The Pros and Cons of Consulting an Interior Designer Before You Buy Furniture
A professional interior decorator, or even designer, is someone you can hire to help you decorate and organize a room to make it more attractive, functional and up-to-date. These d©cor professionals can do everything from a simple consultation to a full home overhaul. But, is it worth it?
Keep reading to learn the benefits and disadvantages of hiring or consulting a professional before you buy furniture.
Benefit - Discounted Prices
Because interior decorators have extensive contacts, they can often purchase furniture pieces at wholesale or trade prices. Consequently, you can routinely pick up beautiful, designer items for less money than you would ordinarily pay.
Drawback - Mark-ups and Consultation Fees
Interior design or d©cor professionals don't work for free. What you may save on wholesale furniture prices is probably going to cost you in consultation fees.
Benefit - Expertise and Professional Consultation
If you're not a design expert or even if you simply don't have the time to deal with home decorating, hiring a professional to take care of those decisions could be a wise investment. If your time is valuable, delegating furniture purchasing to someone else could even save you money.
Drawback - Lack of Personal Input
While most design professionals actively seek input and guidance from their clients, you're still surrendering some control over your space and furniture buying decisions. If you're the kind of person who likes to be intimately involved in your home, consulting a professional might not be right for you.
Benefit - Tracking Down Discounts
Because interior decorators work in the field every day, they have a great knowledge base about tracking down hot furniture deals, where the good sales are and how to locate quality products at discounted prices.
Benefit - Making you Stick to Your Budget
One of the best benefits of working with an interior design professional before you buy furniture is that they make you stick to a budget. Let's say you set out with a personal budget of $4000 to refurnish your living room. If you hire a professional consultant for $500 and give her $3500 to work with, you're more likely to come in on budget than if you go out on your own.
Why? Because once you're shopping, you're more likely to authorize extra purchases, pull out that second credit card or indulge in items that you don't need. A professional can rein in those impulses.
In short, whether consulting a professional before you buy furniture is worth it is going to depend on you and understanding your purchasing and designing style.
Keep reading to learn the benefits and disadvantages of hiring or consulting a professional before you buy furniture.
Benefit - Discounted Prices
Because interior decorators have extensive contacts, they can often purchase furniture pieces at wholesale or trade prices. Consequently, you can routinely pick up beautiful, designer items for less money than you would ordinarily pay.
Drawback - Mark-ups and Consultation Fees
Interior design or d©cor professionals don't work for free. What you may save on wholesale furniture prices is probably going to cost you in consultation fees.
Benefit - Expertise and Professional Consultation
If you're not a design expert or even if you simply don't have the time to deal with home decorating, hiring a professional to take care of those decisions could be a wise investment. If your time is valuable, delegating furniture purchasing to someone else could even save you money.
Drawback - Lack of Personal Input
While most design professionals actively seek input and guidance from their clients, you're still surrendering some control over your space and furniture buying decisions. If you're the kind of person who likes to be intimately involved in your home, consulting a professional might not be right for you.
Benefit - Tracking Down Discounts
Because interior decorators work in the field every day, they have a great knowledge base about tracking down hot furniture deals, where the good sales are and how to locate quality products at discounted prices.
Benefit - Making you Stick to Your Budget
One of the best benefits of working with an interior design professional before you buy furniture is that they make you stick to a budget. Let's say you set out with a personal budget of $4000 to refurnish your living room. If you hire a professional consultant for $500 and give her $3500 to work with, you're more likely to come in on budget than if you go out on your own.
Why? Because once you're shopping, you're more likely to authorize extra purchases, pull out that second credit card or indulge in items that you don't need. A professional can rein in those impulses.
In short, whether consulting a professional before you buy furniture is worth it is going to depend on you and understanding your purchasing and designing style.