If you want to freshen up your home’s drab interior or make it feel more hospitable, you may have thought about hiring an interior designer. But you also may be wondering about the cost to hire an interior designer. The truth is you can save money in the long run by hiring a designer who can make your living space sparkle.
Keep reading to learn more about what an interior designer can do for you and why you should hire one!
What Does An Interior Designer Do?
An interior designer’s goal is to make a space both attractive and functional for their client’s needs. They must consider design elements like color, texture, line, and form as they pull together things like furniture, decor, wall colors, and lighting to create the perfect space.
In many instances, interior designers must obtain credentials by passing an exam. In other states, no exam is required to assume the title of an interior designer. So if credentials matter to you, do some research to see what your state requires.
You can trust that an interior designer is knowledgable about spaces — even redesigning them. If you have a strange space in your house, an interior designer will have the vision to know how it can be redesigned in a beautiful and code-compliant way. Many interior designers work closely with architects, so they tend to be connected in ways that can help with larger-scale design and renovation projects.
What Is the Cost to Hire an Interior Designer?
How much does it cost to hire an interior designer? The answer is a little complicated.
The cost of an interior designer depends on several factors. They can charge anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars per hour if they are more experienced or well-known. As with any service, you’ll want to consider your budget and know what you want to get from the experience.
Some designers offer simple packages that allow you to have a consultation in your space with the designer. And as a result, the designer will produce an outline for a redesign plan (often a CAD drawing) that you then execute on your own. This is a more budget-friendly approach to designing, as you gain input from a short, concentrated meeting.
If you want more hands-on help, you can pay more and the designer will accompany you on a trip to the furniture store. This is a more time-intensive approach, so know that those minutes of time will add up. Since many designers do charge by the hour, ask how they will invoice you so you’re not unpleasantly surprised.
Be aware that there can be hidden fees, too. Travel and purchase fees can add to the hourly rate pretty quickly! The key is to be very clear on how much you’re willing to pay and what rooms you think need the most attention.
How to Prepare
As the customer, take the reins and make sure that you ask questions about the designer’s process, vision, tastes, and costs. An interior designer with a strong background and clear vision should be able to answer these questions for you.
You want to know that your designer is comfortable letting you weigh in on decisions if that’s what you want from the experience. Or if you want the designer to take full control, they need to be comfortable with doing that. Getting referrals from other clients can be helpful in determining if a particular designer is a right match for your needs.
Know what you want, but ask about the scope of the project as the designer sees it. When you come to an agreement, make sure that there is a contract you can sign. You don’t want the project to balloon into something that’s beyond your budget.
Ask about the designer’s background, too. What is their level of experience and education? What other homes or businesses have they served?
Write down your questions before you contact a designer. You can compare a few before settling on the right one.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Designer?
There are many benefits to hiring an interior designer. This is especially true if you don’t think of yourself as design-savvy. There’s no need to fret over which backsplash matches the cupboards because a skilled interior designer will pull together several options that can make the space look dynamic.
An interior designer lays the foundation for design choices in the years ahead, too. When your couch kicks the bucket, you’ll know what color scheme to go with in order to match the walls and rugs.
If you’re frequently entertaining guests and want your home to look more inviting, an interior designer can help you get there quickly. They’ll know what accent pillows work with your existing sofa and which area rug can pull the room together.
It’s easy to spend more on a coffee table or wall piece thinking it will boost the quality of the space, but if you choose a coffee table that’s too big, you’ll have made an expensive mistake. In some ways, you can actually save money by hiring someone who knows how to choose the right pieces the first time!
And if you’re thinking you might put the house on the market in the near future, a well-designed living space will look much more attractive to prospective buyers.
The Bottom Line
When you’ve just signed onto a mortgage, the prospect of spending more money can seem overwhelming. But if you’ve bought the house of your dreams, you owe it to yourself to make sure that it is livable and lovable.
Look into bringing an interior designer on board to build the perfect environment for you. The cost to hire an interior designer will pay off when you’re relaxing in your beautiful home.
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