We are all trying to stretch our dollars these days and not waste money on what we think are luxuries rather than necessities. Consequently, we are staying at home more than we used to, spending more time with family, having friends over, and trying to find enjoyment by just being in the comfort of our homes.
Hiring an interior designer to help make our homes more comfortable, more beautiful, or enhance the way we use our homes, is something many people think is a luxury they can do without. And while that may be true for some, many people – both men and women – seek the help of a professional designer to help create an environment they want to spend time in and one that makes them feel truly at home.
As a professional designer for more than 20 years, a variety of clients have come to me after having spent a lot of their time and hard-earned money decorating and furnishing their homes but fail to pull together the look they want and one that makes them feel good to be at home.
Here are some common examples of what I hear from clients:
“I wanted to blend my leather couches with fabric chairs and ended up with two completely different looks in our family room. I bought two custom floral chairs hoping it would make the leather look less harsh, but the chairs I bought are too small and they look like they belong in a bedroom. What do I do? I spent a lot of money on these two chairs.
“But the fabric doesn’t go with anything in the bedroom, so should I reupholster them? Or should I buy new ones and put these on Ebay? And can you as a professional help me do what I should have done in the first place? Will you work with me to make my family room what I envision?”
And this from another: “We decided to downsize. I brought my furniture from my former home which was much bigger than my new house. I have spent an enormous amount of money on paint, new accessories, rugs, etc. to try to make my large scaled furniture look right, particularly in our smaller master bedroom. I am now willing to spend money in our bedroom with the help of a designer – even if it means selling our bedroom furniture.
“I have probably spent thousands trying to make it ‘fit’ into our new home, and now I have a lot of mixed looks and multiple pieces of out-of-scale furniture and none of it looks good. I am just sick. What do I do?” But there is this memorable quote by an older single gentleman who was buying furniture for the first time, “This is more fun that buying a bass boat!”
Clients such as these now consider the “do it yourself” approach a costly one. In hindsight it seems that enlisting the help of a qualified designer would have saved them, not just the heartache, but a lot of money as well.
There are many honest, conscientious, and well-trained designers. Some have showrooms with many furnishings you can see, feel and sit on as you discuss what you envision for your home and receive professional input and honest advice before you buy.
Designers who are truly committed to their profession go to Buyer’s Markets in large cities, sometimes several times a year, where they have access to many different lines of furniture and accessories at discounted costs. Good designers distinguish themselves by staying current across industries and markets to better serve their clients.
Designers have multiple ways of working with you to fit your particular needs. There are savings to be found when designers buy direct from manufacturers at wholesale prices. They are then able to pass that saving along to their clients at costs lower than retail.
By buying “right” from designers, most clients will save money over retail and best of all they do not spend money on costly mistakes. Seek out a designer with good credentials and references and perhaps a Web site where you can view interiors that have been designed for a variety of clients. Good references or referrals from friends or neighbors will help give assurance that you are hiring the right designer for you.
The designer you choose should be a good business person as well. Being able to work within your budget is just as important as bringing you good design. Yes, you should feel comfortable that you and your designer are “on the same page” and working toward the same goal, but you should not settle for just shaking hands with a designer who says or implies, “You’ll love it. Trust me.”
The design industry is a business, and you should engage in a design project as you would any other business endeavor. Written agreements with terms and conditions are the cornerstone of a good relationship between the client and the designer. Don’t settle for less. Get it in writing and know where you are headed, budget and design wise.
Most designers know that in today’s market, designer services and products need to be priced in ways that help clients view the industry more as a necessity, not simply a luxury.
