A home’s interior should reflect your personality and unique style, but most people struggle with creating the look they want. An interior designer can help you define your particular style and achieve that look and feel in your home. Sometimes all it takes is moving your items around or adding a few more key pieces to create the perfect living environment.
The right interior decorator can save you time, money and frustration. Whether your goal is to update your home or do a complete gut and remodel, a decorator will be your best ally and quite possibly a lifelong friend.
Before hiring a decorator, think about your personal tastes. Spend some time leafing through magazines and clip out designs that appeal to you. You could also look online and print out looks you like. Put them in a folder with a comment about why it attracts you. Seeing your preferences and comments will help the decorator understand how to fulfill your needs.
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Knowing what your budget is also important before you meet with a decorator. Determining a budget isn’t difficult if you list all the items you’d like to replace or add as well as all the improvements you want to make. Then jot down both high and low price ranges.
You now have a maximum and minimum budget for your project as well as ideas for inspiration.
If you determine the project will be more than your budget, don’t get discouraged; continue the process anyway. Decorators are notorious for decorating with limited budgets and being creative with what you already have in your home.
Locating the right interior designer is fairly simple. Research the names and contact information of interior decorators in your area by looking in the local newspaper, online, and local furniture stores.
If you like the style of furniture a particular store offers, ask if they provide an in-home design service. You can also search the yellow pages under interior decorators or ask family and friends. Now choose three interior decorators to interview and schedule meetings at their office so you can see more of what they have to offer and look at samples. Choose the decorator you feel most comfortable with, that connects with you and understands completely what you want to do. These meetings are also the time you’ll discuss the range of product costs and how they charge for their services.
Interior decorators can provide help in many different areas of your home. Most people think of interior designers as just providing furnishings. Decorators will be glad to offer help on most anything that has to do with the inside or outside of your home. Most are knowledgeable and will refer others they’ve worked with in different industries if they can’t do it themselves. Decorators are very well networked.
The following are just a few things you can hire them to handle: wall and paint colors and applications, flooring, cabinets and counters, window treatments, organizing spaces, appliances, lighting, plumbing fixtures, exteriors, landscaping and more.
Some decorators will even decorate your home for the holidays. They love what they do and always seem eager to help so use their knowledge and talents to make your projects more manageable.
Identifying and matching your unique style.
The best interior decorators have strong personal design philosophies. The true decorating professional will take the time and have the ability to understand and reflect your style. They should fit in with your style, not the other way around. Choose a decorator who is flexible, communicates well and understands your vision for the space. Continue discussing time frames, costs and other details during the proposal process. Make sure you’re completely happy with the product, the plan and the price before you make any payments or sign a contract.
Decorators typically charge a fee using one of three ways.
• By-the-hour: charging you for the number of hours they work on the project; usually $75 an hour.
• Cost-plus: the decorator purchases items for your home and adds a percentage to the cost.
• A combination of by-the-hour and cost-plus.
The key is not to have any surprises, so honest communication will be needed throughout the project.
Most decorators are okay with coming to your home and charging by the hour to discuss things you could do yourself to keep costs down. If this is the route you want to go, let the decorator know upfront so they can be better prepared to discuss things you could do. You’ll need to trust and allow them to work their magic if you choose the route of hiring a decorator. Decorating isn’t done ‘til it’s done. A decorator has an overall vision in their mind of what the area will look like when finished. Avoid distracting them and offering to help; most are focused and do their best work when left alone. However, if you see a color or style you can’t live with discuss your concerns with your decorator as soon as possible.
Once your project is on its way, sit back and relax, leave it to the professional and watch your room or home beautifully transform. It’s a good idea to take some before, during and after pictures to keep your Facebook friends informed. Chances are you’ll love the way your room or home looks once the job is completed, so refer your decorator to others and use her again and again. You’ll want to be on her short list so when you need something done in the future she’ll fit you in at a moment’s notice and will already know your style.
Choosing and interior decorator might seem like a lengthy process, but through research, honesty and communication you can find a decorator who will transform your house into a beautiful home, time and time again.
