After staring at dozens of cabinetry and flooring samples, you may be ready to throw in the towel on your home renovation. Whether you’re prepping your home for the real estate market or simply sprucing up a decade-old design, redesigning your home can be a major headache. Hiring an interior designer can make an overwhelming task easy.
This article discusses what to expect when hiring an interior designer, from the beginning of the process to the end. Let an interior designer apply his or her skills to make your project a breeze.
1: Research Designers
Hiring an interior designer isn’t always easy at first. Most homeowners renovate very infrequently and aren’t familiar with current standards or prices in the design market. Moreover, at the beginning of the renovation, many homeowners may turn to their friends and family for suggestions.
Keep in mind that your friends possess different styles, personalities, budgets, and a scope of work. Yelp, Angie’s List, and Houzz’s Professionals’ page are excellent sources to reference when searching for your professional.
You should also familiarize yourself with the current local cost of hiring a designer. It’s estimated that the average homeowner spends between $1800-9500 for professional design services, with the national average just over $5,000. This is a huge range. Therefore, pay close attention to local reviews to obtain the average of your area.
2: Interior Designer or Interior Decorator
Many times the responsibilities of interior designers and decorators overlap. However, choosing the right type of professional is essential. The main differences between an interior decorator and interior designer are the following ones.
Interior Designer
- Obtained a 2 or 4-year degree from an accredited program.
- Licensed designers will have passed state tests or the NCIDQ.
- Knowledge of spatial and construction design- may make suggestions to amend floor plan.
- Qualified for design consultations to help select finishes, furniture, cabinets, etc.
- Possesses knowledge of building and construction codes.
- May be qualified to manage your project from start to finish.
- Usually, works with licensed contractors and architects.
Interior Decorator
- Creative but has received little or no formal education.
- May have passed local requirements or affiliation tests.
- Typically works with existing space.
- Qualified for design consultations to help select finishes, furniture, cabinets, etc.
- May or may not work with licensed contractors or architects.
Always ask for the qualifications of both professionals. Each should be able to tell you what scope of work they are comfortable completing and should be able to present previous work or a portfolio.
3: Billing Structures
Before hiring an interior designer, familiarize yourself with the different billing structures available. Not every billing structure will be beneficial to your project, depending on the size and scope of work.
Interior designers typically implement four main billing structures.
#1. Flat/Fixed Fee
This billing structure may work out best if you have a large project or need to keep a strict budget. Also, the client will pay for all services and materials up front.
#2. Cost Plus
Interior designers mark up items, such as flooring, furniture, and window treatments with a percentage to compensate for their time and services. Typically this is a 20% charge.
#3. Retainer
For an upfront fee, the designer is on call for whatever you may need her/him for. However, this is possible up to a certain amount of hours. Furthermore, after this amount has been exceeded, he/she may charge on an hourly basis.
#4. Hourly
The designer charges for the consultation and project management services on a per hour basis.
4: Prepare for Consultation
An interior designer is skilled at interpreting the needs of the clients. However, before your consultation, you should prepare to avoid any confusion. This can also save you time and money.
When preparing for your first consultation, consider the following topics.
#1. Budget
An interior designer is your advocate, even with cost plus billing structures. Be upfront and clear with your designer about your budget so he/she can plan accordingly.
#2. Style Choices
Bring inspiration to the meeting. Log onto Houzz and Pinterest beforehand and search some great ideas. Also, don’t forget to save your favorite items.
#3. Timeline
Are you planning a Christmas party to display your newly decorated house? Let your designer know. They may be able to finish your project by your aspired timeline. Also, they can give you a more realistic one.
#4. The Scope of Work
What rooms do you plan to design and how much change do you wish to see? What services do you expect from your interior designer?
5: Contract
Once you’ve selected a designer, he or she will present a contract for both involved parties protection. Luckily, hiring an interior designer is much more simplistic than hiring a lawyer or tax representative.
There are several items an interior design contract will include. So, you must keep in mind the following aspects:
- The scope of work.
- Billing structure and information.
- Project timeline.
- Approval process.
- Termination process and associated fees.
6: Use All Your Interior Designer’s Expertise
After hiring an interior designer, don’t be afraid to ask questions to ensure that your project turns out perfectly. Moreover, express any concerns about finishes or furniture selection to your designer.
A possibility is you’ve hired an interior designer on a consultation-only basis. Therefore, don’t be shy about asking for references to contractors, flooring specialists, or other subcontractors. Designers often develop close relationships with these professionals. Furthermore, design hired experts will only recommend subcontractors that they have had good experiences with. After all, their name is on the line.
Bottom Line
Whether you have a busy schedule or you are simply incapable of making design choices, hiring an interior designer can significantly smooth out the redecoration process. Decide before hiring an interior designer which professional you really need, your budget, and project scope.
Finally, hiring an interior designer with a developed contract and a willingness to answer your questions is the mark of a true professional. Undoubtedly, interior designers are passionate about their profession and will often go above and beyond to assist you with your home renovation. So, remove the stress from your project and hire an interior designer.
