Okay, so we all know about traditional interior design/decorating, but you've probably heard all the rage about Virtual Design, but what exactly is Virtual Design?

What is it and why is it so popular today?

Virtual Design, or traditonally known as E-Design (stands for Electronic Design), is a newer way to work with a professional Interior Decorator or Interior Designer completely remote from anywhere! Virtual Design became really popular during the COVID-19 pandemic when Designers tried to find ways to continue working on their businesses. This was also perfect for clients who transitioned to remote work working from home. Many people found that with the more time they spent at home, they wanted to create a home office space that was both beautiful and functional. Through this, many Designers started offering more virtual design services and have been able to reach clients from all over the world that they normally would never have been able to! Keep reading to find out the possibilities with virtual design!

Post-pandemic, Virtual Design continues to grow in popularity. One of the main reasons clients love it is because Virtual Design is a cost-effective way to work with a professional Designer all from the comfort of your home! How so, you may ask? With traditional Full Service Interior Decorating or Interior Design, a Designer is usually contracted with the client for months during a remodel, renovation and/or furnishing project. Sometimes even years for new build constructions projects. They help the client from creating initial design concepts all the way to full install. As a result of the extensive work involved from the Designer, the investment is much greater with Full Service Design. Virtual Design is a great cost-effective alternative route where a Designer can help with producing the designs digitally, such as creating floorplans, cabinet layouts, 3D renderings, etc and sending it over to the client. For remodels and renovations, typically it is up to the client to give those designs over to a General Contractor to execute on the final design. This makes Virtual Design a lower investment since the Designer is not involved with the project/design management side. Many Designers also offer virtual design consultations over the computer. Maybe you just need an hour or so to talk with a Designer and receive all the design suggestions, advice, recommendations and referrals? If so, lots of Designers will offer simple video design consultations where you can pick their brains- all without having to leave the comfort of your home.

That goes to say that not having to leave your house.. is a BIG win for lots of folks! Us Designers too! ;) Clients can easily contact a Virtual Designer online and keep it strictly that way for the entire duration of the Project. You'd be surprised to learn the many ways that interior decorating and interior design can be done digitally- keep reading to find out!

How can a Virtual Designer help me?

REMODELS - Like mentioned before, if you're going through a remodel, an Interior Designer can help you with creating drawings, elevations, 3D modeling/renderings of a new layout of your floorplan, kitchen, bathroom and more! These finished designs can easily be sent over digitally to the client. It's important to note that the entire point of virtual design is for the Designer to take care of the design portion strictly. So, it is up to the client to make sure they are hiring out the proper trades and/or General Contractor to hand over the designs for them to properly execute on.

RENOVATIONS - An Interior Designer can help with sourcing materials and finishes to create a cohesive color palette for your home. They can ship over samples for you to see in person and compare it in your home's lighting! As Designers, we can also use our expertise and knowledge to guide you on the best materials to use in your home.

INTERIOR DECORATING/STYLING - It's also fantastic for an interior decorating project! This is what we do at EP Design Studio! Our clients work with our Virtual Designer that will source new furniture, accessories, paint colors, etc. that align with the client's style and budget. Our Virtual Designer will create design boards, furniture layouts, 3D renderings and send over shopping links for the client to purchase the furnishings and implement the design on their own! This is a very convenient way for clients to still receive professional design help, but also prefer to DIY their own space on their own time.

What does EP Design Studio offer for Virtual Design services?

Take a look below on the Virtual Design packages we offer:

• SIMPLE ROOM PACKAGE

Client receives profesional design boards, an easy shoppable product list and design guidance throughout the Project!

• COMPLETE ROOM PACKAGE

Client receives everything from the base Simple Room Package, PLUS 2D Furniture Layouts and 3D Renderings! This is our most premium package as it gives you all the visualizations you need. You'll receive the most value with this package because you'll feel 100% confident in the design through the added deliverables!

We also offer multi-room discounted packages! Read more about our packages here. If you think you'd be the perfect client for a Virtual Design project with us, reach out to us here to get started!

Is Virtual Design right for you?

Virtual Design is a fantastic and convenient alternative way to receive professional design help at a fraction of the traditional cost. It's perfect for those who like DIY, working with a smaller budget and/or want to work on their own timeline. Still, we like to always recommend that for some projects and circumstances it may be best to hire an Interior Decorator or Interior Designer for a Full Service project or at the very least in-person design help! Especially if you feel that you are the type of client who doesn't have time to manage a big project on their own. Or maybe you simply don't feel comfortable to handle all that goes into a home project. It's important to remember that it relies heavily on the idea that you, the client, will need to be on top of project management and that everything is executed successfully. That means hiring out any trades and/or General Contractor, doing site visits, sourcing all materials, finishes, fixtures and furnishings, tracking shipping and much more. These are important things to know when pursuing the Virtual Design route!