Do Interior Decorators Really Save You Money?

Hiring an interior decorator is often seen as an unnecessary luxury reserved only for the wealthy. However, interior decorators can actually save homeowners money in several unexpected ways. Professional decorators have specialized skills and industry knowledge that most DIYers lack, enabling them to stretch budgets farther and prevent expensive pitfalls. This article will explore five major money-saving advantages of hiring an interior decoration expert for home upgrades and remodeling projects.

Misconception – Decorators Are Just For The Wealthy

Many people assume only those living in massive estates can afford the expense of interior decorators. In reality, interior decorators provide valuable services at budget levels ranging from modest apartment renovations to luxury designer showpieces. Their skills apply equally well to small spaces. Hiring a professional decorator does not require an HGTV dream home or giant piles of cash upfront.

Designer Discounts Slash Material & Furnishing Costs

One of the biggest perks of hiring an interior decorator is tapping into wholesale trade discounts. Most professional decorators have accounts with decor retailers like Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, and more. Interior designers typically receive 20% to 50% off selections from these popular home furnishing stores as trade customers. These industry discounts allow decorators to purchase top quality furnishings and decorative accessories at steep reductions – savings they then pass onto clients. So you essentially gain access to trade pricing not advertised to everyday consumers by working with a professional designer.

* Decorators receive average trade discounts of 20-50% from:
    * Pottery Barn
    * Crate & Barrel  
    * Restoration Hardware
    * And more high-end home furnishing stores
* Discounts apply to most furniture, lighting, textiles, accessories
* Designers pass wholesale savings directly to their clients

That designer sofa you’ve been eyeing might cost 25% less when purchased through your decorator versus walking into those stores directly as a retail buyer. The contract fees charged by decorators often get offset by all the money saved on discounted designer furnishings and materials.

Avoid Expensive DIY Pitfalls & Redos

Homeowners attempting DIY redecorating or renovation work often end up causing more issues than they fix. Without professional experience, most people lack the decorator’s eye for aesthetic cohesion and technical skills required for properly executing complex home projects. Common mistakes lead to wasted expenditures, damaged property, unsafe conditions, or work needing redoing. Hiring an expert decorator avoids all these frustrating and costly DIY pitfalls.

Professional interior decorators ensure everything gets handled correctly right from the start – preventing aesthetic blunders, installation errors, functionality fails, and other oversight mishaps. Their coordination and supervision skills save clients money that would have otherwise funded future fixes. They also creatively overcome inevitable challenges without requiring additional purchases to solve problems. You preserve both your wallet and your sanity by letting a skilled decorator properly implement plans versus tackling elaborate remodeling solo.

Stick To The Plan With Expert Planning & Budgeting

Interior decoration encompasses both aesthetic vision and project execution. Professional decorators undergo extensive training related to planning/logistics alongside design concepts. This expertise translates into very practical money-saving abilities – like the capability to accurately estimate costs for diverse jobs while sticking tightly to Scope of Work parameters and budget limitations.

Seasoned decorators creatively juggle myriad project details from managing supply ordering/delivery to coordinating all required trade professionals. They think through the little facilitating details that homeowners tended to overlook when attempting extensive decorating ventures solo – resulting in mid-project scrambling and cost overruns. Their reality checking and trouble-shooting keeps things on-track financially by heading off budget-busting surprises.

Benefits of Professional Planning & Budgeting:

* Accurate project cost estimates
* Creatively work within client budget limitations
* Scope projects for desired investment levels  
* Reality check expectations vs actuals
* Coordinate all required trades/services
* Head off budget-busting surprises  
* Offer sensible solutions if costs still trending high
* Help secure favorable payment terms from vendors
* Ensure final costs align closely with bid pricing

Repurpose & Refresh Existing Items

Skilled interior decorators excel at breathing new life into clients’ existing furnishings and architectural elements through creative adaptations. Repurposing current items saves big money over scrapping everything in favor of brand new purchases. Clever reimagining retains beloved pieces in updated styles saving emotional costs too.

Sourcing all original décor gets very pricy versus working existing treasures into the design scheme. Your decorator’s discerning eye renews eclectic combinations in exciting ways superior to traditional matching uniform sets. Don’t equate decorators solely with elite full-service packages; many specialize in reinventing spaces exclusively using clients’ furnishings they already own. Upcycling and rearrangement skills prevent unnecessary replacements – saving cash alongside cherished belongings.

Maximize Any Size Space

If lacking square footage discourages you from pursuing professional design expertise – don’t let it! Decorators excel at maximizing functionality and visual aesthetics even in awkward layouts and modest rooms. With some creative spatial ingenuity, they transform challenging dimensions into surprisingly livable surroundings. You gain optimal use from every nook, cranny, and wall rather than forfeiting potential over confusion on how to leverage it.

Their zoning aptitude suits tight urban dwellings as readily as sprawling rural estates. Regardless of current economic climate or housing market fluctuations, efficient utilization of existing space inherently saves money over the long run. Decorators worth their hourly rate can stretch small budgets by realizing possibilities within spatial restrictions that flummox less experienced designers. Value gets added back through enhanced day-to-day enjoyment alongside increased resale potential.

Conclusion:

Hiring an interior decorator actually saves money in unexpected ways at many budget levels. The specialized skills and wholesale trade connections available exclusively to professionals offsets their hourly investment costs through minimizing costly DIY mistakes and overspending. Interior decorators creatively reinvent existing spaces for improved aesthetics and functionality. Their industry expertise enhances both wallet and inner peace by preventing frustrating, expensive do-overs.

If debating between tackling home upgrades solo or hiring help – analyze whether an interior decorator could stretch that investment even farther. Gather several project bids outlining proposed Scope of Work with itemized pricing. Compare if the decorator’s wholesale discount access alongside planning/troubleshooting abilities can realize more bang for your buck over attempting extensive renovations on your own. The right designer empowers your dreams without sabotaging the budget.