As we enter the holiday season and inflation looms large in the minds of many folks, I feel it’s important to reflect once again on the purpose of interior design. Interior design as an industry is deeply affected by the economy. When the economy slows, so does the demand for interior designers. That’s not likely a surprise, as many consider the act of hiring an interior designer to be a luxury – especially during a time when it’s already difficult to manage the expense of a project without a designer.
There are a lot of people who hire interior designers with an assumption that they will end up paying more than they would without the input of a designer. On one hand, that may be correct. If you are only looking at price, I guarantee you will find cheaper ways to finish a project on your own minus a designer. I also guarantee that, if you only look at price, you will likely end up paying more in the long run. That’s especially true when you factor in the psychological costs associated with sub-optimal decision making. (For reference, just Google “remodeling and divorce” to see what I mean). Even if you’re looking at slightly more than price, there are a multitude of companies willing to maximize style and minimize quality and durability in order to hit your desired price point. I’m not sure about you, but I have no greater regret than throwing money at something that doesn’t last. I also really dislike feeling stupid for having bought something that falls apart or looks terrible in no time at all.
This principle applies to both product and process of design. I am always surprised how many (very intelligent and good, mind you) people will waste both time and money with faulty project planning. Piecing a large project together without a general contractor sounds like a good idea because on its face that might seem less costly. When you choose not to hire a general contractor, you are choosing to be your own project manager. Being a project manager means understanding all of the construction details necessary in order to execute them in a specific order, by the correct personnel. A lot of folks mistakenly think that the people you hire to do one thing will make sure it fits alongside other work being done (or that needs to be done). That’s impossible when they are not hired for the entire project. They are not going to take on that responsibility for you, and I am confident they would not do it for free.
To use a recent analogy, how would it work if everyone shows up at your house with their own Thanksgiving dish and everyone needs to cook it at the same time in your one oven? What if everyone brings the same dish? What if one of your guests is (surprise) vegan? No no no, this is stuff you plan for if you want it to go well for you and your guests.
In sum, when you haven’t the prerequisite knowledge for putting the process together you will lose efficiency and increase your risk of being responsible financially for all of the delays, extra materials, time and other associated costs for your project. I should also mention the increased risk of losing your mind trying to assemble the pieces once things go awry. No one is going to be clamoring to help clean up these types of messes when they were entirely preventable.
Interior Designers are not general contractors, but for most projects they can be your designer and advocate in working with a general contractor; and in some cases manage your project for you in working with a variety of trades. Even if your project doesn’t require the work of tradespeople, an interior designer can help you optimize the value of your purchase. Interior designers are trained to evaluate the quality of goods and services, and can help you make the best selections for your budget. They can make sure things stay on track for your project while you still get to enjoy your life. They can help you prioritize your purchases in order to get the best value while achieving your desired aesthetic. Some things don’t need to last, some really should. A designer can help you evaluate the pros/cons within an existing design concept – one that you may not realize you already have. This too can increase the value of work being done by requiring less additional work to create a seamless transition to your new space.
Just some food for thought – Happy Holidays and I hope you can enjoy the bounty and blessings of the season.
Sara L. Hinkel, M.S.Ed. 