Did you know that by updating your interior design you’ll be able to ready your property for prospective buyers, make your home looks closer to the way you want it to look, but also bring a new sense of order and overall enliven your surroundings? Regardless of the reasons you have for making this change, it’s very important that the results are going to perfectly fit your vision.

After reading many magazines and books to find inspiration for how you’ll go about with this project, you’ve finally decided to get to work. However, before you begin, you may still have that feeling of insecurity that you may not really know what you’re doing and since this is a costly and time consuming project, it would be better to hire someone who can help you out. An interior designer or an interior decorator may just be the professionals you’re looking for, but will hiring one of them be expensive and are they going to be able to turn your vision into reality?

Interior Designer vs. Interior Decorator

Interior designers are professionals that have studied interiors, including color theory, lighting design, but also spatial planning so they can easily interpret architectural renderings. Not only that, but they’ve undergone training in a wide range of design applications and are very well versed in zoning regulations, permitting and building codes.

Most of the times, such professionals are specialized in aircraft, hospitality, commercial, residential and many other types of interior spaces. Their focus is on functional design and planning, but also the interior space’s decorative aspects.

On the other hand, an interior decorator will only focus on interior design’s decorative aspects. Color, materials, textiles and furniture selection are exactly what they are going to help you with in order to make sure your home look as amazing as you want it to look. Compared to interior designers, this profession doesn’t require a degree in interior decoration nor are there formal memberships associations.

Budget

If your budget is not that large, then it’s a good idea that you consider tackling the project ton your own. In terms of money, this will help you cut out the costs of labor and consultation which are generally quite expensive. For instance, while some professionals will charge you by the hour including other extra fees, others will charge you based on the complexity of the project.

However, there are also professionals who will only charge you a flat fee which includes everything you need to make your room or entire home look exactly the way you want to. However, for those charging a flat fee, don’t be surprised if you’re asked to pay upfront in full for any purchases that need to be made.

In some cases, designers can also charge you a retainer fee which ranges between five hundred dollars to twenty five thousand dollars after the contract is signed.

But even if your budget is not large, you should know that there are still many benefit you could take advantage of by hiring an interior designer. Since they’ve been in the industry for a long time, they know exactly where they can get the best deals and can also negotiate for the best price. They can also help you make the right choices and avoid mistakes which can save you a lot of money, hassle and headaches in the long run.

Skill

If you have a knack for interior design and an eye for style, then a do it yourself approach may just be the right approach in your situation. But if you struggle with how to accessorize, furniture arrangement, textiles and lack basic knowledge of color combinations, then, you may want to consider hiring an interior designer to help you out with this.

They’re able to look at your room with a new and fresh perspective and then make the necessary changes in order to ensure it looks perfect. Therefore, if you have high expectations for this project, then don’t try to tackle it on your own and get some help along the way.

Time

There are some people who just love challenges and given the fact that some of them may also be working from home, it’s a given that they try to complete such projects on their own. While this approach can save you a lot of time and money, it does require that you’re patient and know exactly what you’re doing.

There is a lot of time consuming work that goes into an interior design project, including:

Shopping for interesting and inexpensive design components.

Considering various materials and design options.

Monitoring delays and problems with vendors.

Putting everything together.

And if you thought that was it, then you are very wrong. In fact, after you decide on everything you need to buy, you’re also going to need to put it all together in a stylish and cohesive fashion. If you want to save time and take a great weight off your shoulders, then go ahead and hire a professional to help you out at this point. Don’t go for the first one, but make sure that you interview several designers in order to find the one whose personality, working style and aesthetic will suit you best.

Building codes and remodeling permits

Based on the extent of the work, you’ll need to acquire the right permits of any actual construction or remodeling is going to be done. From visiting the right office, to filing out the paperwork and making sure that it’s delivered fast so that work can begin as soon as possible, the interior designer needs to handle everything that can speed up the project.

It’s very important though that you only consider hiring professionals who obtain permits, since the work is going to greatly add to your home’s resale value. On top of that, possible buyers are also going to want to see the permits before they commit to a purchase.

At the end of the day, regardless if you decide to tackle this project on your own or maybe hire a professional, you should take a final decision based on your budget and the amount of work you’re ready to personally consider.