You can't tell reliably from looks alone. Decorative columns and beams often wrap real structural posts. How to narrow it down:

1. Look above. From the attic or the floor above, see what sits directly over it. If joists, rafters or a beam end on it, it's carrying load. If framing runs continuously past it, it's more likely decorative.

2. Look below. A post that lands on a thickened slab, pier or beam is almost certainly bearing. Purely decorative columns usually just sit on the finished floor.

3. Look inside. Many columns are split fiberglass or PVC shells with a seam or removable trim ring. A wood or steel post inside means structure.

4. Find the drawings. For a 2008 house, the city or county may have permit plans on file, and the builder may still have the framing plan or truss layout. That's the fastest path to a definite answer.

If the goal is to remove it, have a structural engineer confirm before anything is cut. The fix for a wrong guess is shoring, a new beam and drywall repair on two floors.

Thank you!