The Value of Hiring an Interior Designer Early in Your Project

If you are planning a renovation, remodel, or new-build home, you might be wondering when to bring an interior designer into the process. Our answer? The earlier, the better. In this post, we are diving deeper into why the timing of hiring an interior designer matters, what a designer contributes in the early planning stages of a project, and how early design decisions set the stage for a home that is as functional as it is beautiful.

The Impact of Early Interior Design Collaboration

Renovations and new home builds may require a team of professionals including architects, builders, engineers, and specialized trades. While each team member contributes to important decisions, your interior designer specifically focuses on how your home will look and function day to day. This includes carefully refining layouts and the small details that can have a major impact on how you live in and experience your home.

For example, when we place furniture and map out circulation paths in a bedroom that appears generously sized on paper, we may find unexpected constraints – such as discovering there isn’t actually enough room to comfortably accommodate all the furniture you need. Identifying these issues early lets your entire team adjust the design plan and accommodate changes before decisions become set in stone.

How Early Design Decisions Inform Construction

The decisions designers manage are especially important in hardworking interiors like kitchens, mudrooms, and laundry rooms. Interior design and construction are deeply interconnected in these spaces, as decisions about cabinetry and layout influence everything from how people move through these rooms to where plumbing, electrical, and lighting need to be installed.

Take the kitchen island, for example: its size and placement affect circulation and seating but may also require advanced planning for outlets, lighting, plumbing, appliances, countertop overhangs, and supports. Each decision informs the next, and developing these details early gives the project team an opportunity to coordinate them as part of the larger plan.

When Should You Hire an Interior Designer?

For renovations and remodels, we recommend reaching out to an interior designer while you are still defining the project scope. For new-build homes, we recommend assembling your team of architect, builder, and interior designer before the planning process begins. Each brings a different area of expertise, and collaborating from the start allows the team to anticipate challenges, coordinate important decisions, and develop a more cohesive plan for your home.

If your project is already further along, it isn’t necessarily too late. With a completed set of plans, there may still be opportunities to review and refine details before construction begins. Once construction is underway, the options for revisiting certain design decisions become more limited as work progresses. Depending on the stage of construction, a designer can still contribute to material selections, cabinetry details, lighting, and other interior decisions, as well as the furnishings and styling that bring a home together.

Work With Us

If you are planning a renovation or new home, we would love to learn more about what you have in mind. You can explore our interior design services or submit an inquiry here.