How Do You Know You are Ready For an Interior Designer?

Are you considering remodelling/transforming part or all of your home? Unsure to DIY or hire a designer? You have been visualising the space, have already gone through many images on Pinterest, and are still feeling overwhelmed. Or you know what your vision is, but too busy to execute and not even sure where to source all your furnishings. It may be time to herald a professional.

Interior design should not be for big budgets only. Everyone deserves a home and space they love and adore and a functional kitchen. If you have a realistic budget and timeframe, you should enlist the services of a designer. It's also ideal to bring them on board at beginning of the project or perhaps at the development phase if you are building.

The thought of hiring someone may feel intimidating, or the concept that you would be working with someone who won’t be able to translate your vision or style. It’s important to remember that working with an interior designer on your new build or renovation, is a collaboration. Your ideas matter. Decisions that will be made throughout the project, you will always be a part of.

An interior designer generally has a wide range of knowledge and this is where they will add value to your project. They will help you with planning, budgeting, take away the headaches of project management and sourcing and most importantly, save you money.

Here are some reasons why it makes sense as a homeowner to engage the services of an interior designer, and how they can help you…

You will have professional insight at your service

You are bringing on board a skilled, knowledgeable person with experience. They will be able to advise you on each step of the project. They must translate your vision into reality. One of the advantages of working with a designer is that they have relationships with craftspeople, and contractors and work with a variety of suppliers. This is often a bonus to you and your project. It translates to ready expertise and saves you money and time.

They will help you define your style

Internet research can be exhausting and overwhelming, which could lead to you not being sure of which design style you prefer or don’t like. A good interior designer will be able to translate your brief and communicate it effectively using concept and mood boards, to guide the design style and direction of your project. This ultimately reflects your personality and lifestyle.

Trained to see potential and come up with unique ideas

A pair of fresh eyes is part of what a designer brings, other than the knowledge and expertise. It is their job to identify the potential of a space and know how to repurpose old items that still have life in them. Dealing with design principles is key to making any space cohesive, so they will advise on size, proportion, scale, texture, and colours. Pick up potential pain points and come up with creative solutions.

If you have a difficult space that you can’t figure out how to fix, a pro will surprise you and come up with clever ways of making it functional and aesthetically pleasing. Things you may not have thought of, their trained eye will see the bigger picture while giving you details

Planning and Budgeting will be easier

The expertise of a designer will help you save money. It is important to stay on budget for building and renovation projects. Through relationships and trade discounts that are received by designers, it makes it easier for them to negotiate good rates for the clients. They can also give you a realistic idea of what can be achieved within the budget. The interior designer will always have to assess the quality, quantity, and pricing to come within budget, ultimately saving you money and saving you from making costly mistakes.

Save you time

Project management of a renovation can equally be time-consuming and draining. You must consider the hours spent sourcing the right furniture, hardware, fabric samples and soft furnishings. A designer will put all these together and present them to you as the client, with ease. No need for running around from one store to the next comparing prices and ending up confused, frustrated, and ultimately stalling your project. Delegation of design duties is a collaboration, and you don’t have to stress about being everywhere. They will manage the other contractors and get the job done for you.

Retain your sanity through the project

Choosing flooring, paint and fabric colours, and sourcing décor items and finishes can be a tiring exercise. Getting an interior designer to handle all that will take a lot off your shoulders. It’s important to hire a person that you work well with and who has translated your brief and style into a vision that you both agree on. You then won’t need to stress about the result.

Still not sure when you should work with an interior designer?

You are ready to work with an interior designer if….

• You see the value of investing in professional assistance

• You have set a good and realistic budget for your interior

• You are willing to trust in the process and in someone’s hands to bring your vision to life

• You can delegate and consult

• You know that good design takes time and that the project will not be completed in a fortnight

• You are ready for a change

There are a lot of benefits to working with an interior designer, and ultimately, you will have to weigh the options. Enlisting the services of a pro, will in the long run add value to your property. They bring in the skill to make your space look more pleasing, luxurious, functional, and personal. An interior designer will thread the look throughout the spaces and give you the WOW. Do note that interior design is not only exclusive to the wealthy. You just need to be realistic about what you want.

I hope you have gained some insight into the value that a professional interior designer brings to a project, and hope that you will be ready to bring them on board your next project.

You can give me a call to talk about how we can help you with your next project.