by Ann C Evans

Created on: October 04, 2009   Last Updated: October 13, 2009

If you are a dab hand at decorating, have a flair for color and design and don't mind spending your spare time working hard then go ahead and do the decorating yourself. On the other hand if you find decorating a chore and the very idea fills you with dread then it's time to think about calling in the professionals.

Whichever road you chose to go down, it's advisable to weigh up the pros and cons beforehand.

The professional decorator will bring to the table his expertise. He will be able to help and advise you on ideas such as color, space, lighting and flooring. He will awaken and surprise you with new ideas and perhaps even make you see your home in a different way.

The work will be done and completed within an agreed time and the work will be of a high standard expected of a professional. The quality of his work will be seen in the quality of the materials he uses. Any mess or debris will be cleared up and disposed of.

You will have the confidence to relax and go about your daily business whilst at the same time your home is being enhanced and revamped.

When the work has been successfully completed and finished to a professional standard you will probably have added value to your property.

All sounds ideal doesn't it? So what's the down side?

Like in any profession, experience and expertise costs money; and in some cases lots of money. You have to think of the amount of hours you need to work in order to afford this kind of help and ask yourself can you really afford it.

You may feel that the professional look is too sterile and is devoid of any personality; lacks a homely touch and is more akin to something that is seen in ideal home exhibitions or magazines. You have to be prepared to talk things through with the decorator to make sure he understands your requirements. It's up to you to make him aware of the sort of home and atmosphere you want created.

You are also taking the risk of hiring a rogue trader in other words somebody who is not up to the job. It's imperative to do some research beforehand. You need references; talk to someone who has hired him before and ask for their opinion of his work. All this takes time.

In the end if you decide to hire a professional be prepared to have work men trampling through your house for days/weeks. In some cases you have to trust them to respect your property when you go out to work and leave them on their own.

Should you elect to go it alone and do all the work yourself be prepared for what might happen. In a worst case scenario you may make a complete botch of the job and this will cost you dearly to put right. You may even be forced after all to get in professional help.

On the other hand if you make a success of it, not only would you have saved a pot of money but you would delight in the fact that all the work is your very own, stamped with your unique personality; and that is something you have the right to be proud of.

Learn more about this author, Ann C Evans.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.