by Leslie Coleman

Created on: November 29, 2008   Last Updated: August 19, 2010

There are a myriad of reasons to seek the help of an interior designer, but there is only one good one. Professional Designers possess the skills and experience to create the room you want, without mistakes.

Those whose choose to do it themselves rarely realize their errors until the item is delivered. That is when it becomes apparent that the new green chair is too big for the space, or the color (so striking on the storeroom floor) clashes with the green in the painting nearby.

Some consumers may be trained in a related field, such as drafting, architecture or art-related fields which are helpful when designing a room; however, there are a varied number of skills required to avoid all the common errors. Let's explore those areas:

Style

A good designer's first order of business is to determine the type of environment that YOU like. Is your style sleek, cool and contemporary? Do you dream of a country French room full of warm woods and over stuffed upholstery? Have you pictured yourself in a gourmet kitchen of stainless steel & black granite? Does the feeling of a beach cottage and unbleached muslin relax you? Or, are you sitting at a long farmhouse kitchen table surrounded by family members elbow deep in cookie dough?

The most important part of a designer's job is to find out YOUR vision, and then take you there within your budget and without mistakes.

Space

Floor planning a room to scale is vital. Even a simple project such as replacing the family room sofa may become a disaster if the 82" sofa you ordered is going on a 78" wall.

Designers take ALL of the room's elements into consideration when preparing a floor plan. Existing built-ins, electrical outlets, windows, fireplaces, air conditioner uptakes, banisters, lighting, staircases and doorways are all important factors when choosing the size and design of new or replacement pieces.

Don't you want to be able to enjoy the warm ambience of your crackling fireplace yet also be able to watch the football game? Isn't it better that you purchased two (2) good club chairs instead of the love seat? Doesn't that silk tree, the Designer suggested, really do an excellent job of creating a break between the breakfast and family rooms?

Good floor planning solves problems and creates balance. As a result your room will feel as good as it looks.

Color

Mixing color and patterns requires experience and is best left to the artisans. In this case, your artisan is your Interior Designer.

Rooms may contain natural elements

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