Why Hire a Professional Interior Designer?

I think these recent snow days have allowed a lot of folks time for reflection, and allowed me in particular time to catch up on some of my reading. I receive several trade publications and follow several discussions on Linked In, and also follow a few interior design blogs. It seems to me that this is a big question...why should I, the homeowner, hire a professional designer? What is the benefit? Isn't it expensive? Won't I spend more money when I am already on a tight budget? The ASID website puts it this way, and I have edited a little, and added my two cents in italics:

In addition to their in depth knowledge of products, materials and finishes we have a specialized education of four years or more, and many of us participate in continuing education, we are skilled professionals and do more than use our advanced taste levels and "tricks of the trade" to pick out products, professional designers have the training and expertise to plan, schedule, execute and manage your project from start to finish. 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. We are continually out there in the marketplace, (not just local furniture stores and perusing home furnishing catalogs). We attend trade shows, participate in continuing education, and keep current on the latest products and trends all in an effort to better serve you, our client.

When you hire an interior designer, you get the benefit of an experienced professional who can solve problems, help you avoid costly mistakes, very often we trim the budget, cutting unnecessary costs and helping clients to understand where they can get "more bang for their buck" and, most importantly, create an attractive, affordable space designed specifically to meet your lifestyle needs. We ask questions, we listen, and we use what we learn, combined with our knowledge, creativity and expertise to provide clients with an end result that affords the best possible function out of the space in tandem with comfort, safety and of course a great look.

We consider lighting, acoustics, space planning, organization and storage, scale, accommodation of special needs, fire safety and compliance with local building codes. Professional interior designers can do so much more than recommend furniture, fabrics and colors. They have a creative eye and artistic flair, but that’s only the beginning. An interior designer has aesthetic, practical and technical expertise in all the elements that make up an interior environment. He or she understands how people use and respond to these elements, not just individually but as the elements interact with one another. We know the questions to ask, and we collaborate with you on the use of your personal interior environment, encouraging you to get involved and make this environment work for you and your needs.

So, IMHO, you hire an interior designer for the same reasons you hire other professionals, because we have an insight and expertise to help you avoid those costly mistakes, a knowledge of our profession that will indeed save you time and money, and we create beautiful rooms that convey warmth, comfort, and most importantly an atmosphere that reflects the personality and taste of our clients.