How an interior designer can save you time and money!
You might be surprised to learn that engaging an interior designer's help can elevate your space and save you money in the long run! Many people think hiring an interior designer is an unnecessary expense, but in reality, a designer can save you money. Whether it be a simple refresh, redesign, or a new kitchen or bathroom, a professional interior designer doesn't just help you make things look beautiful; they help you make smart decisions that save time, reduce costly mistakes, and work within your budget. In many cases, working with a designer pays for itself. Let's look at how;
Getting the layout just right is the key to a successful renovation! It saves you from costly mistakes and minimises the need for any work to be redone. A thoughtfully designed floor plan considers your home's orientation, natural light, ventilation and how your family interacts within the space. You need to make the most of what you have and make the space work for you! It may be adjusting your current floor plan to establish a smoother transition between your kitchen and living area may elevate your home's flow and function. Alternatively, reimagining your entry area and adding more storage to help keep clutter at bay.
Make the most of what you have and rearrange if need be. When analysing a floor plan, I consider a few factors: maximising your existing walls to avoid costly structural changes; optimising window and door placements for improved light and ventilation, ultimately saving you on energy bills; and strategically locating utility areas, like kitchens and bathrooms, close together to reduce plumbing expenses.
Save yourself time and money by avoiding unnecessary purchases, as you have ensured your home that works for you. With a well thought out plan done early on with the flow and function worked out, buying or reusing furniture for your new space is easy, as you know what room you have. Also, the choice of materials, such as sizing and sqm, to work from to budget the cost of the tiles for the bathroom, for example. Finally, having a good set of plans, whether for a kitchen, bathroom, or renovation, means you can forward it to the relevant trades and get quotes, ultimately allowing you to decide who you work with or not. Having your well thought out plan gives you confidence in your project.
4. Design with the future in mind. Designing your floor plan for your life now is great, but it is also wise to consider the future. This concept is known as 'future-proofing'. Whether it be your lifestyle changes, for example, as you get older, your kids leaving home, or if you are thinking about reselling in a few years, start by future-proofing your home so you can live and grow there or sell easily when the time is right. Your floor plan may need to be updated to have flexible spaces, better storage, and adaptable layouts, which may help avoid another expensive renovation. When or if selling becomes an option down the track, a well designed home will stand out and potentially achieve a better price and sell quicker.
5. Spend where it matters, save where it doesn't. Interior designers can help you decide where to spend money and where to spend it without compromising style or quality. For example, they can help you choose durable surfaces that last longer and require less maintenance, and they can tell you which fittings will give you the look you want without breaking the budget. They can also help you avoid trendy choices that date quickly and need replacing, such as the decorative border tile of the 1980’s. We can also recommend places to visit for the best tiles, bathroom wares, showrooms, etc.
6. Avoiding mistakes before they happen is the biggest money saver. Trying to avoid mistakes and not having to compromise with a bad decision mid build makes your project more cost-effective. I have seen many plans or have been engaged mid build, and we have had to make compromises on design to work around mistakes that have been made. For example, I had a client who came to me for a kitchen design whose builder hadn't allowed enough space for the dishwasher near the sink, and therefore, the dishwasher had to be placed opposite an island bench. Extra plumbing and the inconvenience of having the dishwasher in an awkward location weren't ideal, but the client was too far into the build to change it. It was a simple mistake that somebody could have been seen early in the planning stages. Other mistakes I have seen are wardrobes that are not deep enough to hang clothes, clashes of dishwasher, fridge and oven doors, toilets being placed in direct view of the doorway, no privacy, awkwardly shaped windows which are expensive to provide window treatments and no sunlight entering the house as the orientation of the house was wrong. If the floor plan had been flipped before building, the home would have received beautiful northern light and winter sun. Flipping the floor plan involves simply doing a mirror image of the floor plan allowing, the northern light to enter the living areas.
So, use an interior designer for their expertise and skills, make your project go smoothly, avoid delays by making mid-build design decisions, build variations, save money, time and feel excited about your project. Getting in an interior designer as early as possible will mean they can spot problems and rectify them while the build is still on paper, relieving you from the pressure of making crucial decisions mid-build.
Let’s talk about your project and see howe we can work together!
Thanks for reading,
Max
::interior plans