What to Expect Working with An Interior Designer or Interior Decorator
*Photo credit to Unsplash
So, you're planning a big home project this year and looking to hire an interior designer or interior decorator to help guide you through the process.. but you don't know what to expect! No worries, we'll give a full comprehensive break down below on some common processes that designers follow. Please keep in mind that every designer works differently, and the most important thing is hiring one you connect with the best and can help you reach your project goals!
What are the costs I can expect with hiring an Interior Designer or Interior Decorator?
This is the most important question we receive from clients and deservedly so! We understand wanting to know your investment before hiring someone. This varies by many factors: type of service, location, designer's years of experience, designer’s education, project size, and scope of work.
What's important to understand is that most designers you come across are actually small business owners. This means we have flexibility in structuring our businesses in ways that benefit both us and the client. The different ways designers charge for their time are hourly, flat fee, by the square foot, a percentage of the project’s costs and/or a mixture of them all. Hourly & flat fee are the most common compensation structures. Again, these costs are dependent on the designer themselves. So if you are interviewing multiple interior designers and/or interior decorators, you will notice that they all have their own way of structuring their design fees.
It's very important to set the expectation that hiring an interior designer or interior decorator can be an investment. This is because we are contracted with client projects for months, if not years, at a time. We also hold a lot of liability dealing with contractors, trades, furnishings, and more. For example, offering full service design means that the designer is part of the project from beginning to end. Not only are they designing the space, but also fulfilling on the project through procurement and/or collaborating with all the trades to ensure a successful outcome. As designers, we are here to save you time and money by helping you avoid those design mistakes the first time around.
What if I'm on a tight budget?
In this modern day, there are definitely cost-effective options to receive design help for your projects. Virtual design (or traditionally known as e-design) being the most popular. Virtual design is self explanatory, meaning that everything is conducted 100% online. There is no need to meet with a designer in-person. They most likely will not be handling any project management. So naturally this helps to cut your investment down! Online interior design services can offer a variety of ways that can prove very helpful to your project. Especially if you like to DIY. The most common way a designer can help is through is through decorating. A virtual designer can source furniture and decor according to your budget and style. You will receive shopping links to easily purchase those items & implement the design on your own- all without having to pour any of your own skills into it!
Some other very beneficial virtual design services include: 3D renderings, furniture layouts, space planning, finish selections, construction drawings, etc.
Aside from online interior design services, you can still work in-person with an interior designer or interior decorator in a cost-effective way. Many local designers offer smaller services such as interior design consultations, designer for the day, and more. We highly recommend reaching out to your local designers to see what your options are!
At EP Design Studio, our virtual design service includes professional virtual design boards, furniture layouts, 3D renderings, and a shoppable product list from retailers. Learn more about becoming one of our virtual design clients here.
Should I even hire an Interior Designer or Interior Decorator? I feel like I could do it myself!
If you are someone who prefers DIY, working on your own timeline, managing the process, or can be very picky about decisions, then it's completely fine to not choose to hire a designer. Hiring a designer is not a necessity, but a premium service. There are a vast amount of free resources on the internet where you can learn tips & tricks of home remodels, renovations, styling, furnishings, etc. This of course, comes at the cost of putting in your own time and effort towards learning about design principles and how to implement them well.
Having interior design and decorating done for you is a premium investment. When hiring an interior designer, this means you are choosing to have someone come into your home and give you guidance based on their professional expertise and experience. You are hiring them because of their connections to contractors and vendors that you may not know of otherwise. You are hiring someone to take on the role of specifying finishes, sourcing furnishings, collaborating with your contractors, etc. so that your valuable time can be given back to you. We understand that your time is valuable and we give that back to our clients so they can focus on their other priorities.
What can I expect when I reach out to a Designer?
Most designers start off with a complimentary call to chat with the prospect briefly to see if this project would be a good fit. From here, usually a paid consultation is scheduled to meet in-person at the project location to connect further with the prospect.
The consultation is a meeting at the potential client’s home to learn in depth the prospect's wants/needs, lifestyle, aesthetic, investment, and overall project's goals. This is to help the designer assess the full scope of work that will be involved, so they can use all this information to create a custom proposal for the client to review on working together.
It’s also a fantastic way for the potential client to fully understand the process of working with the designer. It’s a great opportunity for you to ask all the questions so you can be fully aware of what to expect during the process. Use this opportunity to set up proper expectations for yourself!
At EP Design Studio, we take care of our clients from the initial design concept phase all the way to install. We source all furniture & decor, place orders, manage the shipping/delivery process, provide a full white glove install & so much more behind the scenes! Read more about our Full Service Furniture & Styling option.
What are some of the best tips when working with an Interior Designer or Interior Decorator?
Communicate with your designer. Although we are experts in design, we cannot be mind readers. Communication is so very important throughout the project. Show inspiration pictures, communicate your likes/dislikes, and ask all the questions. We need to know all this information to present you with a design you are truly excited for!
Home projects can take time. Months to possibly years (custom new builds will take the longest). Your interior designer should be educating you on the realistic timelines for what you are trying to achieve. Factor in the time it takes for the design process as well. We are juggling multiple projects at once, so we cannot dedicate all our time to one project unfortunately. This is why it's very important to contact an interior designer or interior decorator months in advance.
Be open & realistic about the overall project investment. We all want to save money, but understand that home remodels, renovations and furnishing projects are an investment. We all know the saying that you pay more for quality & for execution to be done right the first time around. As mentioned before, great designer will save you time and money by helping you avoid those costly design mistakes.
Set your expectations properly and early. Hiccups happen all the time, especially on large projects. As mentioned before, clients may not be aware of what truly goes on behind the scenes. Your designer should be setting your expectations properly about timelines, investment, revisions, etc.
Carefully review your contract & other important project documents. This is a huge part of your responsibility as the client. Lots of questions can be answered in your contract and project documents. Know what you are signing off on and the roles your designer and contractors play in the project.
Know your designer’s working hours. Not all designers work on a “on-call” service. Make sure you work with an interior designer where their business hours work with yours.
Hire an interior designer you connect with well. You'll be able to feel this on the initial call and consultation. You will be working closely with your designer for months, so you might as well really like them!
Find an interior designer or interior decorator who's signature style speaks to you. You may not get the best experience hiring a designer who mainly focuses on a mid-century modern style, while you love a more traditional vibe. Check out their portfolios & social media accounts!
Get familiar with the way your designer structures their process. These processes should absolutely be outlined in the contract & project documents. We don't expect clients to understand the way an interior design business is structured or what certain industry standards are, especially if you are hiring a designer for the first time. That's totally okay. A great designer should be able to thoroughly answer all your questions and address any concerns. If one designer’s process isn’t a best fit for you, then no worries- there’s an interior designer for everyone!
Last, but definitely not least, understand the value of an interior designer! Be open to suggestions & recommendations you may not have thought of. A great designer should be communicating to you why they feel a certain choice may be better than the other. It's very easy to put lots of emotions into home projects because at the end of the day, this is your home you will be living in every day. Understand that our goal is make you happy, but also bring in new ideas that can help elevate the design. Just like you want to work with a designer who will listen to your wants/needs, we also want to work with clients who value and trust our overall vision!
Are you ready to revamp your space? Let us take care of it for you! Get in touch with us about our Full Service process. Not in California? No worries, we think you'll love our Virtual Design services!
*Project Frontier Street in Hanford, California photographed by EP Design Studio
EP Design Studio is a full service interior design company based in Fresno, California serving throughout the Central Valley and open for travel.
