An interior designer is a creative professional who specializes in making interior spaces visually appealing as well as safe and functional. For many people, making your space stylish yet practical is a daunting task, enter interior designers. Here are the pros and cons of hiring an interior designer if you’re considering that route.
Pros of hiring an interior designer
Second opinion
You likely already have an idea of what you’d like, and how you’d like the space to be. Hiring an interior designer gives you access to a second opinion from a professional who can help you refine it and actualize it. This can save you from making costly mistakes and also ensure you get the best out of your idea.
Bye-bye stress
Decorating your own space can come with stress and sleepless nights. A good interior designer will unburden you, saving you from frustration, stress, and the time-consuming aspects of revamping your space. No more spending hours comparing paint samples or reading up on the latest trends and colour theory. The time saved could translate to money saved if you use that time instead to pursue other productive activities.
Exclusive discounts and products
Established professional interior designers often have access to exclusive discounts on furniture and materials. This can save you money and give you access to things you’d otherwise not know about. An established interior designer is also likely to know great people to work with including carpenters, contractors, handymen, upholsterers, and more. This could save you even more money while ensuring you get quality service.
Innovative hacks
A great interior designer will have an arsenal to tips and tricks up their sleeves when it comes to designing spaces. They’ll likely have space-saving hacks and other ways to maximize the efficiency of the space without compromising the visuals and functionality.
Better budgeting and planning
Working with an experienced interior designer is likely to result in an operation with better budgeting and planning. This can save you time, money, and heartache.
Increase resale value
Investing in an interior designer can have a significant impact on your home’s resale value. This is especially critical when staging the home. People who use professionals when staging their homes sell faster and often get more offers.
Cons of hiring an interior designer
Expensive
Hiring an interior designer means paying forking out extra cash. However, the argument can be made that all the time, energy, and stress they save you more than make up for that, plus, whatever other discounts they’re able to get you. You have to weigh the costs and benefits yourself to see if it makes sense in your case. An experienced designer can be incredibly expensive.
Dependence on social skills
Both you and the interior designer have to be able to communicate effectively for the endeavour to be successful. Even seasoned designers can get you wrong if you don’t use the right words. You also have to be assertive and clear about your overall objectives and be able to address any matters that may arise.
Creative differences
An interior designer comes in with their own style which may be different from yours and could cause tension. You should keep an open mind and be flexible, willing to listen to the voice of experience. However, if your styles are too different and you’re clashing over too many aspects of the design process, it may be better to just let them go.
Less personal
There’s always the danger when working with a designer that the product will not be as customized as you’d like. The designer may replicate the things they do everywhere making your space the same as some other project done earlier. Their input may also end up making the project and final design less personal than if you’d done it all yourself based on your style choices. You may not get what you hoped for in the end which is incredibly disappointing and is an ever-present risk when working with any professional or outside input.
Difficult working relationship
You may find yourself in the unfortunate position of having hired an interior designer who has no respect for your ideas and requests. You know the type, the professional who thinks they are the fountain of all knowledge and everyone else is dumb as a pile of rocks. If you find yourself in this situation, just fire them, save yourself the hustle and stress.
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