Should you hire an interior designer?

Have you been inspired by stunning interior shots on Instagram, but have no idea where to start? Ever considered hiring the help of an interior designer, but you’re not sure what to expect or how much it will cost? How do you even set about finding the right designer? If you haven’t used an interior designer before, you may well be wondering how it all works. Here’s everything you need to know.

Kitchen by Alison Anderson Interiors

Why you should hire an interior designer

Life is busy. If you are also trying to tackle a home renovation or room redesign, it could just well tip you over the edge. Not to mention the fear of making a costly mistake. We’ve all seen it - sofas that are too big for the room, dubious colour choices and rooms that just don’t flow together.

Seeing all the materials together is a great way to visualise the different colours and textures

What can an interior designer do for you?

If you want to get it right the first-time round, an interior designer can help make the process so much easier. You’ll have the benefit of their skill, experience and design know-how. They can help solve your design dilemmas, suggest solutions you haven’t even thought of and steer you through what can be a complicated process.

They’ll do the legwork for you to save you hours of trawling through the internet. You’ll benefit from their established trade contacts, their keen eye for detail and their design flair. You’ll also know what to expect. With mood boards, concept boards, drawings, image references, sketches, presented along with fabric and flooring samples, it’s much easier to visualise the end result.

So now you know how we can help, how do you go about actually finding one?

How to find the right interior designer

Word of mouth recommendations are a great way to find an interior designer. If you know somebody who’s used one, ask them about their experience. Find out if they were pleased with the result, if the designer was easy to work with, if they were good at fulfilling the brief (so the final design reflected the homeowners design goals), and how much it all cost.

It’s then a case of doing your own research. Look at the designer’s website and examples of their work. Designers tend to work to a particular style. That’s not to say that we can’t adapt and work to other briefs, but you’ll usually see a common thread in our portfolios. You can also find out a bit more by looking at social media profiles and with a general internet search.

Before: an outdated and tired living room

After: the transformation

Interior design consultations

Once you’ve narrowed down your list, the best way to find out more, is to have a chat with them over the phone. This will give you a chance to tell the designer what you’re looking for and what your project involves. The designer will then be able to explain how they work and advise on their availability.

Some interior designers will arrange to come and see you for a free consultation. Others will charge for this. Don’t be put off if there is a fee. Getting the right interior designer is vital to the success of your project. It’s a close relationship and renovating your home can be stressful. Having a friendly expert by your side can be invaluable.

In a nutshell

Employing the skills and experience of an interior designer can be a real lifesaver when it comes to renovating or redesigning your home. They can give you the support and design advice you need, to create a home that you are going to really want to shout about.

If you want to find out how the interior design process works from beginning to end, watch out for my next blog post. Starting from the brief to the final reveal, all the steps will be explained.