Why Hire an Interior Designer?

I am not a writer of any sort and posting to our blog is the hardest part of the job for me. I am getting ready to head out to shop with a client which is the funnest part of the job for me! I was told I had to post something before I leave...

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to snuggle up in a warm cozy blanket, with wine glass in hand, and... read! I recently read an article that really made me feel appreciated as a designer and decorator. I want to share that article today with you!

10 Reasons Why You Should Hire an Interior Decorator

By Jessica September 19, 2012 in Freshome's Very Best

It’s something to think about if you haven’t already done so. Hiring an interior decorator is a smart decision if you’ve invested a good bit of money into your home and want to be able to showcase it to look its best. Decorators truly serve a purpose for everyone. Whether you have no idea where or how to begin to decorate your home, or whether you have an idea but need help tying pieces together, or you simply haven’t the time to execute your style and desires due to your busy day to day schedule.

I recently asked Michelle Cortizo of Cortizo Interiors in Boston, Massachusetts, to explainwhy hiring an Interior Decorator is a wise and sensible choice. Toss aside the idea that interior decorators are only for the rich and famous or those with so much money that they don’t know what to do with it all. In reality they save you a great deal of time and money and headache medicine!

1. Save Money.

It might sound strange that hiring someone to decorate your home would save you money since you have the additional fee of the designer, however Cortizo makes a compelling point. “Hiring a designer can help you to avoid costly mistakes that will not only help you save money but can increase the value of your home.” Especially when selling your home – interior design is essential when listing your home. It can help boost buyer appeal and set your home above the competition.

2. Professional Assessment.

“A designer can give you a professional assessment of your situation, that will will lead to a solid plan of action. The order of things in a design plan is key in determining what can be repurposed or should be edited. This will not only effect the budget but help you to spend it more efficiently.” A designer offers an extra set of eyes, but these eyes are trained to see and notice things that you may not.

3. Budgeting and Planning.

A designer can keep you on budget and save you time and effort. A designer knows where to go for resources for everything related to your home. This will save you endless amounts of time researching products, brands and prices. A designer will have all this readily on hand, and should he or she not, will spend the time researching so that you don’t have to.

4. Liaison

A designer will be able to build “a stronger bridge between you and your architect or contractor early on and can head off design misses in your overall plan. This is crucial in managing time and money explains Cortizo. Also designers are trained to think about things we may overlook. “It’s so important that the lighting and furnishing needs are addressed before construction. If your living room sofa is floating in a the middle of the room you want to make sure you have the proper placement for floor outlets.”

5. Wide availability of resources.

There are things available to designers that are not available to the general public in terms of connections, resources and general merchandise. By culminating these resources designers can help to make your space look more collected, unique and pulled together.

6. Contacts.

Cortizo states that : “In addition to vendor resources, designers have many home improvement industry contacts. They can save homeowners time and headaches trying to identify reliable, contractors, plumbers and electricians for their projects.”

7. Wow Factor.

Designers can help to give you the “wow” factor you’ve been looking for. They are trained to think differently, spatially and to see an overall picture that clients often cannot. Cortizo adds that “Thinking outside of the box is what designers do all day long.”

8.Home sale.

A decorator can potentially add a great deal to the aesthetic of your home, which in turn can increase showings and sales. This increased appeal can exponentially speed up the amount of time your home sits on the market before it is sold. The benefit here is two-fold, a faster turn-around time and more money in your pocket.

9. A trained eye.

“A designer is a professional with a trained eye that can automatically tell you if there is something wrong or right with a space. Having that immediate consult is a major advantage when making aesthetic decisions. It is the result of years of experience.” says Cortizo. Often times homeowners try to do it all themselves and get frustrated. Look at these 10 most common interior design mistakes and how to solve them.

10. Visual story-teller

Cortizo concludes with the fact that : “Interior design is a skill and an art that will only enhance the space and the quality of your life in the space. Hiring a pro raises the level of that experience and makes your house a home. A designer can help you tell your visual story. I can’t think of a better reason than that!”

Given all this information will you consider hiring an interior designer the next time you remodel, buy a home or move?