When to hire a design pro?

I love a DIY home project as much as the next person - I mean, we basically have DIY’d every improvement in our home, but sometimes you hit a point where you may need to consider hiring a design pro to help you out. In no particular order, here are six signs it might be time to hire someone:

1) You don’t have the time

Designing a complete overhaul of a space takes time - it just does. Don’t believe me? Think about how long it takes you to pick out a sofa or a paint color - then multiply how long it took by how many decisions you need to make…. shocked yet? Designers make decisions like this every day, and most likely, they can make those decisions faster than you will be able to. Besides, how long have you been saying, “we will get to that space eventually - just haven’t had the time to do it yet.” It’s okay to make an investment in your home, and if you find that time is the reason you haven’t gotten to it yet, hire a designer to help. Having a space you love will be worth it - trust me!

2) It’s causing lots of stress (or you hate doing it)

I love window shopping for home décor, furniture, tile, flooring, lighting, etc. - it’s so fun to me to dream up all the ways I could redo different spaces. Honestly, I shop for home décor like other people shop for clothes or makeup. When my husband and I first got married, he was active duty military and traveled a lot. We had a joke that I would redecorate every time he left on a trip. If you find the idea of shopping for a new sofa, or picking out a paint color to be something you dread - hire someone to help! We hire someone to cut our grass - not because we aren’t capable, but because we hate doing it and it’s worth the money to have that time back in our lives. Just because you could do it yourself, doesn’t mean you have to - especially if you hate it. In addition, if you are finding that home renovation projects are causing stress in your relationship, hire someone. Designers are trained to find the best solution to the problem. Don’t let a kitchen renovation or bathroom update cause issues in your marriage because you can’t agree on a solution. A designer may have an idea that neither of you have considered yet.

3) You feel completely overwhelmed/don’t know where to begin

Home renovations can be very overwhelming and sometimes you either don’t know where to start or you have decision paralysis. In most cases, you can hire a designer for a consultation to grab some ideas/pick their brain and then take the project on from there. If you just feel constantly overwhelmed throughout the project, hire a designer so you aren’t adding stress to your life. You will enjoy the final product more if you aren’t constantly second guessing whether you made the right choice or remembering how stressful the entire project was.

4) You don’t know where to find what you’re looking for or who to hire

Maybe you know exactly what you want the space to look like, but have no idea where to find the pieces you’re dreaming of or who to hire to make sure the work is done correctly. Designers have connections in the industry that the general public usually doesn’t have and they work with other professionals on a daily basis. We know where to shop and who to work with - and probably have resources that aren’t even available for you to use.

5) You can’t visualize everything together

Not everyone has an eye for design. It’s okay - we all have our gifts, and that may not be yours. You may love how a space looks/feels but have no idea how to replicate it in your home. Maybe you have a sofa you love but don’t know which rug to get that will work with that and your floors. Instead of guessing and crossing your fingers that it will work - hire a designer. It will save you time, money, and energy and you will be so much happier with the end result. I love gardens and gardening, but I really struggle with visualizing how all the different plants will work together, their spacing, etc, which is why I am hiring a landscape designer to tell me what to plant to maximize curb appeal in the climate I’m in. I’m willing to do the work, but I need some guidance and paying someone for that service will save me time and money in the long run.

6) You have a tight budget

This one seems counterintuitive because of the added design fees, but hear me out. If you have ever bought a piece of furniture or appliance that doesn’t fit or painted your walls and immediately hated it, you may understand. In these cases, you either have to live with the wrong choice, pay to fix it, or hope that you can return it (not possible with paint just FYI). It’s frustrating but it’s happened to all of us. Good designers are detailed orientated and know to check for these things before spending any money so they rarely make these mistakes (and when they do, good designers fix them for you). In addition, good designers know the best way to invest your money so that your budget goes further than you anticipated.

Full service interior design (where we make every decision for you from beginning to end) is definitely a luxury service and while it is worth every penny, it is out of reach for many - I get that. But, there are other options that still allow you to get professional advice at a lower price point. Look into paid consultation services or e-design services that your favorite interior designer may offer. The more experienced your designer is, the higher the price tag but I promise that having a home you love spending time in is worth the investment. You deserve it!