Should You Decorate Your Own Home or Hire an Interior Designer?
Learn the advantages and disadvantages of decorating alone and bringing in skilled help
Fred Albert
10 May 2018
Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites and magazines, including Houzz, Metropolitan Home, House Beautiful and Style 1900.
Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites... More
Once you’ve figured out what you want your home to look like, the big question is: Should you decorate it yourself or hire a professional? Or both?
Interior decorators and designers as we know them today barely existed before the 20th century. Before that it was taken for granted that you decorated your home yourself, unless you were Marie Antoinette or somebody with a similar pedigree.
Old habits die hard. Some people still think you need to live in a palace to hire a decorator, or are fearful of the cost (whether real or perceived). For others it’s not so much a question of money, but of ceding control and having the concern that the results might not reflect their tastes. Some dive into the collaborative process without hesitation, while others have confidence in their tastes and skill and prefer to decorate their homes themselves.
Which camp do you fall into? Here are some things to think about to help you decide.
Interior decorators and designers as we know them today barely existed before the 20th century. Before that it was taken for granted that you decorated your home yourself, unless you were Marie Antoinette or somebody with a similar pedigree.
Old habits die hard. Some people still think you need to live in a palace to hire a decorator, or are fearful of the cost (whether real or perceived). For others it’s not so much a question of money, but of ceding control and having the concern that the results might not reflect their tastes. Some dive into the collaborative process without hesitation, while others have confidence in their tastes and skill and prefer to decorate their homes themselves.
Which camp do you fall into? Here are some things to think about to help you decide.
Advantages of decorating your home yourself
Obviously, decorating your home yourself means you won’t have to pay someone else to do it. The results will truly reflect your personal taste, and you’ll be able to take full credit for them. If you’ve gone through the process before and were pleased with the results, there’s no reason not to do it again.
Obviously, decorating your home yourself means you won’t have to pay someone else to do it. The results will truly reflect your personal taste, and you’ll be able to take full credit for them. If you’ve gone through the process before and were pleased with the results, there’s no reason not to do it again.
Whether the DIY route will work for you will depend on your strengths. “If you know what you like and you know what makes you tick, you’ll love everything you choose,” says interior designer Alana Homesley of Woodland Hills. You can also do the project in stages, as funds allow, and you won’t face the challenge of trying to convey your likes and dislikes to a stranger.
Disadvantages of decorating your home yourself
You could mess up. And you’ll either need to live with that error for years to come or pay a large sum of money to make it go away.
“Do you have the ability to visualise? Are you a creative type? If you’re not, then you need some help,” says Homesley, “because it is expensive, and you don’t want to make any mistakes.”
Check out these decor mistakes you should avoid
You could mess up. And you’ll either need to live with that error for years to come or pay a large sum of money to make it go away.
“Do you have the ability to visualise? Are you a creative type? If you’re not, then you need some help,” says Homesley, “because it is expensive, and you don’t want to make any mistakes.”
Check out these decor mistakes you should avoid
The DIY route won’t necessarily save you money. Decorating can be a time-consuming proposition with a steep learning curve and a huge number of decisions that need to be made. What’s your time worth? Will that outlay of time justify the fees you’ll be saving? If you make a mistake and something has to be redone, will you forfeit your savings?
Advantages of hiring an interior designer
Hiring an interior designer will give you access to a large selection of to-the-trade-only furnishings, fabrics and wall coverings that otherwise you’d probably never see, and the services of workrooms and tradespeople that the designer has cultivated relationships with over the years. You can potentially end up with a beautiful home tailored to your tastes and lifestyle, and furnished with pieces chosen by an expert for their beauty, quality and durability.
Learn all about interior designing
Hiring an interior designer will give you access to a large selection of to-the-trade-only furnishings, fabrics and wall coverings that otherwise you’d probably never see, and the services of workrooms and tradespeople that the designer has cultivated relationships with over the years. You can potentially end up with a beautiful home tailored to your tastes and lifestyle, and furnished with pieces chosen by an expert for their beauty, quality and durability.
Learn all about interior designing
“If you have the budget, that’s the way you should go, because you’re going to have something custom to you,” says Homesley.
“Having someone who can affirm your decisions is really positive,” says designer Amy Luff of Viva Luxe Studios. “Designers can save you money. And they can save you from repaying for something.”
“Having someone who can affirm your decisions is really positive,” says designer Amy Luff of Viva Luxe Studios. “Designers can save you money. And they can save you from repaying for something.”
Disadvantages of hiring an interior designer
Working with an interior designer can be costly. It’s also a very intimate process. You will be sharing a lot of details of your life with another person. You might end up working together for months – maybe even years. Invest some time into finding the right fit.
Just because someone was on a magazine cover, Luff observes, doesn’t mean he or she will be the right fit for your home. So it’s extremely important that you like and trust your designer, and most of all, communicate well with him or her. Be clear about your budget up front, with no apologies and no excuses. Don’t hire someone accustomed to high budgets and expect her to shop at budget stores for you. Conversely, don’t expect a lower-budget beginner to deliver results like a top level pro.
Working with an interior designer can be costly. It’s also a very intimate process. You will be sharing a lot of details of your life with another person. You might end up working together for months – maybe even years. Invest some time into finding the right fit.
Just because someone was on a magazine cover, Luff observes, doesn’t mean he or she will be the right fit for your home. So it’s extremely important that you like and trust your designer, and most of all, communicate well with him or her. Be clear about your budget up front, with no apologies and no excuses. Don’t hire someone accustomed to high budgets and expect her to shop at budget stores for you. Conversely, don’t expect a lower-budget beginner to deliver results like a top level pro.
There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with decorating your home yourself that you might not feel if you pay someone to do the work for you. A good designer will involve you in the process, however, and make you feel like you played a major role in the outcome.
Take a look at these myths related to hiring an expert
Take a look at these myths related to hiring an expert
Working With a pro and doing it yourself
If you like the idea of working with a decorator or an interior designer, but not the cost or loss of participation, there are alternative working arrangements you could consider.
1. Hire a decorator by the hour to help you plan the layout and the furniture, fabric and colour selections, then execute the plan yourself. Not all designers are willing to accept small assignments like this, but some will welcome it.
2. Design the project yourself but hire a pro on an hourly basis to hold your hand through the selection process, or to offer a verdict on items you’re considering.
If you like the idea of working with a decorator or an interior designer, but not the cost or loss of participation, there are alternative working arrangements you could consider.
1. Hire a decorator by the hour to help you plan the layout and the furniture, fabric and colour selections, then execute the plan yourself. Not all designers are willing to accept small assignments like this, but some will welcome it.
2. Design the project yourself but hire a pro on an hourly basis to hold your hand through the selection process, or to offer a verdict on items you’re considering.
3. Work with a virtual designer. A growing number of designers have hung their shingles on the internet. You send them photos or a floor plan of your home, and they provide consultations for a fee, without ever meeting you (or your home) in person.
4. If there’s a furniture store you really like, see if it offers free interior decorating services. Some stores will work with you on your project without charge, although you will need to acquire the furniture from that store. “If you really like that store’s stuff, it’s a good way to go,” says Homesley.
Read more:
A Step-By-Step Guide to Decorating Your Home
Tell us:
How have you decorated your home – yourself or did you hire a professional? Tell us about your experiences in the Comments below.
4. If there’s a furniture store you really like, see if it offers free interior decorating services. Some stores will work with you on your project without charge, although you will need to acquire the furniture from that store. “If you really like that store’s stuff, it’s a good way to go,” says Homesley.
Read more:
A Step-By-Step Guide to Decorating Your Home
Tell us:
How have you decorated your home – yourself or did you hire a professional? Tell us about your experiences in the Comments below.
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If you are on a budget for a big job, like remodel of a room, hiring a designer will save you time and money and will get you a great looking room.
Retired, moved out of state and are building a house. Our new kitchen/open concept great room has white kitchen cabinets with a mahogany type stained island. The fireplace (and window trim) is white. We did not add built-ins, but want to buy two pieces of furniture for each side of the fireplace. Our family room furniture tables are mahogany type. Should be continue with mahogany type console and media center next to fireplace or would white pieces of furniture look OK?
Nice