There’s always a lot to consider with interior design. From furniture and wallpaper, to paint colour and accessories, there are so many aspects to think about.

Hiring an interior designer can certainly help, but in today’s age of belt-tightening, it makes more sense to do it yourself. After all, it’s your home and your space, so it should be your design.

However, interior design is a lot harder than it looks, so we have come up with five tips to help make the process infinitely less hassle and far quicker when you step into the showroom. It could save you time and money in the long run.

1. Think Hard

There’s a lot of details to consider when you first start thinking about interior design, and while we are all prone to impulse buys, don’t just jump in headfirst. It can feel overwhelming with the ludicrous number of products and finishes on the market. But take your time and plan things out in advance before you even step into a showroom.

2. Shop Around

By having a look around you can find things that you want, and then see where and if they can fit into your design. From there you can take all the pricing and build a budget that you can work from. By scouting out these things in advance you become much more aware of exactly what you want when you go to a construction or renovation company. Even an interior designer can work around what you’ve selected to find you the best options.

3. Set a Budget

We briefly mentioned budget, but we can’t stress the importance of this enough. Buyer’s remorse is an awful feeling. Plan first and shop later. Once you have shopped around for inspiration or even things you desperately want (sometimes you just have to have that coffee table), then your budget will reflect what can be offered to you. It also saves on wastage – time, materials and expenses – meaning you have a much easier and smoother design and installation process.

4. When in Doubt, Ask for a Second Opinion

It’s your ideas, you’ve got a clear idea of what you want. But even the most skilled designers make mistakes. When in doubt, don’t be worried about asking for a second or third opinion. It can be difficult to spot mistakes when we have been staring at the same designs and samples for a few months. Taking a breather and getting a second pair of eyes to look over it will help.

Ask a stylish friend!

Ask a stylish friend for an honest opinion. They know you and can help pick out things you may not have considered or just help you solidify that colour choice in your head.  If you have a clear idea and your friend confirms it then you know you’re on the right track. Or you could talk to interior designers in person or online, or even read their blogs, which are filled to the brim with clever design tips and tricks that can transform your home.

You do have to be careful, however, that what started out as your project doesn’t become design by committee with far too many chefs. If you disagree with an opinion, that’s not a problem. It’s your home and your design after all and what you decide is final (as long as it’s possible, which is where an expert opinion can be helpful!).

5. Your Home – Your Personality

Your home is a reflection of who you are, there are always going to be flourishes of your personality. So, when you’re going into the interior design process, think about what touches and flourishes speak to you. Having these answers before you ever step in a showroom will make your life a lot easier as they can be incorporated into the design phase early and prevent delays.

Helping you to achieve a clear vision

It’s not an easy process as you may umm and arr over things but knowing what you want in advance will help move the design process along by leaps and bounds. Deciding on the styles and finishes that you would like, the appliances and furniture you need and having a clear vision takes time but keep it written down and visualise what you want.

There may be a lot of decision changes and to-ing and fro-ing that happens with renovating your home, but these mistakes can be easily remedied, and time saved with a few simple steps. A lot of it is coming down to having a clear vision of what you want before you ever step into a showroom or talk to a construction company. It may be harder than you first thought, but we’re here to help with every step. For more information, contact us today.