How to Know if Your Interior Design Budget is Realistic
Did you know that most of the prospective clients who approach us for interior design don't have any idea of what their project will cost?
Because of this, the first step (and possibly one of the most important steps) in any of our projects is helping clients establish a realistic budget, which sets everyone up for success.
What is an Interior Design Budget?
When considering your budget for working with a designer, you will need to consider four things:
Design Fees
Cost for Product
Logistics Fee
Sales Tax
Additionally, your budget should be driven by your home value. The better quality the home, the better quality the furnishings should be for consistency, therefore influencing your total budget.
How Does Robin Bond Interiors Help You Create Your Project's Budget?
We have completed many whole room and whole house projects for clients over the years and we have found that a simple per square foot system seems to work the best. It is both straightforward and accurate.
Our firm offers a complimentary consultation that includes a detailed presentation to give our prospective clients a clear idea of what to expect when working with us as well as the benefits we offer to them.
At the end of the presentation, we start the budget conversation. This will help you get a good idea of what you can expect to pay, which will help determine how you would like to move forward. Some clients will have us help them a room at a time, some clients will do projects in phases with several rooms at a time, and others will have us design and furnish the whole home.
How Can You Prepare for Our Budget Conversation?
1.) Create a Visual Wishlist
Prior to meeting with us, we suggest you put together a Pinterest board to share, gather your plans or photos of your home in its current state and then prioritize your list of needs, wants, and long-shots.
2.) Get Decision-Makers on the Same Page
If there is more than one decision maker, we recommend that both or all be present at our complimentary consultation. This will allow us to ensure everyone is on the same page with the scope of work and project budget.
3.) Set Priorities in Advance
When furnishing a single room or a whole house, the costs can add up. It is best to be clear on room priorities and wants versus needs to determine the best plan to move forward.
4.) Realize Value Matters
Our firm typically recommends purchasing the highest quality furnishings for rooms you live in on a daily basis, such as family rooms and master bedrooms. Secondary spaces, such as guest bedrooms, may not need as durable of furnishings since the use on them is lighter. This is what we call a high/low decorating approach that will stretch budgets when needed.
5.) Come Open to Creativity
We have worked with clients who live in multi-million-dollar homes and want the best quality furnishings. We have also worked with people who have purchased a cabin on a lake that is a secondary home (without heavy use) and therefore more moderate furnishings may be requested. This allows us the flexibility to work with our clients to provide the appropriate quality furnishings for their needs and expectations.
One thing I know for sure, our clients are always glad they decided to work with us and they always feel like they received great design, wonderful service, and quality products for the amount invested.
Our client's say it better than we can. Read the many client testimonies on our website to hear from them directly. Hiring a designer is a great overall value since your dream home will look and feel amazing. It is hard to put a price on that!
Wondering what it will take to start your own design project? We'd love to chat with you about it!
Warmly,
Robin