What does an Interior Designer ACTUALLY do?

This is a question I get asked ALOT! There is a perception that hiring an Interior Designer is something that is only for the rich and famous, but I truly believe that good design should be accessible to everyone.

If the last 2 years in and out of lockdowns has taught us anything, it is the importance of our homes as the space that holds us. Our homes have had to work harder than ever, they have become classrooms for our children, offices for us, a place to relax, for zoom calls with friends, a place to excercise (jeezzz remember the dreaded daily Joe Wicks PE sessions!). The importance of excellent Interior Design and modular space planning has become paramount to a happy home life.

There is often a misconception between Interior Design and Interior Decoration, choosing finishes and colours are of course important to a successful interior scheme but Interior Design encompasses a whole lot more than that. As a designer, we must consider the function of a space, often working closely with architects or builders to ensure the layout and spacial planning are considered at the start of a project. Creating the correct layout of a room will have a big impact on ensuring your electrics and plumbing are in the right positions for the furniture or fittings that will follow. I have visited so many sites or homes where we are called in too far down the road of a project to impact these fundamental decisions and it can be quite detrimental to the final design.

Another key element of a skilled Interior Designer is to have a strong hold on managing budgets, to ensure that you get excellent value for money. We have many ‘tricks of the trade’ to help cut costs where possible, but also ensure the budget is spent in the right areas to ensure you end up with a stunning space. Couple this with some sharp project co-ordination skills and hiring an Interior Designer can really help to alleviate some of the stress of a renovation project, ensuring your project runs to time and to budget.

At Cat Woolner Interiors we offer a range of services to help you create your perfect home, drop us a line to see how we can help.