From Pinterest to Instagram, renovation TV shows and more – there’s no shortage of inspiration and ideas when it comes to interior design. But when it comes to making over our own homes, sifting through all of the options can be an overwhelming experience.
However many of us still choose to do it ourselves, with the most likely barrier that the cost of hiring someone to help would exceed any kind of budget we had. But is that just a myth?
Trusting your abilities and going DIY
There just seems to be something in our psyche which enjoys the challenge of going DIY with house projects. So what are the pros and cons of taking this approach?
Pros
For those with a limited amount of money to work worth, you don’t have to allocate a portion of your budget from the outset to pay a professional to take care of the process and the decision-making. Depending on how much time you have, it is essentially doing all the groundwork for ‘free’.
It also means you can take control of the whole process, and don’t have to worry you may have a result you don’t like, but paid for anyway.
Cons
But for most people time is precious and Laura Lochhead, Director of PocketSpace Interiors, says it is crucial to evaluate just where we spend our personal time, because a lot of it could be wasted by trying to make the right decisions pre-renovation (and even having to mitigate issues during the actual process). She assists a lot of homeowners who have tried, and failed, to do it themselves.
“We are often called in to remedy situations where someone has attempted DIY, but are really not happy with their result.”
“I find a lot of people lack decisiveness, especially when it comes to their own home. There are so many choices and they usually go for the easy way out which is not necessarily the best option for a space. We see products all the time and build up a mental library of what looks good and what doesn’t.”
Hiring a professional designer
Perhaps if it is just a small change up here and there, it wouldn’t justify bringing someone in to assist, but to make significant changes to your home interior – like renovating the kitchen/bathroom, choosing a new colour scheme etc. – then it makes sense to consider the services of a professional. And here’s why:
Pros
You can actually save money, and that is probably something that many homeowners don’t even consider.
“Interior designers can offer trade prices and products retail customers can’t get access to. If you’re putting in say, a $40k kitchen, you could actually save $7k or so on appliances and finishes,” says Laura.
“We have trade accounts at all different stores, including ones that are wholesale only. Which means we also have a bigger range of choices for our clients.”
Home interior design is also not just about painting by numbers, where you just choose from floor options and cabinetry availability. It is a learned skill that enables designers to view a space differently to the everyday person. Laura says she is trained to have a spatial perspective, and if she sees too many straight lines, she would likely select a round coffee table to change the radial look.
But more than that, interior designers are adept at understanding what colours and textures go together, as well as how to push boundaries to create unique styles.
“Most homeowners redoing their lounge will usually just choose items they are familiar with. But what is the point in doing a renovation if you aren’t going to make a significant change?
“However people lack confidence, and also don’t know how much they should be paying for a product or service. We know what things should cost, where to spend money, and also where to save money.”
Cons
Hiring a professional, like any service, can be a little intimidating. Who are they? Will they do a good job? How do I know if I am choosing the right person? These are all thoughts we would likely have, but may feel too apprehensive questioning someone about these aspects.
But there is no doubt in Laura’s mind that hiring a professional designer is the right choice for a homeowner, and it’s not just about saving time and money - it’s about being completely satisfied with the end product.
“We give clients a cohesive look – where everything that has been selected has been done for a reason. When someone does it for themselves, often only parts of it work, and other parts don’t.
“We are also able to give them peace of mind that their space is the best it possibly can be. And that kind of result is worth every cent.”
Of course the decision is yours as to whether you go DIY or pro. But it is certainly worth considering what you may be missing out on by trying to tackle a home renovation project without the assistance of an interior designer – and how much extra it could cost you for getting it wrong.