Why You Should NOT Hire an Interior Designer

Working with an interior designer is not for everybody. Before you decide whether or not you should hire an interior designer for your space read these pointers below that will help you make an informed decision.

Dining room space with table and hanging art

If you are looking for someone to agree with your every design choice: If you aren’t open to new ideas, the relationship with an interior designer will never work, and your house will reflect that.
You are not ready to invest in your home’s interiors: This doesn’t mean that you must have a large budget or spend more than you can afford or are comfortable with, but if you aren’t ready to invest in improving your surroundings, don’t hire an interior designer.
You want to do all the shopping yourself: If you are going to take your designer’s ideas and go shop for those items on your own, do not hire an interior designer. Instead, when interviewing designers ask if they can create a plan for you to follow for a fixed price. Some designers will be open to this and others won’t, but at least you’ll be open and honest upfront.
You think you can do it yourself: If you want to do it yourself or you think you’re going to do a better job than a designer, than you may not want to hire an interior designer. I’ve seen people meet with a designer and start the process only to prove to themselves that they don’t need the help of a professional. If you think you can do it yourself, don’t waste your time and money exploring working with a designer.
You have a lot of free time: Designing, sourcing, renovating, procuring goods, and installing them in any space takes a LOT of time. Interior designers spend countless hours staying up to date on the latest product offerings and continuing education. If you have tons of free time that you can dedicate to doing the same, then perhaps you don’t need an interior designer.
You are a control freak: Working with an interior designer requires a measure of trust that a homeowner must be able to give. Designers have your budget, your lifestyle needs, and timeline at the very top of their priority list. The advantage of working with a designer is that we juggle all the many pieces that need to be coordinated to actualize the results you want. Yes, the process will be collaborative, but you have to allow yourself to rest in the fact that your designer’s got the big picture handled.
You’re too attached to old things: Are you are holding on to things that don’t belong in your home anymore? Interior designers can do some amazing things with your existing beautiful furniture, art, and accessories. However, we cannot work magic on the things that just simply do not fit your current design goals. If you prefer to hold on to grandma’s vintage quilt and papa’s dusty recliner, then working with an interior designer may not be for you.