Why Hire an Interior Designer?
How can an interior designer help with my project?
I want to talk about the reasons why you would hire an interior designer and the best time to involve a designer for your project. But there are a few things I want to put straight before I get started…
What does an interior designer actually do?
I ask this question because a lot of people do not fully understand what an interior designer actually does. Do you think it is just paint colours, cushions and fabrics? Well, this is where you are wrong and so I am going to tell you more about how an interior designer can help you in the early stages of your project.
Planning a build or renovation? At what point should you involve an interior designer…
The long and short of it is that is it never too early to involve an interior designer! If you are planning a build or about to start a renovation or restoration project, then you are bound to be feeling a little overwhelmed. There is always so much to think about and when you are busy working and busy spending time with family, have you really got the time to do all the research and planning yourself? If you have never done anything like this before then you may be feeling a little lost and unsure where to start? Or you may have lots of ideas but you are struggling to make a decision, so you would like a second pair of eyes to point you in the right direction in order to help your vision come to life?
There is always so much to think about… Who do we need to contact? What do we need to prioritise? How much can the builder do? Is there anything we can do ourselves? Where is the best place to put certain things? How much will it all cost? Well believe it or not these are things an interior designer can help with as they are the ones that tend to “fill in the gaps”. I like to think of interior designers (like myself) as the ones that bridge the gap between the architect and the contractor, the one that helps to oversee the project and make decisions and the one that can come in at the end to put together all the finishing touches. So we can do more than what you think!
The sooner you hire an interior designer, the more beneficial it is…
We can check the architect’s drawings to make sure everything is as it should be before the final plans are signed off. We consider the function of each space to determine the best possible layout. We can help with lighting and electrical schemes, which are both paramount to any interior space, but often forgotten about and left as an afterthought. We can help you to save money as we recognise what is most suitable for each room and we can help determine where the money should be spent.
Layouts, Layouts, Layouts…
For me this is the most exciting part and the most important element to any design. However, to be able to determine the best possible layout for you and your family then you must reflect on the function of the room and how you will use it.
Where do you spend most of your time? Does this space benefit from lots of natural light? Does your open plan kitchen living space have everything it needs to work for you and your family? Can you move around this space easily? Can you fit in a big enough bed in your bedroom? Does each room have a focal point? Do you have enough storage? These are just some of the things you need to consider when designing your home. Design is always bespoke to each space, so this is why an interior designer will spend time getting to know you to understand how you live (and want to live) to make sure they can determine the best possible layout to suit your lifestyle. So, by hiring an interior designer at the start of your project we can ensure you do not have to compromise on anything further down the line. This may include things like altering locations of internal doors if it restricts the layout of a certain space or increasing the length of walls to allow for more storage, or making a room slightly bigger to fit in all the furniture you need. Once you have agreed on the final layout, this will then determine where to position lights and electrical sockets and even the placement of radiators according to how you use the room.
Can you now see the benefits of hiring an interior designer at the start of your project? Hopefully, this will give you more of an insight into what interior designer can actually do and that there is a lot more to it than simply just fluffing cushions!
Hannah x
