Do I need to hire an interior designer? How to know when it’s time to call in a professional.
So, you want to redecorate...You are ready for a new look! Or maybe you’re moving into a brand-new house and will need to figure out where everything should go and what sort of new things you will need to make the house feel like home? No matter what your design situation is, you may be wondering,
can I do this myself or do I need to hire an interior designer?
Decorating a home is a very personal endeavor. You will want to make sure your home is all about YOU. You will want it to be filled with the things you love and décor that brings you joy. That doesn’t mean that you couldn’t benefit from the know-how, the connections and the style sense of a professional.
So how do you know that hiring a designer is the right choice for your project?
Here are 5 things to consider:
#1. Do you feel overwhelmed by all of the choices?
There are so many different options out there when it comes to decorating a home. Colors, textures, materials, shapes, patterns, prices...the list goes on and on. If you start your online quest for the perfect sofa, or the right lamp, or a custom console table you may find that you fall quickly in love with LOTS of options. You may find yourself down the proverbial rabbit hole of a google search, each click to the next page opening up a wider and wider array of beautiful options.
They can listen to your thoughts on the project, what things you like and what you are hoping for, and then they can present you with a LIMITED list of options. When a design professional presents you with 3 perfect options for your custom console table (rather than the bazillion that your google search offered), options they know will fit well, look right, and be of good quality, it can be much easier to make a choice.
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#2. Is this project taking too long?
How long have you been working on this?
A beautifully designed space can bring you peace and joy to everyday living, but that doesn’t mean that the process of creating that space is doing the same. If you are just over it, hiring an interior designer might be just what you need.
A designer brings organization and checklists, deadlines and final installations.
Hiring an interior designer could give you that light at the end of the tunnel of the DIY decorating project that has overstayed its welcome.
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#3. Have you found the perfect piece, but the website says it’s only available “to-the-trade”?
Many top-quality design products are exclusively available through a design professional. If you want inside access, you will want an interior designer by your side.
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#4. How big is the project?
If you are just looking to spruce up your entryway decor, maybe change the wall color, hang some new art, or add an entryway table, that is probably something you can tackle on your own. If there is only one or two small design points involved, the project can come together fairly easily.
On the other hand, if you are redoing the entire house, or working with the blank slate of a new home, you may need to hire a professional. When you are at the center of the large project, it can be hard to see the big picture of how it will all work together, how it will all flow and what the overall feel of the home will be when it’s finished. You may start in one room and then by the time you are three rooms in, you’ve changed your mind about room number one and have to go back and fix it.
In these large project situations, a design professional is the perfect solution! They have the experience to be able to pull back and see it all from a wider view.
An interior designer can help steer you through the design of the entire house so there isn’t the stop and start, the doing and redoing, no “coulda, woulda shouldas”. They will present you with a plan for the entire project so that you will be able to see the vision of that bigger picture too.
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5. Are there too many opinions?
One of the most common reasons that a decorating project is held up is that you can’t agree on the right choice. Your husband doesn’t think the sofa needs those pillows, your wife likes the cherry table, not the metal one, your mom thinks that mirror is too modern….any of that sound familiar?
If you find that your design ideas are stuck because you all have different ideas, the unbiased professional opinion of an interior designer might be just what you need.
They can help find a solution that works for everyone, or they may be able to explain the best option (that you already picked of course :-)) in a way that everyone can agree with. An interior designer may bring a peaceful feeling to more than just your home décor.
So now you know, hey I need a designer!... Or nope I can do it myself!... Or wait, I’m still a little in the middle…
One last thing to consider that might be the “just right” option is a custom design consultation!
Many companies that offer interior design products, also offer their own design consultations. Say you want new seating for the living room? Check out the websites for some major brands that interest you and you just might find they offer a design consultation service! Or maybe you are interested in some new art for the hallway? You’ve found an artist whose work you really like but you just can’t decide which piece would look the best? Just Ask! If they don’t offer a formal consultation service, send them a quick email, tell them about your project and ask for their advice. Though not as in-depth as the attention and service that hiring an interior designer brings,
an expert opinion from the artist or maker may be that little something special that helps you finalize your decisions and reach your ultimate goal of making your home more perfect for you.
Is Custom Furniture on your list of decorating to-dos?
Do you need a console table for that narrow hallway...
an entryway bench at the front door...
a bar cabinet for the den...
a new side table in the living room?
A piece of custom furniture can be what makes the room,
but ordering a one-of-a-kind, handmade work of art can also seem a bit overwhelming. The photos of each table are beautiful, the descriptions sound like just what you are looking for, but...
We can help!
A free, Design Consulation with Mokuzai Furniture, will take that tricky, “making-the-right-choice” part out of your custom furniture experience.
Book your appointment today!
I can’t wait to help you design the perfect piece of custom furniture for your home!
Sincerely,
Tamara White
Mokuzai Furniture