Why use an Interior Designer?

Ten Reasons to Work with a Designer
*excerpts from American Homestyle.

1. Interior Design, or decorating, looks easy - until you try it yourself. Your little weekend project stretches on for months. You realize you can't return that sofa that looked so perfect on the showroom floor. And as a whole, things are just not going as well as planned.

2. The ability to solve problems. Whether you're plagued by lack of storage, a featureless room or poor traffic flow, a designer is an expert in understanding color, scale, light and space.

3. The expertise to prevent costly mistakes. Most people remodel or redesign once or twice in their lifetime. An experienced designer will ensure you journey down a smooth and well traveled path.

4. Access to a much wider range of resources. The world of interior design is limitless with your designer at your side. "Trade only" is no longer a closed door.

5. Contacts. Any design is only as good as its execution. Designers know and work with the best workrooms and trades-people. Their connections and clout make sure the job is top-notch.

6. Guidance. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of design is selecting from the multitude of choices available. A designer knows the sources and can help edit down the options and offer seasoned advice to steer you through the process.

7. Better quality and longer-lasting style. Timeless designs and well manufactured furnishings coupled with keen insight equals a longevity that an interior designer can help you achieve.

8. Help set priorities. A designer will give you advice on how best to spend your money now - and plan for future phases of the design process.

8. Arbitration with your significant other. A designer can be the third party with out vested interest and help ease through disagreements.

9. An advocate. Designers work with trades-people, showrooms and manufacturers on a regular basis and have more leverage to get things repaired or replaced when needed.

10. The ability to get the job done. How often have you just not been able to get the job completely done? It is the designer's job to follow through with every aspect of the process and see that each detail and every element is complete and to your satisfaction.

image from Molaia Design.

I found this article and decided to post it because I really like how it explains how designers can help their clients and make their lives easier. I think it is especially important these days to be able to let people know the value of interior designers and how they can get things done right the first time, especially in this economy when people are into DIY and saving money. I may come up with my own reasons and include them in my FAQ section of my website for my interior design business.