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, but always keep in mind that EVERY Designer works differently and the most important thing is hiring one you vibe with the best!
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, size of project, scope of work, Designer's years of experience, etc.
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. Most common 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.
What these costs are, again, are dependent on the Designer themselves. So if you are meeting with multiple Interior Designers and/or Interior Decorators, you'll 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, and 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 budget? In this modern day, there are many cost-effective options to receive design help for your projects. E-Design being the most popular. E-Design stands for electronic design, which means that everything is done 100% virtually. With Virtual Design services, there is no need to meet with an Interior Designer or Interior Decorator in-person. They will not be handling any project management or procuring items. So, that helps to cut the investment down. This is also a perfect option for those who prefer DIY. Online interior design can offer a variety of virtual services that can prove very helpful to you. 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 on your own and 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, Drafting, Finish Selections, etc.
At EP Design Studio, all of our virtual design services include beautiful & professional virtual design boards, shopping links + a design guide on how to implement the design once all the items come in! 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 and more. We highly recommend reaching out to your local Designer 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 at the point of asking yourself this question, hiring a Designer might not be best for you. If you are someone who prefers DIY, working on your own timeline, or can be very picky about decisions, then it's completely fine to not choose to hire a Designer. That's OKAY. We actually tell people all the time that hiring a Designer is not a necessity. 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 interior design and interior decorating is seen as a luxury service that can have a large investment. When hiring a Designer, that means you are choosing to have someone come into your home and give you guidance based on their expertise and experience. 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? From our experience, almost all Designers start off with a complimentary call to chat with the prospect briefly to see if this project would be a good fit for them and vice versa. From here, usually a paid Design Consultation is scheduled to meet in-person at the project location.
A Design Consultation is a meeting with the prospect at their project location to discuss in full depth the wants/needs of the prospect, their lifestyle, aesthetic, and budget. This is to help the Designer see if the project would be a good fit for their current availability and also assess the scope of work that will be involved. After this, the Designer will be able to create a custom Design Proposal (contract) with the design fee quote based on the information they received at the Design Consultation.
From here is where you review the Design Proposal in depth and see if you would like to move forward with the Designer!
At EP Design Studio, with our Full Service Design option, we take care of our clients from the initial design concept phase all the way to install. This means we source all furnishings and decor, place orders, manage shipping, delivery and home install so that you don't have to worry about all of that. Read more about our Full Service Design option here!
Wait, why do I have to pay for a Design Consultation to receive a quote? Shouldn't this be free like other home service providers? Remember, every Designer works differently and there may be some who offer free consultations, but the majority do charge for Design 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 and most importantly if the prospect and Designer have good chemistry and can work well together!
Although interior design and interior decorating have to do with home projects, this doesn't mean it's similar to a General Contractor or a handyman coming to give you a free quote. It's just a different process! This is often a common misconception. Interior design and interior decorating is a much more personable project because this directly relates to your personal style and aesthetic. In our Design Consultations, we don't look around the house for 15 minutes and are able to give you a free quote on the spot. We spend at least an hour or more getting to know you, educating you about our processes, learning about your lifestyle and how that can directly affect the overall design and then go home to spend time carefully creating a Design Proposal. Us Designers have very personal 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.
This is why many Designers are charging for their time spent meeting with a potential client! So, don't be surprised if you see this as you speak with multiple Designers. At EP Design Studio, we actually credit back the Design Consultation fee if you decide to move forward with us. :) Read more about our Full Service Design process here!
What are some top tips to working with an Interior Designer or Interior Decorator? Here are some fantastic tips and expectations to set so that you can have an efficient relationship with your Designer:
Communicate with your Designer! This is so important. Although we are experts in design, we are not mind readers. Communication is so very important throughout the project, but definitely in the beginning. Show inspiration pictures, communicate your likes/dislikes, and ask all the questions. Even if it's telling us you don't like something, please respectfully communicate that to us. 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 (for example, 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. Us Designers 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 and realistic about budgets. We all want to save money, but understand that home remodels, renovations or even furnishing new is an investment. We all know the saying that you pay more for quality. For example, clients are surprised to know how much can be spent to purchase quality new furnishings. Especially if you are furnishing for multiple rooms. If you have a budget for Amazon items, then there's a chance that Full Service Design might not be your best route as you can use that money towards expanding your budget. Online interior design services or DIY would be a better option in this case. However, there are some Designers who can work with smaller budgets too. This goes back to tip #1: communication!
Adding on to that point, your Designer should be setting your expectations properly so that the project goes as smooth as possible. However, hiccups can happen in large projects. As mentioned before, clients don't understand what truly goes into the process of handling a remodel, renovation, or furnishing project. Set your expectations properly about timelines, budgets, revisions, etc.
Make sure to do your due diligence by carefully reviewing your contract and other important project documents. Lots of quick questions can be answered in these 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 not be best to assume you'll receive a response at 9pm at night. Make sure you work with a Designer where their business hours work with your'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!
Understand the way a Designer structures their process. It may not work for you, but that's okay because there may be another Designer who's process you like more. Remember, every Designer works different. These processes SHOULD be outlined in the contract and reviewed thoroughly. 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 and that's totally okay. A great Designer should be able to thoroughly answer all your questions and address any concerns. However, it is unfair to demand that a Designer change their processes to accomodate you halfway through the project. If negotiations are needed, it should be brought up before signing the contract.
Last, but definitely not least- understand why you hired a Designer in the first place. Be open to suggestions and recommendations you may not have thought of. Understand that we are looking at things from a design and functional perspective. It might be hard to see things from a different point of view, but a great Designer should be communicating to you why they feel a certain choice is 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! As a Designer, we also want to feel that the ideas we bring are appreciated and considered. 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 vision.
So, are you ready to revamp your space? Let us take care of it for you! We're based in Fresno, CA area, but also serve throughout the greater Central Valley area of California. Not local to the area? No worries, we think you'll LOVE our Virtual Design services!
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