Why Anyone in Australia Can Call Themselves an Interior Designer
If you hire a builder in New South Wales, you can look up their licence in minutes. If you hire an electrician or a plumber, the same applies. If you hire an interior designer, there is nothing to check for. In NSW, "interior designer" is not a protected title, and no government licence or registration is required to use it.
That surprises most of our clients. It also explains why two people with the same job title can offer completely different levels of training, insurance and accountability. This issue of the Journal explains where the profession stands in 2026, and gives you a practical checklist for telling the difference.
This article is general information, current as at September 2026. It is not legal advice.
Where interior design sits in NSW regulation
Interior design has been the subject of a long-running debate in NSW. Following a parliamentary review of the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, a Legislative Council committee recommended the Government consider a registration and licensing framework for interior designers. In February 2026, ArchitectureAu reported that the Government formally "noted" that recommendation rather than adopting it. Its stated position is that interior design work falls outside the state's building safety regulatory scheme, and should instead be captured in documentation prepared by registered architects and building design practitioners.
The Design Institute of Australia, the peak professional body for designers, has criticised that decision and says it will push for interior designers to be included in the Government's 2026 building reform consultations. The same ArchitectureAu report notes that Victoria already recognises a Building Designer, Building Design (Interior) registration category through its building authority, and that several neighbouring countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, have formal accreditation or licensing schemes.
What this means in practice is simple. In NSW today, anyone can print "interior designer" on a business card. The responsibility for checking whether that person is qualified, insured and accountable sits with you.
Interior designer, decorator and stylist are not the same job
Part of the confusion is that three quite different roles often get grouped together. An interior designer typically works on the planning and fabric of a space: layouts, joinery, lighting plans, finishes, and documentation for builders and trades. A decorator focuses on furnishings, colour and soft finishes. A stylist works on the final presentation of a space, often for photography or sale.
The DIA recently published a consumer guide, "Interior Designer, Interior Decorator or Stylist?", to help the public understand the differences. We covered the same ground from a studio perspective in Designer, Decorator or Stylist: Which One Does Your Project Actually Need?. The short version: if your project involves moving walls, new joinery, kitchens, bathrooms or detailed documentation, you need someone trained to design, not only to decorate.
Why the lack of regulation matters for your renovation
Most renovations are among the largest purchases a household will make. The person who designs the space shapes how that money is spent, which materials are specified, how the layout works and what the builder is asked to build. If that person lacks training, the mistakes usually surface late, on site, when they are most expensive to fix.
The DIA made this point directly in its 2021 submission to a NSW parliamentary inquiry, arguing that without formal recognition, people with limited training can take on work beyond their capabilities, including work that must comply with the National Construction Code.
It is also worth separating design from building. In NSW, residential building work valued at more than $5,000, including GST, labour and materials, must be carried out by a licensed contractor, and specialist work such as electrical wiring, plumbing, drainage, gasfitting and air conditioning needs a licence regardless of cost. A good interior designer will be clear about where their role ends and where licensed builders and trades take over. Our article on what an interior designer is actually responsible for sets out that boundary in detail.
Five things to check before you hire an interior designer
With no licence to look up, these checks tell you the most.
1. Formal qualifications in interior design. Ask what the designer studied and where. Qualifications range from nationally accredited vocational courses, such as the Diploma of Interior Design, to university degrees in interior design or interior architecture. A qualification does not guarantee talent, but it does tell you that the person has been trained in space planning, construction basics, documentation, and codes, not just aesthetics.
2. Professional body membership or accreditation. The DIA runs a DIA Accredited Designer program. Applicants are assessed on a points system that takes into account their qualification level, years of experience, a signed code of conduct and evidence of professional indemnity insurance. Accredited designers must also complete 50 continuing professional development points each year to keep using the accreditation logo. Accreditation is voluntary, so its absence is not automatically a red flag, but its presence tells you something useful.
3. Professional indemnity insurance. This covers claims arising from professional advice or design errors. Ask whether the designer holds it and what it covers. It is one of the simplest questions to ask and one of the most revealing.
4. A portfolio of comparable, completed work. Look for finished projects similar to yours in scale and type, not only styled imagery or mood boards. A designer who has delivered full renovations, like our Corner House project in Redfern, will understand sequencing, documentation, and how to work with trades in ways that a purely decorative portfolio cannot show.
5. A clear written scope and clarity about who is licensed for what. Before you sign, you should know exactly what the designer will deliver, how fees are structured and who is responsible for each stage. You should also know which parts of the job will be done by licensed builders and trades, and you can check any NSW builder or tradesperson's licence through Service NSW.
Questions worth asking in your first meeting
A short conversation can tell you a great deal. Consider asking:
- What are your qualifications, and are you a member of a professional body?
- Do you hold professional indemnity insurance?
- Can I see completed projects similar in scale to mine?
- What exactly is included in your scope, and what is not?
- Who manages the builder and trades, and how do you document the design for them?
- How do you handle changes once construction has started?
A confident, experienced designer will welcome every one of these questions.
How we approach this at Wilbur Jones
Our studio is led by Emma Castellano and brings together expertise in interior architecture and design, with experience across luxury residential, multi-residential, commercial workplace and wellness projects. You can read more about the team on our About page and how we work on our Practice page.
We believe clients deserve transparency about who they are hiring, especially in a profession without a licence to check. That is why we set out our scope clearly at the start of every engagement, and why we write pieces like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do interior designers need a licence in NSW?
No. As at September 2026, there is no licence or registration that allows a person to call themselves an interior designer in NSW. In February 2026, the NSW Government noted, but did not adopt, a parliamentary committee recommendation to consider a registration and licensing framework for the profession.
What qualifications should an interior designer have in Australia?
Look for formal study in interior design or interior architecture, ranging from a nationally accredited Diploma of Interior Design to a university degree. Combine that with evidence of completed projects, professional indemnity insurance and, ideally, membership of a professional body such as the Design Institute of Australia.
What does DIA accreditation mean?
The DIA Accredited Designer program assesses designers on qualifications, experience, a signed code of conduct and professional indemnity insurance. Accredited designers must complete 50 continuing professional development points each year. It is voluntary, but it is the closest thing the profession currently has to an independent credential.
Is interior design regulated anywhere in Australia?
Victoria recognises a Building Designer, Building Design (Interior) registration category, which allows qualifying practitioners to prepare technical drawings and lodge building permit applications. NSW does not currently have an equivalent category for interior designers.
Can an interior designer carry out building work?
In NSW, residential building work valued at more than $5,000, including GST, labour, and materials, must be done by a licensed contractor, and specialist work, such as electrical and plumbing, requires a licence regardless of value. Interior designers design and document the work; licensed builders and trades carry it out.
How can I check a builder or tradesperson's licence in NSW?
Use the free online licence check on the Service NSW website.
Planning a renovation and want to talk it through?
We are always happy to answer the questions in this article about our own studio, our experience and exactly how we would approach your project. We manage every project from initial concept through to completion.
- Email: hello@wilburjones.com.au
- Connect with Emma on LinkedIn
- Follow the studio on Instagram
Next in the Journal: Coastal Living, Considered, on designing for Bondi, Bronte and Clovelly.