Continued from here
Once you have figured out what you want your home to look like, the big question is: Should you decorate it yourself or hire a professional?
The professional interior decorators and designers as we know them today barely existed. Before that it was taken for granted that you decorated your home yourself unless you were Marie Antoinette, Aliko Dangote or somebody with a similar pedigree.
Old habits die hard. We Nigerians still think one needs to live in a palace to hire a decorator, or are fearful of the cost (whether real or perceived).
For others, it’s not so much a question of money, but of ceding control (being the oga at the top) and having the concern that the results might not reflect their tastes. Some dive into the collaborative process without hesitation, while others have confidence in their tastes and skill and prefer to decorate their homes themselves.
Which camp do you fall into?
THE ADVANTAGES OF DOING IT YOURSELF
Obviously, decorating your home yourself means you won’t have to pay someone else to do it. The results will truly reflect your personal taste, and you will be able to take full credit for them. If you have gone through the process before and were pleased with the results, there’s no reason not to do it again.
Whether the DIY route will work for you will depend on your strengths. “If you know what you like and you know what makes you tick, you’ll love everything you choose,” says interior designer Alana Homesley of Woodland Hills, California. You can also do the project in stages (for example taking on the living room first), as funds allow, and you won’t face the challenge of trying to convey your likes and dislikes to a stranger.
Disadvantages of Decorating Your Home Yourself
You could mess up. And you’ll either need to live with that error for years to come or pay a large sum of money to make it go away.
“Do you have the ability to visualize? Are you a creative type? If you’re not, then you need some help,” says Homesley, “because it is expensive, and you don’t want to make any mistakes.”
The DIY route won’t necessarily save you money. For example, you may decide to call a painter, but are you sure about putting your money down for an incompetent one who doesn't know the difference between sky blue and royal blue? At the end of the day, you end up losing money because you do not like the results.
Decorating can be a time-consuming proposition with a steep learning curve and a huge number of decisions that need to be made. What’s your time worth? Will that outlay of time justify the fees you’ll be saving? If you make a mistake and something has to be redone, will you forfeit your savings?
Advantages of Hiring an Interior Designer
Hiring an interior designer will give you access to a large selection of furnishings, fabrics and wall coverings that otherwise you’d probably never see, and the services of workrooms and tradespeople that the designer has cultivated relationships with over the years. You can potentially end up with a beautiful home tailored to your tastes and lifestyle, and furnished with pieces chosen by an expert for their beauty, quality and durability.
A designer saves you time, energy and money. Most of us won't take up the task of remodelling ourselves, unlike the American father that can be the plumber, electrician, and even painter for his home.
The interior designer who is certified and has vast knowledge on home designing can do everything from consultations to product installation.
“If you have the budget, that’s the way you should go because you’re going to have something custom to you,” says Homesley.
“Having someone who can affirm your decisions is really positive,” says designer Amy Luff of Viva Luxe Studios in Bristol, Virginia. “Designers can save you money. And they can save you from repaying for something.”
Find a designer near you today. *wink MarBal is here.
Disadvantages of Hiring an Interior Designer
Working with an interior designer can be costly (note that I didn't say expensive). It’s also a very intimate process. You will be sharing a lot of details of your life with another person. You might end up working together for months — maybe even years. A designer can become a confidant. Or, if you don’t pick the right one, an adversary.
Working With a Pro and Doing It Yourself
There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with decorating your home yourself that you might not feel if you pay someone to do the work for you. A good designer will involve you in the process, however, and make you feel like you played a major role in the outcome.
If you like the idea of working with a decorator or an interior designer, but not the cost or loss of participation, there are alternative working arrangements you could consider.
- Hire a decorator by the hour to help you plan the layout and the furniture, fabric and color selections, then execute the plan yourself. Not all designers are willing to accept small assignments like this, but some will welcome it.
- Design the project yourself but hire a pro on an hourly basis to hold your hand through the selection process or to offer a verdict on items you’re considering.
- Work with a virtual designer. A growing number of designers have hung their shingles on the Internet e.g Instagram. You send them photos or a floor plan of your home, and they provide consultations for a fee, without ever meeting you (or your home) in person. There are a number of design apps to help you get a 3D presentation Without having to meet the designer.
- If there’s a furniture store you really like, see if it offers free interior decorating services. Some stores will work with you on your project without charge, although you will need to acquire the furniture from that store. “If you really like that store’s stuff, it’s a good way to go,” says Homesley.
That's all for now! Watch out for the next #decorating101 post.
What do you think? Kindly leave your comments and contributions below.
