An interior designer will guide you through the entire design process. This may include floor plans, laying out furniture, lighting plans and sourcing materials and furnishings.
They are able to balance aesthetic considerations with structural planning and can help you find solutions that will work with your budget. They also have access to trade only resources like furniture showrooms, fabrics and wallcoverings that you cannot get anywhere else.
Invest in a consultation.
Interior designers are professionally trained to observe patterns and design what their clients truly desire. They can also help you to narrow your choices and focus on the aspects of your home that you want to spend money on. This is where their expertise and years of experience can save you valuable time and money.
Before hiring a designer, find out how much they charge for their services. Some charge hourly rates, while others use a flat fee structure. Some offer a combination of both, so it is important to be clear on this before you start working together.
Once you have identified potential candidates, schedule a face to face meeting to meet with them and confirm that they are a good fit for your project. During this meeting you will want to make sure that you love their aesthetic and that they understand your vision for the space. This is also a great opportunity to determine how well you will work together.
Interior designers can often save you money by sourcing furnishings and decor items at special trade pricing. This is a huge savings, especially when you are purchasing multiple pieces or large quantities. They can also save you money by identifying areas in your home where you should splurge and where it is best to spend your budget elsewhere.
Invest in a floor plan.
The most important step in any project is creating a clear, well-defined design concept. This is where a designer is truly worth their salt. They can harness heaps of inspiration and your personal style to create a room plan that works, looks stunning and feels like you.
A good interior designer will work to incorporate your functional needs, existing systems like lighting and HVAC and even your roof layout to ensure the design flows seamlessly with any building structure or remodel. They will also factor in elements like a north-facing room that requires more overhead light than a south or west-facing one.
An interior designer’s experience and extensive network of highly-vetted contractors are invaluable in helping you stay on budget and achieve a finished product that exceeds your expectations. They will be able to provide ballpark estimates for the costs of materials, furniture and decor. They can also point you in the direction of contractors that they’ve worked with and can trust.
In addition to the value of a professional network, interior designers have access to trade only resources for products and brands that aren’t available to the general public. They can negotiate special pricing on items and pass those savings onto you. They will know where to cut corners (skip that fancy toilet) and when it’s worth investing in the splurge-worthy (that dream soaking tub). Saving on cost alone can help a home improvement project pay for itself.
Invest in a mood board.
Mood boards can be used in all sorts of design projects, from interiors to fashion to product design. They’re a great way to explore color schemes, furniture styles, and textures. They also help designers understand how different shapes and patterns convey certain emotions or concepts, like the gentle curves of a sand beach or the busy lines of a city street.
A good designer should be able to take your design goals and inspiration, and create a mood board that’s unique to your space. They should be able to use their training and experience to add their own professional insight to the project. They should also be able to dig deep and ask questions to understand exactly what you want from your home.
If you’re looking for an interior designer, ask about their process and how they work with clients. Do they like to present designs in a folder, binder, design board, computer model or rendering? It’s also a good idea to ask if they have any examples of previous projects that are similar to yours.
Lastly, make sure you talk to your potential designers about your budget. It’s important to understand how much they charge for their services, and if they will be able to work within your budget. They can also help you decide which areas of your project are worth splurging on, and where you should save.
Invest in a shopping list.
Once you’ve scoured potential designers for your project, set up face-to-face meetings to confirm that they love your aesthetic and see how they stay organized, understand your vision and are willing to push you outside your comfort zone. They also should be familiar with and connected to the many vendors in your area, which can save you money on materials, labor and delivery costs.
Designers don’t only look at style when putting together a room, they take into account functionality and how your home will hold up over time. For instance, that gorgeous Carrera marble countertop might not be ideal for kids and pets, so your designer may recommend a quartz look-alike that will hold up to the wear and tear.
Finally, designers can help you determine when spending more is worth it in the long run. For example, that high-end sofa might cost more upfront than a lower-quality one, but it will likely outlast the cheaper option by ten years and add to your overall resale value.
Many people think that hiring an interior designer is beyond their budget, but a good designer knows how to edit a space and save you money. They’ll help you prioritize projects, make finish or furniture choices and get the job done without overspending. And remember, most designers will ask for a retainer (a nonrefundable deposit) before starting work and apply it to the total costs on your final invoice or use it towards purchasing items like furnishings and decorative accents.
