Your home is likely to be the largest investment you’ll ever make in your lifetime.
Creating a beautiful space in which to live, work and grow is an investment not just in money, but also in time and energy. If you are currently looking to renovate your existing home, embark on a new-build or even put your property on the market – you may be wondering whether its worth hiring an Interior Designer.
Designers do so much more than simply telling you what cushions or kitchens are in trend. They help you understand how to better use your existing space, get to grips with builders plans and push your creative vision to the next level.
Why hire an Interior Designer?
Professional designers can provide the exploration, planning and careful curation to turn your dreams into a reality. With this in mind, we’ve put together our top ten reasons why you should hire an Interior Designer for your next project.
1. Save money
It may seem counterintuitive that hiring an Interior Designer will help save you money. But by enlisting professional services at an early stage, costly mistakes will be avoided and accurate plans created. It worth clarifying your designer’s fee and service structure (as well as your own budget) in the contract stage to avoid any surprises.
If you are on a fixed budget.
Your Interior Designer can help achieve your desired look using cost-effective methods, to get the best value for the amount you can spend. They will also assist in choosing timeless elegant pieces that won’t need replacing in a few years – saving both money and time in the long run.
2. Save time
Hiring an interior designer can not just save you money, it can also save you endless amounts of time. If you have a busy work or home schedule, this should absolutely be a consideration. Depending on the services agreed, a designer can research products, prices, organise deliveries and oversee installation for you – as well as anticipate obstacles before they come up.
In addition.
If your Interior Designer is working for the duration of your renovation, they may also liaise with builders and trades to help keep things on track. This will all free your own time up, to focus on the project as a whole.
3. Professional expertise
Before you commit to hiring any designer, first think about why you are looking to enlist professional help. This will guide you in the questions you’ll ask at any first meeting.
For instance.
What experience do they have? Do they have a portfolio of work that they can show you, as well as the relevant qualifications? Institutes such as the British Academy of Interior Design offer fully accredited courses, with many professionals coming from backgrounds such as architecture, fine art, furniture design, textile and 3D design. If you are unsure of where to start, the Chartered Society of Designers offer a “find a designer” service – to help ensure that you are getting the highest level of professional help.
4. Selling your home
Interior Designers are not just useful for large-scale projects, but they can also help with smaller decoration schemes such as giving your home a refresh. With the assistance of a professional, you can improve the overall aesthetic and flow of your home (whether that’s adjusting layouts, introducing clever storage solutions, colour-schemes or accent lighting), which can in-turn increase click-throughs, house-viewings and add substantial value to your property.
Look.
With the double-benefit of a faster turn-around and greater worth, Interior Designers are well worth the fee if you are thinking of putting your home on the market.
5. Industry liaison
In addition to helping build a stronger bridge between you and your architect or building contractor, Interior Designers also have a plethora of resources and contacts that they can draw upon.
Tap into local contacts.
If you’ve asked the right questions and are working with a designer with a wealth of professional experience, they will more than likely be able to help you find reliable builders, plumbers, painters and electricians. This will save time and stress in communication, planning and execution – so it is worth asking about their local contacts before committing a project.
6. Preparation and planning
Having a reliable, well-thought through set of plans will be invaluable when communicating with your project team. Hiring an Interior Designer early on can also help with bidding and negotiation with construction companies prior to work beginning. It will allow builders to provide accurate quotations based on specific materials and finishes, so that there are no surprise costs further down the line.
Also.
Deciding where to spend money and where to hold back is a skill in itself, and one which a designer can help advise you on – to match your plan with your vision and budget.
7. Trade contacts
When you hire a designer, you don’t just hire that person, you hire their training, experience, contacts and knowledge within the industry. Interior Designers will have access to trade-only resources like furniture suppliers, DIY-retailers and trades people – meaning that you may be able to source products and furniture at reduced prices. Even if your designer does not have immediate access to your exact wish-list, they will be able to advise and send you in the right direction to start your own search.
8. Less stress!
For anyone who’s never experienced a building or redesign project, the sheer number of decisions can come as a shock. Decision fatigue is a common response and having an Interior Designer on your side can be a real asset.
Take advantage of services offered.
Services offered are according to the professional, but can range from providing simple advice and guidance, to completely planning the domestic look and specification of your home, as well as a finish schedule and procuring products and project managing for you. Figure out what solutions you need for both the scale of the project and the time you can personally invest – and this will definitely save a lot of logistical stress.
9. Streamlining the process
Whether you are looking to sell your home, update just one or two rooms or a complete build, the planning stages of a project can often be the most difficult part. Design is not always intuitive or obvious (for instance, whether you need permits to knock down walls or change staircases, what order jobs such as painting, electrics, installation should be done etc.).
Consider this.
Knowing how to properly organise and sequence jobs is key, and something an Interior Designer can help with. Costs will vary according to the level of assistance provided, with some offering a flat fee for smaller projects, and others charging a percentage of the overall spend – so if you feel that you will need help streamlining project as a whole, it is best to ask for a full quote at the start.
10. Wow factor
Last but not least, one of the most important reasons for hiring an Interior Designer is their ability to give any space that “wow” factor it’s been lacking. Designers and architects are trained to think differently, to look at spaces as a whole, and see the bigger picture that clients often can’t.
Thinking outside the box.
This is a skill that designers bring to every job, translating your wishes and desires into a truly spectacular finished room. A great designer will take your brief and provide ideas and nudges that you may not have considered yourself – keeping your vision in mind whilst providing greater depth and that extra bit of design-magic.
Final thoughts.
Whatever your next project is, an Interior Designer can not only save you money – but save time, lessen stress, logistical problems and decision-making pressure, liaise with builders and retailers, as well as add real value to your home.
The relationship between yourself and your designer is a crucial one to any redecoration and renovation project, so make sure that you choose someone with a consultative, communicative approach – who takes the time to understand your tastes, desires and lifestyle. The right Interior Designer will help your next project be the best that it can be, and most importantly create a home that you love to live in.
Thank you for reading our article!
EV Architects is a multi-disciplinary Architectural Practice that is based in Highams Park, East London. We provide a full portfolio of Architectural, Planning and Designing services, including Interior Design services.
We are Interior Design experts.
Our dedicated team will create inspirational luxury interiors with a visible difference that will enhance your sense of space and enjoyment at home. We also provide Virtual Reality experiences to our residential clients, which allow you to make important design choices by Interacting with your interior design through the power of Virtual Reality before making any changes to your home.
To find out more, visit our Interior Design page, or call 020 8531 4441 and speak directly to a member of our friendly team today.
