5 Benefits of Hiring an Interior Designer

We all know the obvious benefits to working with a designer: a beautifully curated space, a functional layout, and access to unique items you might not otherwise get to see. But I would argue that those aren’t even the best parts! Here are (in my opinion) the top 5 benefits of hiring an interior designer.

 

1. Having a Plan Before You Start

Designers are trained to think about a project as a whole before it starts. That means you’ll have a full set of drawings, materials, lighting, and plumbing fixture selections ready to go before demolition day is even on the schedule. With a complete set of plans and specifications, your contractors will be able to give you a more accurate bid, rather than taking a guess trying to fill in gaps. Plus, with a full list of products to purchase you’ll be able to avoid a lot of unnecessary delays. You can wait until everything is delivered and ready before you start construction.

This applies to furniture, too. Having a complete picture of where you’re headed will prevent the mental block that comes with buying one piece at a time and questioning each one as you go.

2. Attention to Detail

No project is perfect (even with a designer on your team), but having a trained professional around will help you to catch errors and details you might otherwise miss. You don’t know what you don’t know. How will your tile meet the wall at the edge of your shower? What style of baseboard will you install if you can’t reuse your existing one? If you make your island a little wider for extra storage, will you make an important walkway too narrow?

An expert set of eyes to evaluate details and how they’ll impact the rest of the project can take a huge weight off your shoulders.

 

3. Avoiding Decision Fatigue

Every remodel and furnishing project involves hundreds of tiny decisions to be made. Cabinet door style, countertop edge profile, cabinet hardware placement, crown moulding shape, grout colors, wall texture, thickness of grout lines, floor stain color, light switch & outlet style…all the way down to what material to use as an insert for your decorative pillows. By the time you reach the end (let’s be real, by the time you’re not even halfway through) you’re exhausted.

Interior designers make a lot of those decisions on a daily basis, and we often have a go-to answer we barely have to think twice about. Additionally, since this is your house and not ours, we don’t experience the same kind of emotional exhaustion that comes along with that.

4. Your Biggest Advocate

I personally see this as one of the most important parts of my job. Far too often, I’ve met with clients who did not feel respected or heard on a job site during previous projects. A good designer will act as an advocate or go-between for the clients and contractors to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’m not afraid to speak up on your behalf if I see something happening that isn’t what you (or I) had in mind! And even with a great contractor who listens well and respects the clients, things can get lost in translation. I’m often breaking down construction concepts into easier-to-understand terms during meetings on job sites.

And for furniture and other products we order for your project, I advocate on your behalf with the manufacturers, too. If something arrives damaged or doesn’t look like it should, I do my best to have them make it right. They’re more likely to listen to a designer who can bring them repeat business than to the average consumer (as terrible as that sounds).

 

5. Industry Connections

This is such a huge perk of working with a designer, and it’s often overlooked. Even though I’m only one person, I have a huge, reliable team behind me. When you work with me, you’ll have access to the best contractors and tradespeople in Sacramento. They treat me like part of their team, and care a lot about my clients’ happiness.

Additionally, my go-to suppliers and manufacturers have some incredible sales representatives working for them. I’ve established some great relationships with those sales reps, and they’re always ready to help out. I often email them asking for product recommendations based on my project needs. They’re experts in their field, just like I’m an expert in mine, and I trust them.

If you need design help on your next project, book a discovery call today! Or start by learning more about our design process here.