How Long Does it Take For an Interior Designer to Decorate a House?
There are many factors that determine how long it takes for an interior designer to decorate your house. It doesn’t always take the amount of time you see on a reality show.
First, the interior designer learns your needs and wants, typically in a face-to-face meeting. Then they prepare initial designs and estimate costs.
1. Initial Consultation
The initial design consultation is where you and your interior designer get acquainted. This typically involves the designer visiting your home to see your space and get a better sense of your needs and wants for the room/home. They will ask you questions about your lifestyle and how you use the room or spaces. The more information you can give them in this stage the more productive and effective the overall project will be.
Your designer will also be able to take a good look at the existing furniture and decor you have and help determine whether or not they can work with it in your new space. If there are any existing pieces that you really want to keep it’s important for you to note those before this meeting as this will help the designer to incorporate them into your new design.
It’s also important for you to know your budget before this meeting so the designer can help walk you through any options that are available to you within your budget. This will save both of you a lot of time and frustration down the road.
2. Design Concepts
An interior designer will use their knowledge of the elements and principles of design to create a design concept that turns your visions into reality. There are five basic elements of design: space, line, form, color, and texture. Some of the principles are balance, emphasis, progression, transition and rhythm.
One of the most important things that an interior designer will do is determine the flow of your house. They will plan the furniture placement based on the shape of your home and how the rooms are used. They will also make sure to plan for dead ends, like hallways and stairways.
Once the floorplan is set, the interior designer will begin to select colors, patterns and textures that fit your taste and personality. They will also use a concept called unity, which is the idea of using a cohesive style throughout your home. This includes everything from the flooring to the rugs, pillows, and homewares that are chosen to tell your design story. The consistency of these details and accessories is what sets professional designers apart from DIYers.
3. Shopping
If you’ve ever watched an interior design show on TV, you know that an expert designer can help you avoid common home decorating mistakes. From choosing textiles that will quickly show wear to painting a room the wrong color, these mistakes can be costly and difficult to correct.
In order to avoid costly mistakes like these, interior designers use a process called a “room plan” which includes a layout, furniture arrangement, and a shopping list of all the items needed for the space. This can be a time consuming part of the design process, especially for large spaces.
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4. Installation
It’s a good idea to have an idea of what you want your space to look like before you meet with a designer. This will make it easier to communicate your vision with them. This will also help you avoid wasting money on items that don’t work well with the plan.
A professional interior design company will know how to use the latest trends and styles in their designs, so you can rest assured your home will look beautiful. They will help you choose the right furniture, flooring, lighting and accent pieces to suit your tastes and lifestyle. They’ll also take into consideration any existing items that you would like to keep.
If you’re looking for structural changes, such as removing walls, rerouting plumbing and wiring or adding new windows and doors, a decorator is not the best option. For this, you should hire a qualified interior designer with an associate or bachelor’s degree in interior design. They will have formal training in spatial planning, color schemes and an innate understanding of building codes that will help them bring your project to life.
5. Final Touches
While furniture and decor are the most obvious elements that make up a room’s design, there are many other details that add the final touch to create a truly livable space. Whether it’s an artful accent piece hung above a console table or a small vignette of decor items, these are the little finishing touches that bring a room together and make it feel like home.
The average interior designer will spend a minimum of 12 to 15 days on the project. These days are commonly spent on consultations, measuring, preparing style ideas, shopping and sourcing items, as well as installation and arranging follow-ups.
As you can see, decorating a house is a huge undertaking, and it’s important to be clear with your interior designer on how much time they will need to complete the job to your satisfaction. Be sure to ask about their process from beginning to end, and make a clear contract and fee structure. It’s also helpful to consider the size of your home, as it may impact the amount of work your interior designer will need to do.
