Eight key benefits of hiring an interior designer

It's an investment in your happiness and adds value to your home (your most expensive asset)

There’s both an art and a science to interior design―a deliberate and unique bringing together of diverse elements to create functional and beautiful spaces for people to enjoy.

As a client you have the benefit of tapping into the creativity, discipline, skill and experience of your designer, whose job is to lift interiors from the ordinary to something extraordinary.

A good designer will read your style and elevate it beyond anything you could achieve for yourself. They will also seek to push your boundaries, because it's in the bold and daring that the real magic happens.

So what are the key benefits of hiring an interior designer?

1. Interior designers are formally accredited and qualified

Firstly, all that art, science and magic doesn’t happen by accident.

An interior designer must have a formal qualification―including years of study and either a degree or diploma in interior design―to develop the knowledge, skills and technical expertise to build or renovate your home.

It’s also important that your interior designer has a recognised professional accreditation, such as with the Design Institute of Australia, and appropriate professional and public indemnities.

After all, your home is your most valuable asset and if someone is going to substantially alter it, you’ll only want a qualified professional.

2. Interior designers have a range of skills and expertise

While the creative skills are what makes interior design shine, your designer must have a range of technical skills to envision, plan, communicate and build a design. This includes:

• understanding relevant legislation, regulations, standards and guidelines for building and renovation

• knowledge of construction methods and experience of the building steps and process

• project management skills to plan and coordinate a range of trades and suppliers, and effectively manage project budgets, quality and timelines

• knowledge of the history and theory of design, as well as colour theory, lighting, anthropometrics, ergonomics, sustainable design, energy efficiency, materials and finishes, furniture and cabinet construction, and

• familiarity with a huge range of products and suppliers to ensure your project is finished to the highest quality for your budget.

3. Interior designers create technical drawings and specifications

Interior designers must be skilled in hand-drawn sketches, design programs and tools necessary to create renders and prepare technical drawings to communicate the final product to both clients and tradespeople.

Technical drafting is an essential element of interior design and includes floor plans, elevations and detail drawings, as well as specifications for furniture, finishes and equipment.

Your designer will nail the design, but they will also work closely with tradespeople to ensure the design is being constructed as detailed in the technical documents, down to the very last nail.

4. Interior designers work with trusted professionals and trades

Interior designers work with a range of professionals, such as architects and draftspeople, as well as a diverse range of trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians and tilers to name a few.

They usually work with people they know and trust to deliver the best outcome for your project, having built up a relationship with them over many projects.

This means you don’t have the risk of picking a random builder or other trade, but it also means the designer’s relationships can help resolve any issues or problems quickly and cost-effectively.

5. Interior designers will manage your budget and save money

Once you agree a realistic budget for the work you want done, an interior designer will research and prepare a design to meet your budget. They will then proactively manage the budget for you―saving you time, money and effort.

Interior designers know where to save money in a build or renovation, and where to splurge―plus their focus on designing and planning every detail in advance minimises costly pitfalls and mistakes that inexperienced renovators are just not aware of.

You will also benefit from wholesaler, supplier and trade discounts that are often exclusive to interior designers. That means you’re not only getting designer goods at a discounted price, but the savings can also largely offset the designer’s fees for the project.

6. Interior designers take the pain out of building and renovating

Everyone knows building and renovating can be stressful.

Many people hire interior designers because they don’t want the pain of project managing a build or renovation, with all the time, organising, planning, quoting, specifying, purchasing, paperwork, coordination, logistics and stress it entails.

A designer will do all the research and running around for you to keep your project on track. They will keep you updated of progress during the project, identify potential problems and resolve issues as they arise to make the process as stress-free and easy for you as possible. Then you can just sit back and enjoy the finished product.

7. Interior designers make decision-making easy

Many people find the thousands of detailed decisions that go into interior design overwhelming, leaving them anxious and unsure about what choices to make and how to make them.

For example, is the tone right? Do the colours match? What materials are best? The flow of the living space is a problem. Extra storage is necessary. The home lacks functionality. The floor plan’s a disaster. Can I remove that wall? The list is endless.

Understandably, no one wants to make costly mistakes. There are hundreds of detailed decisions that go into making a successful design and engaging a professional interior designer will take the guesswork and worry out of the process and give you confidence in the outcome.

An interior designer has the skills and training to improve the functionality of your home by making structural, not just cosmetic changes.

They will guide and advise you along the way, helping to make decisions and choices easier for you. They will listen to your concerns about the space, but also to your vision for the end-product and translate that into something that is both functional and beautiful, that matches your needs.

8. Interior designers will deliver a beautiful end-product

Having an interior designer design your space is the same as having a hairdresser do your hair―while you can do it on your own, the professional will always do a better job than you can, because they have the skills and training to deliver a better outcome.

Many people can pick a paint colour and choose furniture, but an interior designer will ensure every tiny detail in your space is considered, cohesive and expertly composed.

You see, it all comes back to the art and science of design―but ultimately it’s the artistry that delivers the wow factor.