Budgeted Designer Services in Interior
About Budgeted Designer services in interior
Budgetary Considerations for Interior Design
For the sake of this discussion, we will define “interior design budgets” as everything you need to plan and account for when furnishing and styling your home.
This means that this discussion does not include labor, construction, or materials.
Budgeted Designer Services in Interior
Best Residential Interior Design for Home
AVERAGE COST
Our Free Resource Library contains a wealth of extremely useful information; however, when it comes to understanding the average cost of things, I strongly advise you to download the Pricing Guide: What It Costs to Furnish + Style. It is here that we get into detail, providing an in-depth budget for each room in your home at two different price points.
The best part, though, is knowing that these are real numbers. Based on actual projects. That has been completed. However, the majority of our clients fall somewhere in the middle, and balance is essential.
QUALITY
At Elegant Simplicity, we have a pulse on the disposable design culture that is marketed in shelter magazines as trendy, cheaply made, and ultimately harmful to the environment, so we encourage our clients and source quality furniture that is built to last by real people who care.
When it comes to the principles of making high-quality furniture, what you find at big-box stores is hit or miss, so we take the time to curate pieces for our clients that are both beautiful and long-lasting.
What Is a Budget for Interior Design?
We also discuss financial matters concerning investment and budget at Elegant Simplicity. It is crucial to realize that, despite their similarities, they are not exactly the same as a glass of ice water (which contains both ice and water). Budget and investment are two very different things, even though many designers use these terms interchangeably.
FIRST IS INVESTMENT.
Investment, as you can see, is the amount of money you feel comfortable allocating for interior design. It is the total amount you must “invest” for this stage of your project.
We strongly advise our clients to be very specific about their willingness to invest at the beginning of your clarity call. This is not because we are planning to spend every last dime, but rather because it is your interior designer’s responsibility to determine how to invest in the highest quality (in this case, furniture + decor), which they can never do if they do not know up front what you are open, willing, and able to spend.
BUDGET
On the other hand, the budget is the final item. Your interior design budget is essentially a detailed account of how your money will be spent. For the “investment” you are making, it provides context.
Our goal at Elegant Simplicity is to make the most out of your investment! That is why, in contrast to a traditional interior designer, we NEVER ADD markup to any purchases we make on your behalf. No, not even a single cent! This implies that every single dollar itemized on your interior design budget, down to the last penny, is going straight toward the furnishings, the quality of craftsmanship, and other aspects of your home.
What Aspects Drive up the Cost of Interior Design?
I am sure that by now you are beginning to visualize a few key elements that could push up your interior design budget, but there is much more to interior design than just furniture and décor, so I have listed them below to make sure we have covered everything.
1. Quality of furnishings
We have already discussed why we believe high-quality furniture is important. However, keep in mind that Elegant Simplicity’s conscientious approach is all about you (not our markup). In other words, we do not charge a markup for furniture or labor because we want to inspire you to imagine and create a home you will never want to leave. And, yes, this includes investing in quality, such as the amount you spend on furniture and decor and who makes it.
2. OVERALL SIZES AND ROOM LAYOUT
Hands down, the overall size of the room has a direct impact on your interior design budget because larger spaces typically require larger furniture to help keep the room in scale. However, the layout is also important because if a space has a unique layout that we are attempting to configure furniture in, a very specific piece of furniture may need to be custom made in order to maximize space and make the room functional.
3. Total Number of Pieces Needed
In addition to any considerations about a room’s overall scale (think average living room with four walls vs. great room with an open concept floor plan), keep in mind that the more pieces of furniture, artwork, and decor required to create a cohesive living space, the higher the overall budget.
Custom details that are unique to you
We covered the value of custom furniture as well as the reasons it is important to compare it to readily available items at big-box stores in a previous blog post on The Real Cost Of Custom Furniture.
5. HOW MANY TREATS FOR WINDOW
Including draperies in every room is another feature that sets our comprehensive budgets apart. Due to the abundance of customizable options, window treatments can be particularly expensive, as is often the case with interior design budgets. But window treatments add the ideal finishing touch that somehow makes everything come together, much like jewelry does for an outfit.
6. SUSTAINABILITY
We can certainly accommodate your request if you would rather have all of the furniture manufactured locally or sustainably to reduce the carbon footprint of your furnishing and styling project! The Give More Project goes into greater detail about why this idea is so important to us. So much so that a portion of our earnings are donated to non-profits that improve families, the environment, or education.
7. FABRIC DURABILITY.
We adore children and have a soft spot for dogs, so we are also very aware of fabric durability. While sticky fingers, dirty paws, and daily wear and tear are all challenges when it comes to furniture, upholstery should be a lifetime investment.
Because the fabric on your furniture is the most noticeable indicator of quality. It is also the most likely to show wear and soil, so consider durability, cleanability, and resistance to soil and fading when selecting upholstery.
That being said, it will increase your interior design budget; however, clients always appreciate this one because it protects the items they are purchasing. From Crypton to other high-performance fabrics that are completely wine-proof, fabric durability is essential.
8. TAXES
Nobody wants to know about these, but they are always useful to remember.
9. SHIPPING AND WAREHOUSING COSTS
While most clients do not consider shipping when creating their interior design budget, I am here to remind you that you should! Because typically, designer furniture can only be shipped to a receiver, which requires people, warehouses, deliveries, gas, trucks, insurance, and other resources. So, yeah, it will increase the budget slightly and should not be overlooked.
10. INSTALLATION AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
On install day (pop, fizz, clink!) the warehouse will deliver all of your furniture, as well as any professional services required for installation, which will incur additional costs.
So relax, my friend, because we are always thinking of ways to better serve you!