The Design Addict: Benefits of DIY Interior Design Projects

As soon as you have figured out what your home would look like, the next big question is – should you do-it-yourself or hire an expert? Or is it possible to have the best of both worlds?

Interior design was not a known profession before the 20^th century. Back then, homeowners designed their houses unless they were royalty who had people doing things for them. A lot of people still think that you still need to be a palace dweller in order to hire a designer. Others are simply afraid of the cost (or at least the perceived costs). Still some think not of the cost but are afraid that the result might not reflect their preference or taste.

Advantages of DIY Projects

Designing your home simply means that you won’t have to hire someone and pay him to do it for you. The results will also show your personal taste and you can proudly take credit for all of your work. If you have done a DIY project in the past and were successful, then you shouldn’t have trouble doing it again.

Whether the DIY project works for you or not actually depends on your strengths. It is as simple as knowing what makes you tick and finding the items that define what you like.

DIY projects can be done in phases, more often than not, as the funds allow. You also don’t need to explain what you want to a complete stranger.

The Downside of Doing it Yourself

Primarily, you could mess the project up and if you are working on a bi-budgeted project then you might have to live with the errors for many years. It’s either this or you pay a hefty amount of money just to make the nightmare go away.

You must have the ability to visualize. If you believe that you’re not the creative type then you have to recognize the fact that you need help.

Working with an Expert and Being a DIY Enthusiast

Or you could go down the less traveled path of working with a designer or a decorator. Two heads, as the saying goes, is always better than one so this cooperative thing should work for the better. There are many alternative working arrangements that you two could consider.

Perhaps you could consider hiring a decorator who is paid by the hour. This expert should be able to help you plan the layout, seek out the right kinds of furniture, shop for fabrics and select the right colors. After you get help on these things, you will be better able to execute the plan on your own. Of course, not all designers would sign up for small assignments, hence, find the ones that are paid by the hour.

You can design the project on your own and eventually hire a pro to guide you throughout the selection process.

If working with an actual designer makes you feel uncomfortable, then you can always go for a virtual designer. There is now a growing number of interior designers who are now posting their portfolios online. You can get in touch with them, send photos of your proposed floor plan, then ask for their professional fee. You can do all these without even meeting them in person.

You can also work with someone from a furniture store. There are shops that offer decorating or designing services. Some will work with you on the project – free of charge – for as long as you buy furniture from their shop. If you really love the furniture shop and the pieces that they sell, then, obviously, their stuff is the way to go.

Tags: diy interior design, DIY projects, interior designer vs DIY, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 31st, 2016 at 9:00 am and is filed under Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, The Interior Designer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.