planning a renovation and want to understand what working with a qualified designer actually looks like, I'd love to have that conversation — noordinaryhouse@gmail.com