Hiring an interior designer can be one of the best decisions you will ever make. Why you ask? There are many reasons and you will learn them in this post.
Interior designers always seem to be misunderstood. I’m not sure how many times I have been told by someone, “Oh my gosh how fun!” “I love interior design shows, you must love them too.” “Please come decorate my house!” “I bet your home is beautiful.” “I would love to be an interior designer, that sounds like such a fun job!” Or the best one yet, they call you an “interior decorator.”
Although decorating is a part of the job, that is just a teeny tiny fraction when you look at the entire scope of an interior design project.
But, there is SO much more to being an interior designer.
And yes, being an interior designer IS fun and it is probably one of the most rewarding jobs. It is a very personal job. You are working one on one with your clients in their most precious space, their home. A place where someone spends the majority of their sacred time. Often times, I work with clients for many months to a year or more and you really get to know your client on a personal level. Most times, my clients become friends.
I am going to dig deeper into what being an interior designer truly is and why hiring one for any home project is an absolute must!
This post is all about what an interior designer is and why you should hire one.
What Is An Interior Designer?
Interior designers wear many hats, especially ones who own their own business, like me! As a designer we act as therapists, friends, and project managers. And like I mentioned above, we are so much more than decorators.
We spend hours upon hours searching for the best products for our clients. We dig deep into understanding and getting to know our clients because it is important to understand them in order to give them the best possible design personalized to their wants and needs.
Many shows about interior design give us interior designers a false representation in my eyes. Yes, I do enjoy watching some of them, but they are definitely glamorized and they don’t show the full effect of what we do.
You just see the pretty and fun parts. You do not see all the behind the scenes of what truly goes on. There are so many things that can go wrong, and do go wrong. Not all of those things are bad, but I think it is important that those things come to surface so people can see the reality of it.
In these shows, you basically see the interior designer meeting with the client one time, then they show the designer working a little bit with the contractors and subcontractors, then you see a small glimpse of them selecting the materials for the project, and then BOOM! It is finally reveal day and the clients see their home for the first time.
NEWS FLASH! It doesn’t work that way. As interior designers, we meet with our clients multiple times throughout the entire design process. We are guiding our clients, not leading them blindly.
Interior designers are measuring the job site to ensure the balance and scale of materials, furniture, lighting, etc. selected are going to fit the space appropriately, meeting with the contractors and subcontractors on and off the job site multiple times, and we are material and product sourcing, speaking with vendors, and ordering the materials and products.
We are also producing 2D and 3D drawings and design/mood boards to act as visual aids for our clients so they can visualize what the final result is going to look like. And, we are actively dealing with tight deadlines and issues that arise. We are doing SO much more than what many interior design shows present to the world.
With that being said, you can now see how involved an interior designer is in a project, which is more often times than not, from start to finish. Interior designers often times act as a middle-man, ensuring everyone is communicating properly and that the design is being executed to your clients expectations. It is a lot! But boy, is it worth it.
There is nothing more rewarding than seeing your clients face light up on reveal day. When I get that reaction, I know it was a job well done. Ultimately, our clients are the most important person in this entire process, so seeing them insanely in love with their home makes you know that all of it was worth it.
So now that you learned what an interior designer does day in and day out, why should you hire one?
Interior Designers Can Save You Time AND Money
Wait, interior designers can save you money?! I know what you are thinking. You are probably asking yourself, but how? I can’t afford to hire one on top of the expenses I have for the actual project itself.
Yes, interior design is a luxury service. Not everyone sees the need for it and that is okay. But, if I told you that an interior designer could save you from making costly mistakes and decisions you are going to regret in the next year or two, would you think differently?
Of course the expense of an interior designer may seem daunting at first, but with their knowledge and expertise, you are actually going to be saving yourself SO many headaches.
Interior designers know about things like materials and their applications, why plumbing cannot be installed on an external wall, they know about many vendors and other resources that you may not have access to.
With them having the knowledge of many different resources, they are able to find things quicker and know which places carry certain things.
Isn’t it SO overwhelming scouring the internet for rugs, counter stools, chairs, etc.? Don’t you feel like there are way too many options out there and you don’t even know where to begin?
That is where an interior designer comes in. They know what vendors are trustworthy, they know what they carry, and they know their design styles so they know exactly where to shop for each of their projects. Interior designers also keep up with design trends so you don’t have to.
Sourcing takes a TON of time, even for us designers, as we are looking for the perfect selections for our clients. But I guarantee that time is cut in half if not more, when you have an interior designer helping you out.
A huge thing many of my clients struggle with is putting all the puzzle pieces together. For example, ensuring that their flooring, countertop, paint color, and cabinet finish all coordinate well with one another. Interior designers have an eye for that and we can make that overwhelming task so simple for you.
The project in itself is an investment and if mistakes are to happen, it is going to cost you even more. So why not hire an expert that is not only going to save you money and time, but they are going to make your experience more fun!
Interior Designers Design Exclusively For YOU
As interior designers, we are taking into consideration all things you. Not one project is like the other because each project is as unique as it is to the client it is being designed for.
I think that is the beauty of interior design. So many people get wrapped up into the current design trends and lose sight of what they truly love. I also think that people get worried that interior designers are going to completely take over their home and not let them have any say in the outcome.
That is not true at all. Yes, we all have our own style(s) as interior designers, but we are designing for YOU, not us. Even if your style doesn’t align with our own personal style, and maybe it isn’t something we would choose for ourselves, that’s okay. Because this is your home to love, not ours.
When a client asks me, “Is this going to go out of style?” I always tell them, as long as you love it, it is never going to go out of style. I try to educate clients that interior design isn’t all about keeping up with the Jones’. It is about how interior design makes you FEEL and how you want to feel in each space of your home.
Interior designers may meet with you before the project begins to get to know you, your project, and see if you are a good working fit.
They’re not just going to ask you about your design style, your favorite colors, patterns, metal finishes, etc. They’re also going to ask you about your lifestyle. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Where do you seek inspiration, and what brings you joy? Designers want to know how you live in your home and what is most important to you.
Asking these questions allows us to really get to know who our client is and find out what makes them who they are.
Your home is your personal oasis and it isn’t anybody else’s but yours. Make it yours in any way you can. Interior design can have a direct correlation to your mood and I absolutely know that this is true.
Interior Designers Add Value To Your Home
Designers can help you increase the resale value in your home by understanding the specific market you are in and knowing what types of materials and features are worth putting in your home. They will guide you on where you should save vs. splurge.
There are some things that are a wise investment in your home like high quality flooring, appliances, cabinetry, and countertops. These materials and products can last years and years if you take good care of them. It is also wise to invest in these quality materials because they are in the most high traffic areas in a home and you want to ensure they can withstand the daily wear and tear from you and your family.
Also, take into consideration the future of your home and how long you may be living there. Do you think you may have children in the future? Then maybe you will want to have a tub so you can bathe your kiddos. Do you plan on growing old in your home? Consider aging in place and add extra support in your walls for future grab bars. Even if your circumstances change and you decide to move, these things are great selling points for potential buyers with growing and aging families.
Of course, do not solely design around the potential resale of your home in the future. I often see people that are about to sell their home, and they are bending over backwards finally remodeling their entire house after all these years for someone else.
They are pouring tons of time and money into a home that is most likely going to get changed by the next home owner.
That is why having an interior designer’s advice and expertise from the very beginning of your project will help you make decisions for your current and future self/home.
