How do I know if I need an interior designer?
Hey everyone!
I’m a little late with this month’s blog post, but it’s definitely relevant. How do you know if you need, and/or should hire, an interior designer? This question is one that potential clients ask themselves all the time and I’m here to help you get answers.
Most clients seek the help of a designer when they are:
Building a custom home (finishing selections and/or furnishings/decor selections)
Moving into a new home (furnishings/decor selections)
Renovating a current home (taking out all of the old and
Remodeling a current home (removing and/or adding wall and/or floor space)
Building a custom home, and renovating/remodeling, can be an extremely daunting task. This differs from a spec home, and renovation/remodel, because you are selecting all of your finishes (flooring, countertops, lighting, etc.) on your own and not going to a builder design center and choosing a package (pre-selected finishes). Having to do all of the sourcing and coordinating showroom visits, sample requests and knowing where to start in general is a great reason to add a designer to your team. A good designer will be able to take command of the project and source items on your behalf (based on your preferences), order samples, receive products and many other tasks that go into a custom build home. If you feel that you can’t complete these tasks on your own, and are overwhelmed, it’s time to call in professional reinforcements.
When moving into a new home, I feel like societal standards demand that we bring in all new everything to fit the newness of the home. New furnishings need to be selected, and possibly even upgrading the basic builder lighting. Furniture shopping these days isn’t what it used to be. It’s hard to determine which companies offer the best quality for their pricing, and have pieces that can live well with your busy lifestyle. A good designer will be able to take command of the project and source items on your behalf (based on your preferences), with furniture vendors that they’ve verified through trial and error. If you feel that you just can’t, and don’t know performance fabric over regular fabric, it might be a good idea to seek professional assistance.
I believe the main reasons clients seek out a designer are:
The process is overwhelming and they don’t know where to begin
They don’t have the time to do the project themselves
They know what they like, but don’t how to create a cohesive space
While curating a wonderful space is definitely overwhelming for some, hiring an interior designer should help alleviate much of the pressure. A good interior designer will be able to help you narrow down your options, and make the selections world smaller. They can also give insight to brands that stand the test of time, and present options that you might not have even know existed to enhance your lifestyle.
In addition to being an overwhelming process, building, renovating or remodeling, and furnishing a home (or any part in that home) is time consuming. It can take weeks, even months, to find all of the right products to compliment a room. When your schedule doesn’t allow for you to make the time to dedicate to such a project, an interior designer would be most beneficial. A good interior designer will be able to source products on your behalf and even make sure everything flows well. They will also be able to ensure that all items compliment each other.
If any of these reasons have resonated with you, I think you know what your next step is. If you’re looking for an interior designer, I would love to chat with you about your project and discuss my design process. You can fill out the contact form on my website to get started!
Also, if you haven’t noticed, I’ve repeatedly mentioned “a good interior designer” throughout this blog. I’m saying that because you might not be compatible with all designers out there…in style and/or personality. And that is completely okay. There are so many interior designers in the world, and one of them will be right for you. In next month’s blog post, we will discuss the question of knowing which interior designer is a good fit for you.
If you have any questions, or future topics, please leave them in the comments below!
As a bonus, you can watch this video I recorded a couple years ago about the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator.
Until next the next blog,
Brittany