Home & Garden
How Rich Do You Have to Be to Hire an Interior Decorator?
Good news for the decorating challenged: Anyone can afford some home style help. [SPONSORED]
So you’ve read dozens of design magazines and recorded an embarrassing number of shows on HGTV, yet you still struggle with how to decorate your own living room? You’re not alone.
Creating the ideal space isn’t something that comes easy to every homeowner. From organizing tricks to eye-catching accent walls, it takes a bit of design know-how — not to mention time and energy — to turn a room into a space that’s attractive yet efficient.
On average, homeowners spend between $1,839 and $8,842 on home decorating and home designing services. That may sound like a lot, but there are ways you can keep costs low and come in closer to $500 — so long as you know what you’re doing.
Designers vs. Decorators
First, there’s a big difference between interior designers and interior decorators. Hire the wrong one and you could be disappointed with results and the amount of money you end up spending. Here are your options:
Decorators specialize in color schemes; fabric choices; and creating a cohesive, magazine-worthy look. So if you’re planning to paint, upgrade your flooring or reface your cabinets and want to be sure you’re making choices that will come together flawlessly, a decorator is the way to go.
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Interior designers, also called room planners, focus on features like acoustics, lighting and temperature. If you’re rethinking an outdoor space and don’t know where to move the rose garden, a landscape designer is your best bet. Similarly, if you’re eager to swap the position of your kitchen windows to get more light, or you want to up the fung shui in your living room, you’ll need an interior designer.
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Once you’ve decided which home professional best suits your needs, use these five tips to ensure you get the results you want while keeping things affordable:
1. Set your budget – and don’t budge
The beauty of handing off an entire project to a professional can quickly fade if you haven’t set budget boundaries. Start by doing your research and comparing prices of local designers and decorators. Then reach out to see how they’d estimate a project based on your vision.
Next, get to prioritizing. If the biggest issue you have with your kitchen is all the old appliances, you should allot a big chunk of your budget to purchasing new ones. Likewise, furnishings, flooring and lighting fixtures all have hefty price tags. Set a budget for each costly category so your designer has a guideline when they are shopping and you don’t end up with an unexpected bill.
2. Prioritize proper paperwork
The proper paperwork can prevent a lot of headaches when it comes to hiring an interior designer or decorator. Many professionals have documentation of previous work they’ve done, along with their qualifications — so ask to see it! You’ll not only get an idea of their style, but also confirmation that they’ve completed jobs in the past and have been hired more than once.
Next, request a contract or letter of agreement that articulates your budget, timeline and expectations. Once all parties sign on the dotted line, you’ll be much more protected throughout the project.
3. Beware of “free” services
What could possibly be bad about something listed as “free” in your contract? A lot. Manufacturer's representatives can sometimes double as decorators and designers who want to push certain products. While they may offer complimentary services, they can have you paying more in the long run by sticking to pricy products that serve them, not you.
4. Investigate prices on your own
As your decorator begins making recommendations on retail products, it’s wise to double check the prices they are quoting against those you can find on your own. If you’re hearing prices that are higher than they should be, be honest and let them know.
5. Don’t be duped by a flat-fee designer
Flat-fee decorators may sound like the most cost-savvy solution, but agreeing to pay a flat rate can get risky. First, you’re locking yourself into paying an entire sum of money no matter the outcome. Yikes. Also, agreeing to pay a flat rate makes you more susceptible to scams with additional fees. Whether it’s samples or swatches, some flat-fee designers charge extra for things on top of the price you’re already paying.
A per-hour arrangement, on the other hand, can have major perks. Hiring a designer by the hour allows you bow out if things aren’t going as expected. It’ll also give you more control when it comes to prioritizing how you want your designer to spend their time on the job.
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Photo credit: Pozytywnewnetrza via Pixabay
