Can hiring an interior designer work within your budget?
When we started The Nordic Design Company, it was our dream to offer clean beautiful design for the average family. We truly believe that your home is such an important part of your life. It should be beautiful and functional. Here are our thoughts on hiring an interior designer on a budget.
Design is not just aesthetics but should also make your life easier. Take for example your closet. It is often a neglected area, but so important. Do you have a good organizational system? Can you see everything that you use? An organized closet makes getting ready easier and faster. The same goes for your home!
Imagine having adequate storage in your kitchen, with a place for every item. Similarly, your furniture should work for how you live and enhance your home. Too often people hold on to furniture that does not really serve a great purpose rather than replacing it with something functional and pretty.
Hiring a designer on a budget
Hiring and interior designer is the first step to updating and organizing your space. When hiring an interior designer on a budget, you need to think about what you can spend and keep to that budget. There are ways to make any home design project more affordable.
Be clear in communicating your budget
Since you are hiring an interior designer on a budget, it is wise to be open and honest about what you can spend. Often bathrooms and kitchens will reveal some surprises, so keep at least 10% for unforeseen expenses. We are very sensitive to clients’ budget and like finding ways to make their particular budget work within the space. We also like to offer up front pricing so that customers know what our design services will cost.
Be open minded
Finally, being flexible will allow your designer to look for affordable solutions. Interior designers can offer lots of affordable interior design ideas. Often clients have a particular item in mind. There may be other ways of achieving that look without that particular item. We can get you the look you want and make sure your space is pretty and functional.
Be decisive
Once you and your designer have agreed on a design plan changes can be costly. If you order something that no longer is needed it may cost a lot to ship back (or even worse, not be returnable). Also, if you decide to change layout in bathroom and kitchens, you will need the plumber to come back out.
Consider if there is something you can do yourself
Sometimes the space need some good old elbow grease. You may want to paint the space yourself. Hiring a painter is great and saves a lot of time, but if you are handy and don’t mind the work this can save you hundreds. Just make sure you do a thorough job, prepping and taping is so important. Your designer can help you select the paint shade and finish. If you are not used to painting find a friend or family member that is! Sloppy paint jobs are …….not good.
Ask your designer about trade pricing
Designers often get discounted prices at furniture stores. How they are applied all varies. Some designers keep the discount, some pass on some of the savings to their customers. The percentage discount varies between stores, but most offer at least something. Wait with purchasing any items until you have spoken to your designer.
We hope that these ideas for how to keep a design project on budget are helpful and that you can see the benefit of working with an interior designer. Our initial consultations are free and most room designs cost between $500 and $1500, depending on the scope of the project.
The Nordic Design Company offers affordable interior design in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. For more affordable interior design ideas, follow us on Instagram and Facebook and feel free to give us a call to discuss your design goals at 954-873-0680.