Why Hiring an Interior Designer is a Smart Financial Decision
Why Hiring an Interior Designer is a Smart Financial Decision
Over my 4 years as design principal, I’ve heard some myths about what it’s like to work with an interior designer. Today, I’m going to clear these up & share the most common misconceptions I’ve heard. The most frequent thing that I hear is that when you work with an interior designer, your project will become a significant investment. If you’ve heard this fear about hiring an interior designer, you’re not alone. We’ve all heard the horror stories. Not to mention, there’s a fear that designers have expensive taste, will completely disregard your budget, and will insist that only the most expensive items will work in order to achieve a certain look.
There’s a lot to break down here because yes, working with an interior designer is a luxury & you certainly can pick out paint colors and finishes and furniture on your own and make it work - I promise you that. But, when thinking about, if there is an alignment with your needs and wants, and what a professional interior designer can offer, the key is to understand what you value most at this time of your life.
If you are at a point in life where what you value most is affordability and bottom-dollar cost, then working with our firm may not be well aligned with your current reality. However, there are many value retailers that offer free design services as well as outlets for pre-owned or low-cost goods that make it quite easy to find furnishings at economical prices.
On the other hand, if you are at a point in your life where you value acquiring quality furnishings and enjoying an up-scale aesthetic, having an expert help with major furnishing decisions and purchases, choosing things that will not soon need replacement, and surrounding yourself with items that are thoughtfully matched to your taste and lifestyle — then yes, working with an interior designer will fulfill all those goals, and will significantly enhance the aesthetic of your home and life.
Making an investment in professional interior design services is an important choice but I want to highlight some key considerations that you should know if you’re considering hiring our firm for your upcoming project:
There is a fear that an interior designer will implement their own preferences without regard to what the homeowner really wants. This is not the case when you work with me & my team. We are 100% devoted to understanding your wants and needs and have a deep conversation in our Kick-Off meeting to fully understand you & your preferences so that we can thoughtfully select items that reflect you & your lifestyle.
My past experience as an interior designer allows me and my team to help clients avoid making costly mistakes many homeowners end up hiring us to fix. Have you ever heard of someone painting their whole home with new colors but then needing to hire a designer to fix it because they selected the wrong colors? Or ordering furniture for their living room but everything came in too small or too big & looks out of scale. One of the most important parts about my job as an interior designer is that I know how to properly evaluate options before an investment of money or time occurs, to guard against misaligned selections or choices that won’t result in what the client is hoping to achieve.
We have access to a much wider range of products and materials compared to an average homeowner. There are countless manufacturers of home furnishing products that only distribute their products through industry professionals. This is called to-the-trade sourcing. It means that when you work with me & my team, it opens up more selections that we are able to curate. And often, because we are so familiar with the customizations, quality, and product features of the vendors we order from, we are often able to find better, higher quality, or more cost-effective products from the options available that reflect you & your home.
One of our favorite things to do in a design project is to take a high-low approach, which means we select high-quality and impressive pieces where it counts, and reasonably-priced items elsewhere. Even when clients have the budget to afford the highest-end pieces for every single item in their home, there are times when we advise against it, because it’s unnecessary.
More often it makes sense to splurge on certain high-impact pieces in some instances and to be much more restrained on other items. If done well — spending money where it counts — the overall effect will make the entire design seem more high-end and custom, even if lower-cost pieces were mixed in. We can help you determine where to save, and where to splurge.
My team and I are adept at value engineering — figuring out how to get the desired effect at a lower cost or getting the most “bang for your buck”. The primary objective is to achieve the desired look, functionality, and quality without overspending to get there. A good designer will be a conscientious steward of your investment and will aim to find cost-effective solutions wherever possible. Making the best choices in decor and furnishings protects and maximizes your investment in your home.
My team and I allocate time each month to research new products so we are well aware of what’s available. We also devote time to continuing education & market weeks allowing us to be educated on the most advanced technology allowing us to express our designs & explore different markets in different parts of the country to widen our lens. By dedicating time to research, we are able to ensure our clients aren’t investing in something that will look outdated tomorrow. The selections we make for our projects have a timeless and classic appeal. Investing in pieces that have stylistic longevity means you won’t feel the need to replace items anytime soon, just another way to protect your monetary investment.
Another thing worth considering is the emotional toll and stress of going through a home remodel or refresh, without an advocate who has experience in your project type. Countless decisions need to be made, and the fear of making a poor decision that will cost you in time and money can be debilitating. Working with a designer can significantly reduce your stress. Throughout the design project, you will know you have an expert focusing on your project so you can relax and focus on your family, your job, and your peace of mind, which is priceless!
Hiring an interior designer to lead you through the design process is a valuable investment that will save you time, money, and headaches. Our team has vast insight into what is possible, and our clients often share with us that they are able to realize something they could never have created on their own. The result will be a beautifully designed and curated space that functions perfectly for you and your family, now and in the days to come.
Want to learn more about working together? Submit a project inquiry and we’ll send over additional details about our services, pricing, and process.