We’ve all seen the HGTV shows, designers come in with a vision and throw the family and the viewer into a whirlwind of colors, ideas, and baskets. They don’t seem to talk to or check in with their client. They make all the design decisions, go shopping, and come back when the construction is done. They’re just there to choose the colors and decorate the space afterward. That’s how all interior designers are, right? Wrong!
Interior designers are much more than color matchers and room-facelifters. HGTV and celebrity designers are only showing a small part of what designers actually do. In this article, we’ll review 3 of the most common misconceptions about designers and what they actually do.
Misconception 1: Designers make all the decisions.
One reason people may be hesitant to work with a designer is because they’re afraid they won’t have a space that is theirs at the end of the process. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Hiring a GOOD designer means they work and communicate with you before and during the design process. Designers shouldn’t be designing for their portfolios, they should be designing for their clients! This means listening to concerns, prioritizing the client’s taste, and providing curated options for the client to best choose what fits their space. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the designer will be getting client input on everything from outlet covers to trim profiles. But it does mean that the designer will recommend choices based on their experience as well as what the client is looking for.
Misconception 2: Designers aren’t involved in construction.
Just because the design process is done doesn’t mean the designer isn’t still involved! When trades are working to install material, it is good to have the designer on site to make sure the backsplash starts in the correct place, countertops are cut in the correct design, and any imperfections that are seen are solved quickly & efficiently. Even though you may not have your designer as the contact person after a construction contract is signed, doesn’t mean they aren’t still involved and have an interest in your project going forward.
Misconception 3: Designers just make the space “pretty”.
Sometimes people may be hesitant to work with a designer due to the idea that a designer isn’t there to do anything other than stage the space for pictures. While a well trained designer will keep the aesthetics of the space in mind, this is not their sole purpose. Designers are problem solvers. They take concerns, worries, and difficult spaces to transform them into a space that is functional, serves it’s purpose, AND is nice to look at. Need more storage? Talk to your designer. Want to change the layout of your space? Talk to your designer. Want to move appliances to another location? Talk to your designer!
Working with a designer helps give you peace of mind that not only will your space look great at the end, but that your space utilizes function, AND that your space is what you were dreaming of.
