Hiring an interior designer to manage your move, renovation, addition, or refresh requires some careful decision-making. Unless you've worked with a design firm before, the industry can feel quite opaque, and knowing where to begin can quickly lead to overwhelm.
Should you bring on a designer at the beginning of an in-depth project, or at the end? How should you approach a designer, and what information will they need to know? And if you're only redecorating one room, will the investment really be worth it? The uncertainty alone may steer you away from embarking on a designer collaboration.
Interior designer Sandra Funk knows the design industry like the back of her hand, and is here to share a bit more about making this important decision. Sandra is the CEO and creative director of House of Funk, a design firm based in Tennessee that offers in-person and online services. She also runs The Interior Design Standard, a training program for interior designers looking to kickstart their business.
To hear more about when designers are worth the investment, when in the process they're able to help the most, and how to work with an interior designer in the first place, H&G sat down with Sandra. Here, she shares all you need to know about bringing on the experts for a reno or remodel right at home.
What are the benefits of working with a designer?
Much more than a good eye goes into a successful home renovation or revamp. Even if you know what you like, and have a sense for the items and finishes that tend to go well together, much of the practical knowledge behind interior design only comes with time and experience. That's where the experts, from interior designers to contractors and architects, step in.
With designers in particular, you're not only paying for project management – you're also paying for a smooth, relatively stress-free process from start to finish.
'Interior designers offer their expertise, says Sandra. 'One of the main things you’re getting when you hire a designer is someone whose focus is entirely and completely on making homes functional and beautiful.'
'The real value is that they’ve done this many, many times. They may have studied design and/or they have innate skills. An interior designer will execute a project professionally, with intention, and far more efficiently and error-free than someone doing it for the first time without training, without a natural affinity, and without all the experience,' she continues.
It can be difficult to give up complete control of your home – it's where you and your family spend much of your time, after all. But hiring an interior designer doesn't mean forfeiting every aesthetic decision. Instead, you'll have the opportunity to share your creative ideas with an expert who knows how to tackle the technical ins and outs of a renovation – priceless knowledge that's hard to come by.
'They’re not going to come into the room and say, "Yeah, let’s paint it blue, and I think the sofa over there, and we’ll add some lamps…" says Sandra. 'They’re going to take all the dimensions, look at the design from the floorplan perspective, do elevations, layer in lighting, think about scale and how the space will be used. Again, it goes back to them having years and years of experience, of what worked and what didn’t.'
Working with a designer also gives you (and your home) access to a wealth of resources that are largely invisible when taking on a project by yourself. Sandra shares that designers come with 'a huge entrée into the world of "to the Trade only" goods, custom goods and vendors and trades.'
'You’re not just hiring the interior designer, you’re hiring their network and their team,' she says. 'The designer has already worked with and tried out all the painters, window treatment installers, cabinet makers, handymen, carpet installers, wallpaper installers and electricians. We bring our vetted team to your project, we know we work well together and they speak our language. This is worth its weight in gold.'
No matter the type of project you're taking on, your interior design style, or your projected timeline, Sandra says there's a designer out there for you. The pros might help you shape your vision, making it more realistic and achievable for all, but they'll be there to hold your hand through each step of the process.
'I believe in abundance,' says Sandra. 'I believe that there’s a designer out there for every client. There’s a designer that is just getting started and would love to take on a smaller scope to build their portfolio and their network. Then, there are projects that are large, detailed and nuanced, and there’s a designer out there for that project as well. It’s not about what is a good project, but it’s about finding the right designer to fit your project.'
When to tackle a design project yourself
Hiring an interior designer isn't always necessary, though, and it's important to think carefully about making the investment before jumping in. Sandra shares that there are a few criteria that make a collaboration a bit more difficult: 'I would advise against hiring a designer if you have an innate talent, if you want to select each and every item for yourself and/or if you know exactly what you want. In this case, a designer would be redundant.'
Sometimes, though, meeting with a designer (or several) can help you make this decision. Interior designers are in a position to explain what you might need assistance with and how. Whether you need help with planning everything out, or styling at the very end, chances are there's a designer who's right on the same page and ready to help.
'Now, you might go to a designer and say, "I have the vision, I have the ideas and I need your help with execution." It’s a conversation that needs to happen early on. Each client and each designer is unique. You may need to speak to a few before you find the one that fits with you,' Sandra continues'
At what point in a project should you hire a designer?
Even if you've decided you'd like to work with an interior designer and their firm, it can be quite difficult to judge when to start the collaboration. Should you have a solid design scheme planned out before reaching out? Should you wait to compile any ideas before they're on board? Or should you start the process, and invite an expert in to clean up the loose ends? For Sandra, the answer to these questions is simple – she suggests getting a designer in the mix 'as soon as possible.'
'As soon as you know that you are going to be doing a project involving a move, a build, a renovation, furnishing, staging, or whatever it is, the earlier the better,' she says. 'Get that designer involved and have them help you build out the team. Work with your designer as a partner in everything that you do related to building out the team (architect, builder, landscape architect, etc,) furnishing, and making your house a home.'
Sandra continues: 'I haven’t met a project yet where I felt I was brought in too early. I’ve even been brought in while the couple was apartment hunting in Manhattan because they were looking at feasibility: "Hey, do you think we can make this pretty? Do you think we can lighten and brighten this? Do you think we can get two kids in this bedroom?" There is no "too early" in my book.'
It's easy to assume that when you've already hired a contractor, an architect, or both, that your home is well on its way to design success. But an interior designer plays a key role in this process, and shouldn't always be left for the finishing touches.
Sandra says that once you've hired a contractor and architect to execute a renovation, it's 'the perfect time' to bring on an interior designer. 'The dream team is the builder, architect and interior designer all the way back from the very, very beginning of the project,' she says.
'You need someone on your team who’s not thinking about the structure or the HVAC or the building codes, but is thinking about daily life; how will this home be used, how will this home feel, what will this home bring to the family that lives there, what is the vibe that we’re going to create?' she says. 'What are the emotions that we want to feel as we move through this home, as we move through a space and then, of course, how it’s going to function?'
Instead of thinking about the structural integrity of the home (an incredibly important consideration, of course), designers will look at day-to-day practicality. 'It's the designer's job to walk inside and think, "Where will they put down their purse? Where are they setting their coffee? How close am I to the kitchen to drop off groceries?" says Sandra.
Is the collaboration worth the investment?
'I always think the cost of hiring a professional is worth it,' says Sandra. 'Designing your home is an expensive endeavor and it's even more expensive if you make mistakes.'
The last thing you'll want at the end of a long and costly renovation is a space that doesn't make sense for your family. If you've already made the choice to renovate or remodel, go all in and bet on the beauty of your space. 'It’s worth doing it right if it’s going to be done at all,' Sandra adds.
Sandra shares a story from her childhood that illustrates the importance of planning – and of hiring experts to help you do so. When she was young, her parents decided to add a main suite addition to her childhood home, but didn't bring in a designer until the very end of the project.
'When the designer finally came in to furnish the space, the architect hadn’t left a wall large enough for bed and nightstands,' she says. 'It was hallway, closet, closet, window, window, window (with water views), fireplace. My parents ended up with their bed blocking windows, not facing the waterfront view. Had the designer been brought in earlier, they would have done a furniture layout and advocated for a better layout.'
How can you make the collaboration worth it?
When going in to a significant interior design project, the cost of an interior designer (on top of the costs of everything else) can be alarming. But when you make the most of the experts' services and advice, the investment is well worth it in the end. Sandra shares a few tips for making the most of a collaboration with a designer, no matter how expansive or small your design project is.
'Be clear. Communicate your needs, expectations, wishes, your style, your vision for the space (if any), how you live (formal, laid back, private, always hosting), how you want your home to feel… all of it. Work with the designer to discuss scope, timing, how often you’ll meet, how you’ll communicate, how you’ll find out status updates and what kind of investment the project will require – have these conversations BEFORE you kick off the project,' says Sandra.
'Get on the same page early on and communicate immediately if something changes. Don’t hold back in those early conversations,' she continues.
'It’s also incredibly important for you to communicate your aesthetic desires. If you don’t have the words to express it, go find images – magazines, Pinterest, Instagram – and find a way to get on the same page aesthetically with your designer,' she continues. 'The more that we can communicate upfront and set the expectations and the boundaries for the project the more success you will have.
Communication is key when it comes to home renovations and redesigns, and the final result will feel even more special if you play a role in coordinating and observing the process. Trust the experts, but don't be afraid to give your opinion. It's your home, after all, and you'll be surrounded by the final result every day.
According to Sandra, interior designers are more than worth it if you start collaborating early on, communicate loads, and trust the process. Ask plenty of questions and be open about your needs – designers are here to help you achieve the home of your dreams.
