Finding the Right Type of Interior Designer

Finding interior designers can be difficult. Start by deciding what "type" of designer you need to complete your project. This guide can help you decide where to start your search.

Finding an interior designer to work with is critical to making your project a success. Before you start comparing prices, portfolios, and experience it is important that you decide what type of designer would be best to work with. There are three basic "types" of interior designers. Each has it's strengths and advantages. Carefully consider what services you will need from your designer to help determine where to start your search for a designer.

Furniture Store Designer
Many furniture stores have an interior designer on staff either in a sales or in a design only role. Utilizing a designer from a furniture store can be a great option. Especially, if your primary goal is to furnish a room and you are comfortable with the type of furniture provided at the store. Furniture store designers typically:

• Provide design services free of charge with purchase of furniture
• Limit the scope of product they offer you to those products carried in their store
• Have varying degrees of design background and education
• Provide steady office hours and a physical business location to meet
• Will not provide services such as paint and finish selection, interior and exterior matiral selection, accessorizing

Freelance Interior Designer / Interior Design Consultants
Interior design consultants are independent designers who work for many clients and offer a wide range of services. Interior design consultants are a good option for projects that require design advice throughout the project from planning to construction to finishing touches. Freelance interior designers and interior design consultants typically:

• Have an educational background in the field of design
• Charge by the hour for services (you can utilize them as much or as little as you need)
• Can procure product and services on your behalf from any store or provider
• Receive a discount at most stores (savings are passed onto the consumer or absorbed by the designer as part of the design fee)
• Provide a broad range of services including space planning, product and service procurement, paint and finish selection, interior and exterior material selection, accessorizing
• Do not have a physical location or steady office hours to meet
• Do not have direct access to product at wholesale

Interior Design Firms
Interior design firms combine the strength of having a physical business and established wholesale product relationships with the experience and expertise of well educated and experienced designers. Interior design firms are an ideal choice for consumers looking for end to end consultation and implementation. Interior design firms typically:

• Requires employees to have an educational background in design
• Provide a full spectrum of design services including space planning, product and service procurement, paint and finish selection, interior and exterior material selection, accessorizing
• Charge by the hour for services
• Receive a discount at most stores (savings are passed onto the consumer or absorbed by the firm as part of the design fee)
• Have a physical location and hours to discuss projects and view samples
• Procure product and services on your behalf from any store or provider
• Have more than one designer available to help with large scale projects
• Have established wholesale relationships with some product lines which can be ordered at a discount for the client or ordered at full rate with a portion of the cost off setting design costs.

Understanding the types of designers and services provided is the first step in finding the right interior designer for your project.

Envy Interior Design
     In January 2010 the design professionals at Envy Furniture became Envy Interior Design, a Utah based interior design firm able to provide the tools and resources you need to make your dreams become a reality. Envy Interior Design provides full spectrum design services including on site consultations, space planning and ideation, product and service procurement, paint and finish selection, interior and exterior material selection, floral design and accessorizing. We will make sure your vision is catpured and executed beautifully