
For most of us, our home is our biggest investment. It’s also a reflection of who we are. Throughout life we collect mementos to display, and furniture that holds sentimental value. But how do we find the balance between personalized surroundings, and sheer clutter and disarray? While that is certainly a good reason to hire an interior designer, there are several that might not be so obvious at first glance. Here are the top ten reasons to hire an interior designer…some may surprise you.
1. Save Money
Of course, you have to pay a fee for an interior designer’s services, but having a professional who knows where to shop, what to shop for, the right subcontractors and craftsmen to hire provides cost savings. Also, a design-build firm can cost out the entire project from inception to completion, further streamlining the service and typically saving 6% of overall project costs. This efficiency can save headaches and wasted time in the long run.
2. Define Your Style
Many people like a variety of styles. But a hodgepodge of French Country alongside modern and a splash of Scandinavian is a tell-tale sign of a DIY job. An interior designer can help you hone in on the style that most speaks to you, while still incorporating touches that add an element of individuality.
3. Be Your Liaison
Interior designers can act as the bridge between you, the architect, and the contractor…all while keeping your collective design vision on track. Time management is a key element of this cooperative effort which keeps the entire project and team on task, as is taking into consideration important elements like lighting and the placement of floor or wall outlets before construction or renovation begins.
4. Take Over the Minutia
Have you ever been in a space and thought to yourself, “if only that window was a few inches the other direction, the bed and nightstand would fit perfectly there.” Or, “I wonder why the chandelier is not hung directly over the dining room table, it makes the whole room feel off balance”. Architects and contractors can be amazing at their jobs, however oftentimes they don’t work through the details of ideal furniture layout, electrical outlet placement and lighting. An interior designer is trained through years of schooling and experience to incorporate these details in their overall designs, making the process feel seamless.
The process of designing an interior space isn’t as glamorous as the end result. It involves truly understanding how a space will be used. Then, utilizing that understanding to develop an optimal space plan and furniture layout, identifying placement of electrical outlets, incorporating appropriate lighting, sourcing specific furniture and fixtures to fit, pouring over paint chips, directing vendors…all while keeping an eye on the budget.
5. Avoid Mistakes
We’ve all excitedly awaited the delivery of that perfect floor lamp or coffee table accent, only to be less than impressed when the box arrived. Then you have to box it back up, get a return label, and ship it back. It’s not only annoying, it costs you time in having to seek a replacement. Interior designers know manufacturers and quality, and can zero in on exactly what you’re looking for, which helps to avoid ordering mistakes and reduces returns. Interior designers also develop floor plans before ordering any furniture to ensure all items ordered fit just right for a space. Skilled designers can make prefab items look custom by flawlessly incorporating them to a space.

6. Help You Sell
If your home is up for sale, investing in an interior designer is a fast and efficient way to increase its overall appeal, and thus, could allow you to sell it at a higher price. For instance, a $15,000 investment in a master bathroom update might add $30,000 more to the asking price.
7. Better Use of Space
Interior designers are spatial thinkers. They view room dimensions differently, and have been trained to aesthetically use every square foot of space to its best advantage. You may have deemed that space underneath the stairs as useless, or the odd shape of a room undesirable but a designer can envision a cozy reading nook or a perfect place for a writing desk.
8. Solve Problems
Perhaps there’s that one room in your house that’s never really felt right, and you’ve never been able to put your finger on the “why.” An interior designer can suggest solutions you may never have considered, such as opening up the space by bringing down a wall. Or adding a kitchen island to create more workspace. Maybe it’s as simple as adding crown molding to create a more custom look.
9. Access To Trade-Only Items
Interior designers usually aren’t shopping at the big box retailers. They have access to fabrics, furnishings, and accents that non-professionals don’t. That's where that “wow” factor often comes from.
10. Finish Your Project
It’s a simple fact that many DIY projects go unfinished. It’s usually due to a lack of time, or someone gets bogged down in the details. When you hire an interior designer, you’ll not only know what the end result will look like, but it will be completed to those exacting specifications.
Interior design firms like Arlington, Virginia-based BraePark Design + Build can help you visualize your space on paper long before the first piece of furniture is arranged, and keep your project on track to bring your design vision to life. To learn more, visit BraeParkDesign.com.
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