What to Expect Working with An Interior Designer or Interior Decorator
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 break down some common processes that Designers follow. However, 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: location, Designer's years of experience & education, size of project, and the project's scope of work.
What's important to understand is that most Designers you come across aren't working in large design firms, but 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, a mix of both, by the square foot and/or a percentage of the project. 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. Understand that this is totally normal and does not mean one Designer is better than the other.
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 usually contracted with client projects for months, if not years, at a time. We also hold a lot of liability dealing with contractors, trades, furniture, and more. For example, offering Full Service Design means that the Designer is in charge of placing all orders and managing the logistics of the project. Some even offer project management, which can be a huge undertaking.
What if I'm on a tight budget?
In this modern day, there are many 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 in of itself; it means that everything is conducted 100% online. With Virtual Design services, there is no need to meet with a Designer in-person. They most likely will not be handling any project management and/or procuring items for the project. Naturally, this helps to cut the investment down! This is also a perfect option for those who prefer DIY. Online interior design services can offer a variety of ways that can prove very helpful to your project. The most common is that the Designer will help decorate your home by sourcing furniture and decor according to your budget and style. You'll receive shopping links to easily purchase the items & implement the design on your own. All without having to pour any of your own time into it!
Some other very beneficial virtual design services include: 3D Renderings, Furniture Layouts, Space Planning, Technical Drawings, Finish Selections, etc.
At EP Design Studio, all of our virtual design services include beautiful & professional virtual design boards + a shoppable product list from retailers. We also offer 2D Furniture Layouts & 3D Renderings as add-ons! Learn more about becoming one of our virtual design clients here.
Aside from online interior design services, you can still work with an in-person Interior Designer or Interior Decorator in a cost-effective way! Many local Designers offer smaller services such as Design Consultations, Designer for the Day & more. We highly recommend reaching out to your local Designers to see what your options are!
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. That's absolutely okay! We actually tell potential clients all the time that 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.
This is why having interior design and interior decorating done for you is seen as a luxury investment. When hiring a Designer, this means you are choosing to have someone come into your home and give you guidance based on their expertise and experiences. You are hiring someone 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 sourcing finishes, furnishings, etc. so that your time can be given back to you. As we all know, time is valuable and we give that back to our clients so they can focus on other priorities in life.
What can I expect with the process of hiring a Designer?
This is an excellent question! Starting from the beginning, most Designers start off with a complimentary call to chat with the prospect briefly to see if this project would be a good fit for both the Designer and client. From here, usually a paid Design Consultation is scheduled to meet in-person at the project location.
The Design Consultation is a meeting with the prospect 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. After this, the Designer will be able to use all the information learned during this meeting to create a Design Proposal with a custom design fee quote for the project. From here is where you review the Design Proposal in depth and see if you would like to move forward with working the Designer.
Not only is the consultation for the Designer to learn more information, but a fantastic way for the prospect to fully understand the process of working with the Interior Designer or Interior Decorator. This is a great opportunity for you to ask all the questions so you can be fully aware of what to expect during the process. Topics like the kind of deliverables you will receive, the overall timeline, possible investment range pf the project, etc. 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. This means we source all furnishings/decor, place orders, manage the shipping/delivery process, offer a full white glove install & so much more behind the scenes! Read more about our Full Service Design option.
Are initial consultations free like other home service providers?
The majority of Designers do charge for initial consultations. Here's why: a Design Consultation is at least a 1-2 hour meeting with the prospect to truly see what the scope of work will involve & most importantly if the prospect and Designer have good chemistry and can work well together!
Although interior design & interior decorating have to do with home projects, this doesn't mean it's similar to a contractor coming out to give you a free quote. It's just simply a different process and a common misconception. Interior design/decorating is a much more personable project because this directly relates to your personal style and aesthetic. In our consultations, we don't look around the house for 15 minutes & are able to give you a free quote on the spot. We spend at least an hour and more getting to know you, educating you about our processes, learning about your lifestyle, and then spending time carefully creating a Design Proposal & custom quote. We have very personable relationships with our clients because they expect us to guide them through large home projects that can feel overwhelming at times. The goal is to create a beautifully designed space that the client will love coming home to every day because it is a reflection of their style. As a result of that, we need to know our clients and their lifestyle more than typical home service providers would. Often times, we are also voices and advocates for our clients when dealing with outside contractors and trades.
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 are not mind readers. unfortunately. 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 happy with!
Home projects can take time. Months to possibly years (custom new builds will take the longest). Your 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.
Your Designer should be setting your expectations properly so that the project goes as smooth as possible. 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. Set 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.
Respect boundaries. If your Designer has designated business hours, it may be best to assume you won’t receive a response outside of those hours. Make sure you work with a Designer where their business hours work with yours's. We understand that our clients can be busy working professionals as well.
Hire a Designer you connect with well. You'll be able to feel this on the initial call and Design 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!
Understand the way a 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 a Designer for everyone!
Last, but definitely not least .. know the value of hiring a 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 it 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!
