The 4 Major Shifts in the Design Industry

If you’ve spent 5 minutes Googling “interior design” or “remodel ideas” this year, you know that the construction and design industry is exploding. The pandemic kept us at all home, forcing many to stare at the spaces that drive them crazy. Plus, with a lack of travel expenses, many finally found the time and money to improve their homes.

However, the sudden boom overwhelmed the industry, causing a bit of a panic. So, if you’re thinking of starting a project in the next year or two, I want you to be prepared. Let’s take a look at the 4 major shifts in the design industry, and remove the element of surprise.

 

1. Supply Chain Issues

During the first 6 months of the pandemic, many manufacturers shut down temporarily. However, they continued to take new orders, creating a backlog. Then, when they opened up again, they tried to catch up while new orders continued to come in. Eventually, the raw materials used to create the products started to run out. In some cases, companies have had to find an alternative material to use as a substitute because they just can’t get their hands on what they need. Many have a shortage of staff members, too, causing even more of a slow-down. So, when you place orders for furniture, fixtures, and appliances, expect an estimated ship date at least 6-8 months in the future. Yes, it might be shorter, but prepare yourself for the worst!

2. Installation Delays

In addition to manufacturing issues, we’re also running into shipping delays. Since the US hasn’t been exporting goods as quickly as we’ve been importing them, cargo ships coming to the States don’t have anywhere to dock. In Los Angeles, for example, over 150 cargo ships are waiting in the bay to unload their goods. That means that even after your products arrive in the country, they have yet another hurdle to jump before they reach you. Plus, trucking companies have a staffing shortage, too. So even US-made products may take longer than usual to arrive. This, in turn, can cause your construction project or design install to drag out longer than anticipated. And, frustratingly, it’s out of everyone’s control. So just be ready to take yourself out to a nice dinner when you get unpleasant news about more delays.

 

3. Poor Communication

With everyone’s plate overflowing, you may run into communication issues at some point in the process. For example, many contractors have too many ongoing jobs and might not reply to a new client inquiry right away. This is not to say that you have to work with someone who won’t communicate with you, but rather to say that you may have to contact more people than usual in order to find a good fit. And that may mean waiting longer to start construction. Additionally, when you purchase products for your home, you may run into communication issues from the suppliers. Many of them are short-staffed and have a backlog of emails, causing their response times to run longer. It’s frustrating, but I don’t think these issues are going anywhere anytime soon. Best to see it coming before you get too far into it.

 

4. Higher Prices

Due to the high demand and lack of supply – both on products and on services – prices are rising across the board. I’m seeing construction bids come back 20-30% higher than they did pre-pandemic. And product manufacturers continue to send out price increases at a moment’s notice. Additionally, many suppliers have imposed an additional 8-10% fee for freight, to compensate for the shipping delays mentioned above. You can read more about budgeting in this post. I know it’s stressful to think about, but if your ideal budget is on the smaller side, it might be good to consider ways to break your project into 2-3 phases.

Phew, that was a lot! I wish I could say these are just temporary shifts, but I think they’re here to stay for the foreseeable future (at least the next year or two). If you’re exhausted just reading this, let me help. I’ll guide you through all of the hairy situations that keep popping up in the industry, AND I’ll design you a beautiful space to boot. Get started today with a discovery call!

P.S. If you book an in-person consultation with me before 11/16/21 you’ll get $50 off! You must be following me on Instagram to qualify, so click here to do that!