It can be extremely overwhelming to begin the process of a renovation, new construction or decor project. However, I think it’s sometimes more overwhelming to go through a large project on your own. When you need assistance with your taxes, you hire an accountant. When you need guidance planning a wedding, you hire a wedding planner. Why not hire a professional to guide you through your home project?
If you’re considering hiring an interior designer, there are a few things you should know before signing on with a firm. HGTV doesn’t exactly give the most accurate representation of the process! Here’s an inside perspective of what you can expect:
Designers Are Professionals
You won’t just be hiring someone with a hobby of mixing colors and patterns. When you hire an interior designer, you’re investing in a professional service with many years of experience. Interior designers went to school and sometimes passed certification exams in order to do this job. Most interior design firms have detailed and proven processes that they’ve perfected over time. Trust them to do what’s best for your job and know that you are hiring a completely capable person to handle your project.
They Can Help You Determine Your Style
It’s always helpful to have an idea of what your personal style is, but if you’re not exactly clear, your designer can help. There is usually a period of “programming” before you dive in and your designer will use different methods to figure out your preferences. In some circumstances, you’ll be asked to fill out detailed questionnaires about your lifestyle and aesthetic taste. This process is especially helpful when you and your significant other have different or conflicting styles.
They Have Access to Exclusive Products and Pricing
That’s right! And when you work with a designer, you’re able to purchase these hard-to-find, exclusive products. And even better, you also get exclusive pricing that is usually better than retail pricing when buying items through your design firm. It’s the best of both worlds – assistance selecting products and good pricing on them!!
A Designer Can Recommend Other Home Professionals
It’s difficult and time consuming to vet out several subcontractors and other professionals. Because your interior designer works on home renovations and new construction projects for a living, they will have a network of professionals that they can recommend and bring on to your project. Whether you need an architect, contractor, tile installer or electrician, you’ll be covered. Even better, they’ll most likely have relationships with great people in the field and can suggest people whom they’ve had positive experiences with (and steer you clear of people who have fallen short in the past).
Furniture Orders Take Time
This may seem like a downside to hiring a designer, but it’s truly not out of the ordinary. When you order furniture from some retail sources, you’ll end up having to wait several weeks for your order to arrive. The same goes for furniture ordered through a design firm. In some cases, lead times may be longer for custom products. This is just something to keep in mind to ensure your expectations are set. Good things take time!
They’ll Come Up With Ideas Your Never Would Have Thought Of
You’re probably thinking “Well I would hope so!” But I’m not just referring to a kick-ass end result visually. Your designer will evaluate your floor plan and create the best furniture plan for your family’s needs. They’ll take a look at your electrical drawings for your new construction home to ensure you have an easily-accessible outlet for your Christmas tree (if you need one). They’ll take durability and cleanability into consideration when selecting fun fabrics for your dining room so spilt red wine doesn’t ruin your dinner party. There are so many details that you won’t have to worry about to get to the perfect end result.
Your Designer Will Be Your Go-To On Your Project
You’re not just hiring someone to make your home pretty. Your designer will essentially become your project manager and the point-person for your project. They’ll be communicating with the builder, subcontractors, architect and anyone else you can think of that is involved in the project. This makes things easy for you because you can get all of your updates from one person instead of spending days gathering information from several different sources.
Hiring A Designer Is An Investment In Your Home
This one probably goes without saying, but is valuable to mention. Designers usually either charge by the hour or charge a flat fee. Most firms have designers at different experience levels and therefore different rates, which helps keep your project on budget. For example, there’s probably an intern or assistant that will run errands and gather samples for your project so that you’re not paying the owner of the firm to do these tasks by the hour. Try to determine the budget for your project in advance and keep in mind that you’ll want to budget for the actual design fees as well as the furniture/decor pieces (they’re not one in the same).
Your Project Will Become Fun Instead of Stressful
Large home projects can get frustrating, lengthy and therefore – stressful, especially when you are trying to play all roles. When you hire a professional, you’re able to get out of the weeds and enjoy the process of renovating or building your dream home. It’s actually a very fun and interesting process once you’re able to hand off the hard stuff to someone you trust.
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