Anyone who has ever built a house or been involved in any renovation project knows how overwhelming it can be when you have to start choosing flooring, paint colors, cabinets, and countertops. Or, whether the layout of your space works for your lifestyle. Especially when you’re unsure whether your untrained eye can make your vision a reality. .
Have you ever thought about turning the choices over to a licensed interior designer? Not an interior decorator, but designer. There is a difference, and working with an interior designer doesn’t have to be a budget buster.
Why an Interior Designer?
Interior designers require formal training and, in most cases, will pursue their certification from The Council for Interior Design (CIDQ). According to the Council, interior designers apply creative and technical solutions that are functional, attractive, and beneficial to the quality of life and culture. Conversely, interior decorators do not have formal training and focus their efforts on decorating spaces with fashionable furnishings. Professional interior designers who possess the NCIDQ Certification have distinguished themselves by demonstrating a specific set of core competencies, supported by verified work experience and a college degree. They have proven their expertise in understanding and applying current codes established to protect public health, safety and welfare.
With the abundance of home renovation shows such as ‘Fixer Upper,’ featuring interior decorators, I’ve noticed there’s growing confusion between interior designers and decorators. Interior designers are more than finding interior furnishings or paint colors. We work with architects and contractors to coordinate and plan for an all-encompassing design solution. As professionally trained and licensed interior designers, we are not only hired to design for desired aesthetics but also for public health, safety and welfare. For example when doing space plans for commercial office spaces, there are extensive code perimeters that a designer must know in order to confidently present to their client involving such things like, use of space, type of occupancy, quantity of plumbing fixtures & exits.
In residential projects, working with a professional interior designer from the start can be tremendously beneficial to home owners not only from a construction standpoint (if included in the scope) but also from a furnishings and interior finishes standpoint. With interior designers having construction training and experience, they are able to help work with the home owner to identify what parts of the home can be demolished and configure a plan that is functional for the client. Should the project scope be on the larger side, the Interior designer will then work with the architect and/or contractors then to collaborate throughout the entire project to ensure the vision that was determined at the beginning is executed. With an extensive knowledge on what furnishings and interior finishes are available in the market, interior designers, know the proper materials and finishes to specify for each condition.
The bottom line, if you’re looking for design solution that works from a functional standpoint that also evokes an emotional response, rather than just coordinated furnishings, look to an interior designer for help.