Hire a Professional Interior Designer/Decorator

How many times have you looked at the pictures in a magazine of a beautiful home and wondered what your home would look like? How often have you been frustrated by the seeming simplicity of decorating only to realize that you just can’t seem to match things up right? That goes for men and women. Deep down we all want  the stunning, classic sitting room or a dinning room fit for a queen’s luncheon designed for them. This is why you should hire an interior designer when it comes time to create the world inside your home.

Most people have the impression that interior designers are only relevant to those who are wealthy. However, this is far from the truth. Like a painting contractor, interior designers are professionals in the art of creating the look that you are seeking. Do you feel uncomfortable describing your vision to a painting contractor? I doubt it, so why should you feel that way about a professional that combines paint and wall coverings with fabrics and furniture to create the unique vision that you have for the inside of your home?

This is the first hurdle you must jump over and it is also the stigma associated with using an interior designer. Which by the way,  is no less a building trade than carpentry or painting. In fact, interior designers are more than likely to deal with those types of professionals as well. As a interior designer, they will build a plan and execute it by calling in the professionals that they will supervise and accomplish the contract, as any other would. This is hard work and that is one of the biggest benefits of hiring an interior designer. They will intercede for you and manage many of the tradesmen that you would normally have to deal with personally. You are spending the money, therefore why should you have to do the work?

There are few restaurants or Corporate offices that did not have an interior designer on site insuring that the ,”look and feel”, came through. If you were considering opening up such an office or restaurant, you would be a fool not to consult with an interior designer. Even if you have all the knowledge and skill, you need someone to carry out the day-to-day tasks, do you not? Professional firms design the most expensive restaurants, but this is not because they had the money. It is why they have the money. This is an investment and the environment someone eats that romantic dinner in is just as important as the food itself. Do you have a favorite restaurant?  Why do you like it?  No doubt it is the atmosphere, and that is a direct result of the interior decorator.

 It’s your new home, saving a few dollars on the frills should not include cutting out the professional consultation you need to ensure that your investment results in exactly what you dreamed of originally. What could be more important than that? The greatest benefit of using an interior decorator is getting exactly what you want, while having only one tradesman to deal with.

Shop around and visit with some of the interior designers/decorators in your area.  Find one that you can relate too.  Ask to look at some of their work.  Talk with them about your project, what you want to accomplish, budget, time frame, etc.  Most will give lots of free advice.  They are not afraid of sharing knowledge.  They are skilled and you will not become skilled with a little knowledge.  They know it and are not concerned about loosing you as a client simply because you learned something from them. 

You will find more interior decorators than interior designers.  If you are not doing major construction, you will be happy with most decorators.  Not all interior decorators are certified or licensed.

My wife has been doing interior decorating since 1982.  She has owned and operated several retail stores that focus on interior decorating.  She is very good and has brought 100’s of projects, both residential and commercial, to a successful completion.  But, she is neither certified nor licensed.  Her training was hands on and in the real life.  She is highly educated, but not in the field of interior decorating.  I mention this so that you know that the certification or license is not the qualifier. 

You can choose either, licensed or not licensed.  You choose based on what you want to accomplish and the track record of the person you are hiring. 

I am a professional Painter and have been so since 1987.  I only recently got State licensed and City licensed.  I have always been insured.  I worked with several good painters in the beginning and went to several trade shows and classes.  But, I was not licensed for years.  They were not necessary and cost a lot of money.  Though I now have the licenses I am still the same painter.  I am good because of my work ethic and skill.  Not a piece of paper.  The same is true of interior decorators.  If you want a interior designer, a license is a good thing for them to have.  Much more is involved than just decorating.