Why Hire a Professional Designer

In addition to their in-depth knowledge of products, materials and finishes, professional designers have the training and expertise to plan, schedule, execute and manage your project from start to finish.  They know and work closely with many vendors, contractors and other service providers, coordinating and orchestrating the entire design team.  Designers also provide specification and purchasing services to procure materials, furniture, accessories and art, some of which you might not be able to find on your own.

When you hire an interior designer, you get the benefit of an experienced professional who can solve problems, help you avoid costly mistakes and, most importantly, create an attractive, affordable space designed specifically to meet your lifestyle needs.

Design Specialties

Commercial Designers

Residential Designers

Interior Design Basics

Interior design concerns itself with more than just the visual or ambient enhancement of an interior space, it seeks to optimize and harmonize the uses to which the interior environment will be put.

Many factors come into play in formulating the design solution. There is the space itself–its dimensions and construction–with its potential and its limitations. There is how the space will be used–for work or leisure, entertainment or worship, healing or learning. There is the meaning of the space, what it signifies–be it power, authority, security, wisdom, achievement, playfulness or serenity. There are practical considerations, like ease of access, amount of light, acoustics, seating and places to store or set things down. There are health and safety considerations, attention to special needs and more.

For more information, see the definition of interior design developed by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.

Design Specialties
Designers often specialize in one or more specific types of interior design.  Some designers specialize in only residential or commercial (or, contract) projects, but many designers do both residential and commercial projects of various kinds.

The ASID Credential

ASID membership eligibility requires that Allied and Professional members complete an established minimum of interior design education. The ASID professional track provides a pathway for Allied Members to advance to Professional membership* and each level of membership is a progressive step towards professionalism. Once achieving specific years of work experience, Allied Members can take the NCIDQ Examination and upon passage, can advance to ASID Professional Member status. As of January 2008, members are also required to take a minimum of 0.6 CEU’s to maintain their membership.

In addition,  many states (and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) have helped to take the guess work out of finding a qualified designer by requiring a certain amount of education and experience and passage of the NCIDQ exam before a designer can become certified, registered or licensed in that state.  A list of state regulations can be found here; if your state is not listed it has not yet passed legislation.

There is an added confidence in working with an ASID member.  All members must agree to abide by the Society’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.  To maintain their membership, they are required to conduct themselves and their businesses ethically, always respectful of their clients, suppliers, the profession and their colleagues.  At all times, members must keep the health, safety and welfare of the public in mind when designing a space.  You can read or download the ASID Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct here.

To locate an ASID member to help you with your project, consult the ASID Referral Service.

If you experience a problem working with an ASID member, follow the Procedures for Filing an Ethics Complaint.

*Professional Members who have joined or advanced to Professional membership since 1Costs and Fees

Designers, like other professionals, are different from one another in their combinations of talents, skills, knowledge, experience, personalities, specialty areas and reputations.  What and how they charge will vary accordingly.

There is no such thing as a “typical” or “customary” fee for an interior designer.  Many factors, including those mentioned above, influence what a designer may charge for his or her services.  Most residential designers and many commercial designers use one of the following methods, or combine methods, to set their fees and may negotiate to suit a client’s particular needs:

Fixed fee (or flat fee) — The designer identifies a specific sum to cover costs, exclusive of reimbursement for expenses. One total fee applies to the complete range of services, from conceptual development through layouts, specifications and final installation.

Hourly fee — Compensation is based on actual time expended by the designer on a project or specific service.

Cost plus — A designer purchases materials, furnishings and services (e.g., carpentry, drapery workrooms, picture framing, etc.) at cost and sells to the client at the designer’s cost plus a specified percentage agreed to with the client to compensate for the designer’s time and effort.

For larger commercial projects, costs may be calculated on a per square foot basis, based on the area of the project.

In addition to the fee structures outlined above, designers may require a retainer before beginning a design project. A retainer is an amount of money paid by the client to the designer and applied to the balance due at the termination of the project. The retainer is customarily paid upon signing the contractual agreement in advance of design services.

At one time, cost plus was the most widely used fee structure for residential designers.  It is becoming more common now for designers to charge an hourly rate for design services and cost plus for products and services the designer is asked to purchase or a fixed fee for the entire project.

In addition to the designer’s fees, there are other costs to consider.  Only you can decide what a reasonable budget for your project is.  If you have concerns about price, discuss them with the designer.  Don’t be shy about asking the designer to help you optimize your budget.  But be realistic, too.  You may need to scale back your project or consider having the work done in stages.  If you are concerned about the quoted cost of furniture or furnishings, ask the designer to provide you with a list of options.

A final word about cost:  How you choose to furnish your interior and how you work with your designer will have tremendous impact on the final cost of the project.  Items such as antiques or custom-made furniture, and modifications that involve altering or moving load-bearing walls or beams will significantly increase the cost of your project, as will requesting changes mid-project or making excessive demands on the designer’s time.  The more research and planning you do before you start, the more you will be able to help keep costs down during the project.