Working With Pros: When a Design Plan Is Right for You

Recently I wrote about the benefits of full design services in redesigning a home. Many homeowners, though, want to be more involved in the process and do some of the work themselves, while still wanting the assurance that they will get a great result. Here’s the good news. You can have your cake and eat it too.

What might be ideal for you is hiring a professional to prepare a design plan. Here’s what to know.

A design plan includes all the information you’ll need to complete your project. This approach of providing a plan for dimensions and style notes is ideal if you love to shop for a bargain on the Internet or at a flea market, because it will give you clear direction on the pieces you need and will let you do the rest. That way you can begin acquiring pieces according to your schedule and as your budget allows.

A design plan is an ideal way a designer can work with you if you are in another city. It’s also great for you if you’ve already started a decorating project by buying a few pieces and just can’t seem to get the room pulled together the way you want.

Should you buy all new pieces? Not yet. A designer with a plan may be able to help you achieve the look you want with what you’ve got.

8 Things Interior Designers Want You to Know


Are you are handy with tools but lack the aesthetic training to visualize how something should look? A design plan can include drawings for millwork, built-in bookshelves or window seats. With a plan in hand, you can do the rest yourself. Likewise, if you are handy with a sewing machine, you can make a lot of the soft pieces yourself. Window coverings and bedding are surprisingly easy, for example.


What to expect: A professional’s design plan will typically take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months to complete, depending on the scale of the project.

Find an interior designer or a decorator on Houzz


Plans for a bathroom might include tile selection, recommended fixtures, lighting and a color scheme.


A plan for a kitchen could include materials, finishes and fixtures to ensure you get a unique look that relates to the rest of your home.


For a living room, family room or bedroom, a design plan could include space planning, furniture recommendations, lighting options and a color scheme.


A design plan can also provide space-saving strategies to use your home more efficiently or help you maximize your square footage in ways you may not have thought of.


What it will cost: A design plan is typically priced on a fixed-cost basis. The design fees are determined by experience with projects of similar scale and budget. Professional practices may vary, but this is the most common approach. Pricing typically starts around $2,500 and upward, depending on the project.

Coming next: Book a Consultation

More:
Working With Pros: When to Choose Full Design Services
Find a designer near you
6 Reasons to Hire a Home Design Professional

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