11 Things Your Interior Designer Won’t Tell You

 

Making a home look like your home takes hard work and sometimes ingenuity, but it should never cost you your life savings. An interior designer wants you to think that his or her service is invaluable.

 

However, the truth is while an interior designer is often good at his or her craft, there are some things you can do for yourself.

 

 

1. Set a budget, but hold a little something back for the end.

This one is huge. If you don’t set a budget, you can’t make sure you’re getting everything you need. A budget prevents you from overspending or running out of money before you buy all of your furniture.

 

Furthermore, setting aside a reserve fund can also help prevent overrunning your budget. A good rule of thumb is setting aside 10% of your budget in reserve. With a reserve fund, you can make sure you have money to fall back on so the problem doesn’t ruin your entire project.

 

All in all, setting a budget will help make sure you get everything you want in your redesign.

 

2. Buy the big stuff first.

That means buy the most expensive stuff first. Usually, this includes the furniture and flooring. Once you buy the big stuff, you can use the rest of the money to buy the accessories. Buying the big stuff first will save you from having to make a big purchase at the end.

 

3. Shop around.

You might love that $3,000 chair you saw at Restoration Hardware, but it probably doesn’t fit into your budget. So shop around. By perusing Giving Assistant, you may be able to find the same chair or something that looks exactly like it for a fraction of the price.

 

4. Stay grounded in reality.

We are huge fans of watching the DIY channel and HGTV. We often imagine what it would be like to have that alcove or that bathroom remodel. When you are considering a redesign or remodel, make sure what you want is both financially and physically possible for the space you’re working with.

 

5. Measure twice, buy once.

Carpenters have a saying, “measure twice, cut once”. We modified our own version: Measure twice, buy once. When it comes to redesigning a room, it’s all about space and how things fit into that space. You don’t want to find the perfect couch only to find it takes up the entire side of one room after getting it home.

 

6. Make sure you have proper space.

Interior designers make the flow of the room work because they understand the need for open space. A good rule of thumb is to make sure the areas with the highest traffic have 35 inches of open space between large pieces of furniture. That’s enough room for two people to pass by each other. In other areas, 18 inches of space should be fine.

 

7. Follow the 60-30-10 colour scheme rule.

It’s not just a sense of fashion that makes a room look good; interior designers actually follow a colour scheme rule. If you’re doing it yourself, try to stick to the 60-30-10 equation when it comes to choosing colours for the paint, upholstery, and accent pieces. That means 60% of the room should be made up of the dominant colour, 30% of the secondary colour, and 10% of the accent colour.

 

8. Quality always wins.

It’s tempting to do as much as you can with your budget, but the truth is that quality is always better. Quality paint means you won’t be repainting three years from now. A quality couch will last you for years. Quality may cost you more initially, but it will save you money in the end.

 

9. Go vertical.

It’s easy to focus on what you have on the floor, but don’t forget the walls. A good interior designer knows that decorating a room has to do with the whole room, not just what’s on the floor. What you put on the walls can really set the tone for a room.

 

10. Use mirrors and light colours.

When it comes to space, there just never seems to be enough of it. Interior designers use a few key tricks to make a space look larger. Mirrors and light colours reflect light. They both give the illusion that there is more space than what is really available. When you have a choice, always opt for light colours over dark colours. If you have space, hang up a nice mirror. It will make a huge difference.

 

11. Be patient.

Interior design isn’t something that can be done in a day. You’re not going to find the exact accent piece you want or the armchair you love on the first shopping excursion. Remember, patience is a virtue. Sometimes an entire redesign can take months.

 

Other Options

If you really feel out of your depth, there are ways to get professional design help without overspending or overrunning your budget. Not all interior designers work by the project. Some are willing to work by the hour or even offer free consultations. A couple of hours of consultation may be all you need to bring your vision to life.

 

You can also try working with an interior design student. Many are looking for hands-on experience before earning their degrees. they get their degree. An interior design student is receiving the same training as an interior designer. You may be able to hire him or her for the same advice but for a lot less.

 

Conclusion

You can also consider shopping at some of the higher-end furniture stores. For example, Pottery Barn hires interior design experts specifically to help customers. Those experts will offer you free design services when you shop at Pottery Barn. If you’re already planning to buy Pottery Barn furniture, it would be easy to take advantage of the service.

 

Whether you’re remodelling one room or your entire home keep one thing in mind, your home is a representation of your family and your personality. So, don’t be afraid to express yourself!