If And When To Hire An Interior Designer
The final step of turning a house into a home is interior design. There are many styles, colours, furniture and considerations that can become easily overwhelming. Many people enjoy scouring social media sites such as Pinterest and wandering the aisles of home goods and decor shops in an attempt to do this. However, regardless of how creative and visionary you are, it can be challenging to put together a cohesive idea that will make sense with the space and square footage.
Interior designers’ jobs are much more nuanced than just having good taste or picking the perfect pillows to tie together a room. It is an interdisciplinary profession that can be a part of every step of a new build, home addition and large-scale renovation.
Designers Are There From The Start
A professional interior designer will speak to you about your needs, style interests, your day-to-day life and what you are looking for at the offset. They do this to plan a realistic, functional, and livable space that flows well while carefully considering everything you need, which also includes your budget. Interior designers can add practical elements depending on what you need. For example, for family homes with kids, they can add storage and fun elements and for the home cook that cooks every night, they can suggest the perfect countertop material. They are incredibly collaborative and brilliantly foresighted.
An interior designer can be your representative who will work closely with the entire build team, including the architect, as your eyes and ears. They can help with large and small choices while keeping your vision at the forefront. Their ideas and feedback are invaluable in design drafts by making practical adjustments that are often overlooked such as placing outlets while still hiding them and configuring floor plans to turn them into multiple-purpose rooms or maximizing spaces.
Once the build or renovation is underway, interior designers come equipped with an impressive portfolio of finishes, including fixtures, flooring, furnishing, paint and add-ons. They can support you with imagery of your space and can even create impressive 3D renderings to help you visualize it in real-time. Another big bonus of having an interior designer on your team is their tremendous connection to suppliers. Not only will they be able to source your pieces more effortlessly and quicker, but they know what pieces and colours look like in person versus just online, therefore saving a ton of time.
When To Hire An Interior Designer
Interior designer’s timing is tied closely to the nature of and what phase of a project you are in.
If you are renovating or creating an addition, it is wise to hire a designer at the start. This way you can take full advantage of their valuable insight, which has the power to influence the renovation process. For example, if you are determined to have a certain type of lighting or flooring, an interior designer can map the layout, speak to the contractor to confirm the possibility, and then have the idea implemented.
If you're spearheading a new build, it’s wise to bring in an interior designer early for their design acumen into the home design, development, and construction process.
Interior designing is an intricate process which requires anywhere between 6-9 months of involvement and many layers of questioning, because designers need sufficient time to gather information, ask questions and deeply understand your lifestyle, to reflect your distinct style and lifestyle.
Conclusion
Hiring the right interior designer can ease the stress of decision-making while staying on track with your budget. The designer will not only be a supportive guide towards your dream home but come prepared with brilliant and innovative ideas to enhance any space!