The difference of Independent Designers
Happy November Friends! Today I wanted to talk about the benefits of working with an independent interior designer, vs. a large-scale company. You’ve probably heard of several large-scale design companies (Modsy, Havenly, SpaceJoy, etc) these companies offer virtual interior design to clients at an incredibly low cost, so what’s the difference between them and using an independent designer like myself?
First of all, let me preface this blog by saying I used to work for one of these companies so most of this is first-hand experience.
The main difference you’re going to encounter is your designer. Most companies don’t require their employees to have any degree or experience in design, just love for interiors. Hiring an independent designer means you’re getting knowledge behind all the pretty things. I choose each item for a reason and I explain that reason to my clients. It’s always more than just because it looks pretty.
Secondly, those large companies have partnered with a couple of brands to push some of their products because they will get a portion of your sales on those products. This is a great way for them to make extra money, but the problem with this is that they end up not being able to design your room the way you need because they only have certain furniture and accessories available to use. As a designer at one of these companies, I had a customer that wanted a Pottery barn sofa in navy blue. We had the sofa in leather, and a couple of other colors but didn’t have it in the blue color she was looking at, so I wasn’t able to show her how it would look in her space. This is extremely frustrating as a client. They also push certain price points, so if your looking for a chair under $400 they won’t have one to show you. The benefit of hiring an independent designer is that I can show you any piece of furniture in your space, any budget, and any style. I don’t have a certain library of items that I have to use.
Thirdly, the price point. It’s not a secret that large companies are less expensive. There are a couple of factors for this, but one of them is the sheer number of customers they get a day. Hundreds of customers a day get onboarded so you get much less individualized attention. You also will work with several different people during your project which just makes things confusing. Using an independent designer means more one on one attention. I take the time to really get to know you, your space, your needs, how you use the space, etc. Design is a long process so having individualized attention is so important!
In summary, large companies can be great if you’re on a budget, just want ideas, etc. but if you want your house to feel like a home and have personality, function, and beauty an independent designer, while more expensive upfront can help you save money and time when designing your space.
