3 Myths About Hiring An Interior Designer (And Truths to Set Them Straight)
3Myths about hiring an interior designer (and truths to set them straight)
When it comes to hiring an interior designer, there are several myths that can prevent you from moving forward. These misconceptions keep you from reaping the many benefits of working with a skilled interior designer. In this blog, we'll set the record straight on three common myths about interior designers. We’ll give you the information you need to make an informed choice about working with a professional to design your dream home.
Myth #1: Interior designers are expensive and overcharged
Truth: Designers work hard to support a large and usually expensive operation. Much work is done behind the scenes. Designers also have to make a living and support the costs of running and operating their business. When hiring a designer and looking to understand the value of your investment, consider the amount of time and effort they are saving you in coordinating the project, as well as the value of having your home designed just the way you want it. Consider also that their expertise will lend increased efficiency and lower risk to the project overall. A good designer will save you time, stress and money in the end.
One of the biggest misconceptions about hiring an interior designer is that they are expensive and overcharge their clients. While it's true that interior design projects can be a big financial investment, it's essential to understand that most of that money goes towards the costs of the project itself, such as labor and materials.
Remember that just because your design project is costly, doesn’t mean the designer is keeping that much money. What money the designers do keep is also then divided between the costs of running and operating their business, and their salary is only part of that. Running a business requires resources and your designer likely has costs related to paying their team, marketing, advertising and business operations.
Designers work hard behind the scenes. Sourcing materials, managing budgets, and coordinating with contractors requires a lot of time and effort. Keep in mind that part of the value of hiring a designer is the project management that they provide. An interior designer who is also a licensed general contractor (like Uma Stewart) is saving you from hours and hours coordinating logistics – but we’ll talk more about that later. At the end of the day, recognize that your designer also deserves to make a living and a good salary for their hard work. They aren’t overcharging you, they are just supporting a very large and usually expensive operation.
Please know that one of our top priorities at Uma Stewart is making sure we manage your budget well and optimize the financial investment you’re making, while ensuring the highest quality of finished product. We’ll always talk with you about your financial needs, your preferences and we’ll work hard to ensure the project is delivered within your desired budget.
Myth #2: Choosing an interior designer is just about whose style I like the best
Truth: Your relationship with your interior designer is going to be an incredibly personal one. In order to do a great job, the designer you hire will need to get to know you intimately, and they’ll be spending a lot of time at your house managing the project. Choose someone based on personality, not just style – someone who you feel comfortable seeing your dirty laundry and stack of dishes on a busy day. Choose someone who you enjoy working with and who brings kindness, caring and good communication.
It might seem like common sense that the best interior designer for you is the one whose style you like the most. However, what most people don’t realize is that the interior design process is incredibly personal. Whoever you hire is going to be in your house – a lot. You want to work with someone who you can feel completely comfortable around.
Don't judge a designer based only on their style. Look for whether:
Communication flows well between you,
You feel that they understand you,
They are caring and non-judgmental,
They display empathy,
Your personalities click
Think of it this way: your designer is going to see your whole life. They’re going to see your dirty laundry on a busy day, they’re going to get to know your whole family, they’re going to see your lifestyle – not just the lifestyle you portray to the world, but the one you truly live day to day. At Uma Stewart we consider it an honor to get to serve our clients in such a personal way. When selecting an interior designer, take into account the person you feel most comfortable having in your home on a frequent basis.
Many designers have a wide range of styles they can tap into. Even if your style doesn’t perfectly match what you’ve seen of a designer’s style, the project can still be really successful. As long as there’s a personality fit and they have a good understanding of your aesthetic, your relationship with the designer will ensure a great outcome even if their style preferences don’t match yours.
Ask yourself: do they understand you and do they care? Are they kind and empathetic? Do they make you feel comfortable being yourself? Being able to be yourself is so important because if you have to put on a mask for your designer, you’re going to end up with a home designed for whoever you felt you had to pretend to be, rather than a home that is just for you.
Myth #3: Working with an interior designer will take a lot of my time – I can’t start a renovation until I have more free time
Truth: You can hire an interior designer who is also a licensed general contractor (like Uma Stewart) to manage the logistics of your project, so you don’t need lots of time in order to make your dream home come to life.
Lots of people will tell stories about how stressful and overwhelming their renovations were – perhaps you’ve heard one? Many people think that they can’t build or design their home until they have lots of time. But the truth is that there are many interior designers (like Uma Stewart) who are licensed general contractors in addition to being designers. You don’t have to manage the renovation if you find a designer who will do that for you.
We believe that the clients’ involvement in a design project should be fun and creative. You get to choose your favorite colors, styles and pieces for the home. You share photos with us to inspire the vision, we share slideshows of what we come up with and you get to approve it. Leave the heavy lifting, the hours of logistical coordinating and the project management to us.
Be prepared for some inconvenience at times, and be prepared to spend a few extra hours coordinating with your designer, but don’t worry about the project becoming your new part time job. You probably won’t even know about half the issues we’re coordinating, we just take care of it. And with a design team behind you, you can be sure that you’ll never come up against a problem that doesn’t have a solution. That’s what we’re here for!
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We hope this article has helped you understand the realities of working with an interior designer. Remember to take the time to find someone who not only has the technical skills, but also makes you feel comfortable and gives you confidence in their ability to understand what is important to you and your family. An interior designer is meant to be someone who you can trust to get to know you well. They can be the person to oversee all the details of your project to ensure everything is orchestrated in harmony. Your interior designer will save you time, stress, and money with their expertise and their help managing the logistics of your build.
At Uma Stewart Interiors & Lifestyle, we create personalized designs for global citizens – tailored to your individual tastes and needs. We would love to speak with you further about your project and how we can help bring your vision to life. Don't hesitate to book a call with us to learn more about working with our team. We can't wait to hear from you.
Studies have shown that people are more likely to buy a home that they can picture themselves living in. Having Uma Stewart team on site to help the client mentally see the way the home could work for them (ie. you could take out this closet, remodel this bathroom to make it beautiful, etc..). In short, having us consult about interior design for a potential buyer is a great way to close a deal. It’s a win for you (close the deal!), a win for the client (they feel confident about their choice!), and a win for us (now we have a new interior design client!).
A lot of times people hesitate to buy a home “as is” because they aren’t really sure what they’re getting themselves into. But Uma Stewart can paint the vision for the client, draw attention to the strong points of the house, and clearly show people the potential that they are investing in so they can confidently make an offer.
Would you like to establish a connection for a client who is interested in working with an interior designer? Let’s connect.