I was recently asked to write an article on why you should hire a professional interior designer. Hope you enjoy the article.
“The Devil is in the Detail”. Ever heard that phrase and wondered exactly what it meant? In short, something may seem simple at a first look but will take more time and effort to complete than expected. HGTV design shows are a great example of this, as they make it all seem so simple, but what you don’t see are the people behind the scenes making everything happen and making it look simple and easy. They are the ones that know all the details. Designing a space looks so simple till you actually start designing it. Making a space look beautiful and actually be functional are one in the same and two very different things.
A qualified interior designer will listen carefully to what you hope to accomplish in a space and will work with you to get the look you want, in the budget you want, and, in the end, it will function how you wanted it to all along. Designers do this every day, so they have “great resources”. Even the term is now archaic. I used to tell my interior design college students to pull together your million-dollar Rolodex. Now It would be your “Million Dollar Contact List”, but you get the idea; designers have a lot more resources than you do. They have worked for a long time to pull together an extensive network that gets the job done for you in the best way possible.
Oh no, but interior designers charge you for their time. Let’s see, do you complain about paying your lawyer, accountant, doctor or even your gardener? They all help to make your life easier and simpler. They are knowledgeable and in the long run, save you time and money. Using a professional interior designer does exactly the same thing. You tell them what you like, and they find just the perfect finishes and people to get the job done. You might have paid a little money, but you have not been running all over trying to find sources for what you need to be done.
The internet is fabulous for finding new and interesting products, but you have not seen or touched them so you might be in for a surprise when they actually arrive. Your designer has worked with the materials and fabricator and knows how to get them at a better price. They will save you money in the long run. There is no promise that a mistake will “never” be made, but the chances become slimmer with the experience of the designer.
People get caught up in trends. Designers will help you access what trends are classic and will be around for a long time versus the here today and gone tomorrow ones. They will help you have a chic space that will look wonderful for a long time. They will share with you what can work in your environment and what may not. In other words, put the polka dots where the polka dots look good, and that might be in a closet. Don’t get me wrong, I love polka dots, just not in my living room.
Professional interior designers work with you to have a solid plan of action and know how to get it done in an efficient manner. They can bridge the gap that may come up with you and your architect or builder if you are building a new home or remodeling an older home. They know the language and can work to get everything in the right place. It is not just furniture, but the lighting and so much more, even down to proper outlet placement. They can see the space in different creative eyes and bring it all together, so it works for you. They know that you are the one going to live there, so it should work for you more than for your builder and/or architect. Interior designers work with you to give you a home that meets your criteria, looks wonderful and at the same time functions exactly as you hope it would.
Interior Design is an interesting form of art. Some say that interior designers have to phycologists in addition to being designers. Part of what makes the best designer is the ability to listen and really hear what the client wants even when the client may not truly know what they want. It is the magic of taking an education in the principles of design, the history of design styles both historical and modern and pulling everything together seamlessly to create your perfect environment. Designing a beautiful living space takes skill and vision is so much more difficult than many people think.
How many times in your life have you gone into a space that was either overcrowded with furniture, all the furniture was matchy-matchy, or the space just did not feel inviting? If you could not figure out what to do in that space, then going forward you should hire a qualified interior designer.
by Diana Bennett Wirtz Kingsley ASID. IIDA. NCIDQ certified. NKBA