Should You Hire an Interior Designer?
Prospective clients sometimes ask me whether they need to hire an interior designer. They often hesitate because they don’t want to pay for the extra expense or worry about losing control of their project.
When you decide to use the services of an interior designer, you are hiring a professional who is educated and trained to meet your needs, whether it’s drawing plans to move a wall or helping you with your furniture and accessories choices.
Interior Designers have Special Skills, Knowledge and Training
Interior designers must have specific skills, knowledge, and education. In design school, we take courses in spatial and structural design, space planning, room layouts, and furniture styles as well as technology, graphic communications, and architecture. Moreover, we also develop a strong understanding of spatial and structural design through two- and three-dimensional drawings.
An interior designer should not be confused with an interior decorator. In general, the latter offers services that are decorative, such as choosing furniture, finishes, accessories, and lighting. They typically come on board after construction is completed. On the other hand, interior designers often offer interior decoration, it is just one among the many services and jobs we perform for their clients. As an interior designer, we must pay attention to color schemes, scale, proportion, and surface materials. We also need to know how to create or reconstruct a floor plan. If a project involves structural changes, your interior designer should have the necessary experience to work directly with architects and contractors, create and file the necessary paperwork, and apply for permits.
We can offer a wide range of services, such as “full service” interior design, which means being involved in the entire design process, from initial concept, through construction, ordering, delivery, and installation, to the final accessorizing and styling stage. With a focus on function and aesthetics, we offer a comprehensive range of technical solutions and services, including project management, measuring and evaluating a site, AutoCAD drafting, and environmental sustainability considerations.
A Designer Will Save You Time
Every design project, even small ones, is more time-consuming than you might imagine. If you have other obligations, such as being a parent or having a full-time job, or both, managing a design project can be stressful and take up way too many hours in a day.
Suppose your project is a new build or renovation. In that case, a designer will work with your architect and contractor, and navigate the construction process as your voice and advocate, sparing you the time and difficulty of managing the project yourself. A designer will also narrow down the overwhelming choices among thousands of items, from furniture, art, and accessories to colors, fabrics, and finishes, making it easier for you to make quick and efficient decisions. For those who are looking to furnish and style a new home, a designer will work with you to ensure your home not only looks beautiful but meets your lifestyle needs. We ensure the floorplan, materials, and finishes selected and all the accessories and décor are the right fit for you and your family.
A Designer Will Save You Money
While an interior designer’s fees might initially seem intimidating, you should consider the value you will get compared to the amount of money you will spend. An interior designer will save you money in the long run if the job is done right from the start. A good designer will help you avoid costly mistakes (remember that sectional sofa that wouldn’t fit through the front door?) and help make decisions that can increase the value of your home.
A designer will make sure you stay within your budget and help you manage how your money is being spent. He or she will ensure your project stays on schedule, avoiding expensive delays. A designer’s knowledge is invaluable, helping you choose the materials that are a good investment, knowing where to find the best discounts, and understanding when to cut corners and when it makes sense to spend a little extra. Because designers pay trade pricing, we can pass the savings along to our clients.
A Designer Has Contacts and Sources
Most interior designers have great connections and have built long-term relationships with other industry professionals, including reliable contractors and architects, as well as carpenters and millworkers. We also have long-standing relationships with sources and vendors, many of whom carry products unavailable to the general public.
You’re Hiring an Expert as Well as an Advocate
You may have difficulty communicating your needs and desires to an architect or contractor. You might not even be available to meet with them often enough. An interior designer represents you, which means we take your needs and desires, timeline and budget into account. Your designer is your advocate, working alongside other professionals on the project every step of the way to problem-solve and ensure that the final outcome is exactly what you desired.
Interior designers can perform miracles when it comes to material selection. We understand the pros and cons, the possibilities and limitations of the hundreds of available items, and we can visualize how they can best be used in your home. We inspect all items after delivery to ensure they are up to industry standards. If something arrives damaged or doesn’t function properly, we are the ones responsible for returns and exchanges, which could save you the major hassle!
It pays to hire an interior designer for a design project of any size. Your designer will offer a complete range of services and guide you through the entire process. Whether it be a single room, complete renovation, or new build, we help plan and organize things every step of the way. Our expertise comes with the ability to see the complete picture in a way you might not be able to. This is why you cannot go wrong with the right interior designer.