Two interior designers examining a variety of fabric swatches spread out on a table, with pencils and color samples in the background, showcasing a collaborative design process.

In today's world, decorating inspiration abounds with inspirational magazines, behind-the-scenes home makeover shows and social media.

At Star Furniture, we’re thrilled by this explosion of creativity. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to feel inspired and fully empowered to transform their living spaces into environments that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also immensely comfortable and inviting. This has been our reason for being for generations!

Yet, some of us were not born with a decorating "gene". Others don't have time to take on decorating projects. Oftentimes even talented and motivated design enthusiasts want to take their homes to the next level. If this describes you, here's your next step: partner with a design pro. In this blog, we’ll take you through 8 ways that a designer can save you time and trouble throughout your redesign project. 

Understanding the Role of a Design Professional

One of the main reasons that homeowners assume that they don't need the help of a design professional when revamping an area of their home is because they don't quite understand what they do. Design professionals aren't glorified decorators. On the contrary, design pros have the knowledge and expertise to balance colors and textures while ensuring each room flows well, is balanced, proportionate, and, of course, visually appealing! The result isn't merely a beautiful home but a home that is comfortable, inviting, and meets the specific needs of the individuals who live there.

8 Ways a Designer Can Benefit Your Project

If you think that designers are only used by the rich and famous, think again. Design pros can help anyone elevate their living spaces to make them more attractive, comfortable, and functional, even ordinary homeowners. While partnering with a designer can add immense value to any home design project, here are the top 9 reasons why it's worth partnering with a professional designer for your next decorating venture.

1: Saving Time

One of the biggest obstacles homeowners face when tackling a redesign project on their own is the ability to complete a space in a certain amount of time. Even for people who are organized and well-intentioned, it's common for design projects to take longer than expected, especially if you don't have a clear plan.

Design professionals are experts at streamlining home decor projects. They know how long it can take to get particular tasks done, which means they're well-equipped to create a realistic timeline. Additionally, they can anticipate problems that may arise and solve them quickly once they occur.

2: Professional Assessment and Planning

Just because a room is well decorated, doesn't mean that it's as comfortable or functional as it could be, especially if it's small or an unusual shape. A designer can help assess the overall design coherence and space planning of your home, often in ways that you had never considered before. You may be surprised by how much more inviting or practical an area of your home becomes after it's been planned out and arranged by a professional designer.  

3: Budget Management

It may come as a surprise but working with a professional designer could save you money in the long run when revamping a room in your home. When homeowners strive to transform a space on their own, they often make mistakes that could cost them more money than they thought to resolve. Common home design blunders include choosing furniture that is the wrong size, light fixtures that don't work within the space, and painting the walls the wrong color.

Design pros have plenty of experience working within different budgets. They can help you stay focused so that you don't overspend along the way while making sure you avoid amateur decorating mistakes that will cost money that you hadn't planned on spending.

4: Increasing Home Value

If you're looking to boost the value of your home, partnering with a designer could help. Along with knowing which color schemes and furniture tend to appeal to the most people, professional designers can point you in the right direction for which upgrades will make your home more attractive and valuable, such as updating the light fixtures. Even if you don't plan to put your home on the market any time soon, consulting a design pro before redesigning a space can prove to pay off for years to come by making improvements to your home that are noticeable and will last.

5: Bringing a Vision to Life

Perhaps the most compelling reason to partner with a designer is that they can help bring your vision to life. Who hasn't had a beautiful idea in their mind for a certain area of their home, but struggled to make it come together in real life? Translating your home decor aspirations into a tangible, cohesive design is often easier said than done for the everyday homeowner. Professional designers, however, are experts at taking the details a person is attracted to and curating them in a way that's even better than they imagined. 

6: Staying Trend-Aware While Timeless

There's something about decorating with timeless furnishings that can add an effortless touch of luxury and sophistication to any room in your home. While this is true, it's nice to have on-trend pieces within the space, too, to help your home feel fresh and contemporary. The problem that many homeowners find challenging is seamlessly incorporating their classic pieces with the more modern ones. Luckily, professional designers are experts at balancing current trends with timeless design, resulting in rooms that are unique, inviting, and beautiful.

7: Personalized Design That Reflects You

When homeowners redesign a space from top to bottom, it's common for their personal style and tastes to get lost in the shuffle. They spend so much time replacing furniture and accessories that they forget to incorporate elements that showcase the things they love. When you partner with a professional designer, they seek to create spaces that reflect your personality, preferences, and needs. Rather than creating a room that feels like it came straight off the furniture showroom floor, a professional designer will help you put together living spaces that feel like they were made for you (because they were).

8: Stress Reduction

While interior design projects are often fun, they can also be stressful, especially if you're new to the process. Partnering with a professional designer can help relieve some of the stress that comes with undertaking any home improvement project by handling the things that you don't want to or don't know how to. Allowing a designer to take the load off your shoulders can give you the freedom to partake in the parts that you look forward to participating in, such as picking out fabrics or shopping for accent pieces.

An airy dining room with a rustic wooden round table, elegant upholstered chairs, and a classic sideboard beneath two framed botanical prints. A chic chandelier hangs above, with natural light streaming in from large windows, complemented by a fireplace and decorative mirror, all set on a layered area rug, creating a tranquil and sophisticated space.

When to DIY and When to Call a Pro

While it can never hurt to consult a design professional when redesigning an area of your home, not every home improvement project requires professional help. If you have a clear vision for what you'd like to do within a space, are confident that you can get it done on your own, and have plenty of time to do it, you may be well equipped to take on the project.

On the other hand, there are times when there's no question that partnering with a designer could be an invaluable endeavor. These include instances when:

  • You can't formulate a concrete vision or plan.
  • You're on a strict timeline.
  • The project is large or complex.
  • It entails tasks you've never done before or aren't comfortable doing.

How to Choose the Right Designer

When you bring in a designer to assist on a project, you're inviting them to be a part of your home's story. For this reason, it's important to choose someone who is experienced, trusted and has a good rapport. By partnering with a Star Furniture designer, you can streamline the process of designing your space as well as buying new furniture. Who doesn't love an all-in-one experience?

Partnering with a Designer: What to Expect

Everyone's experience of working with a designer will be unique. While some homeowners will only want minor assistance from a professional designer here and there throughout their home decor project, others will need more in-depth guidance every step of the way until their project is complete. If you've never worked with a designer before, knowing what to expect can help make sure that you get the most out of the process. Here's what working with an interior designer usually entails:

  • The designer will likely make recommendations about layout, furniture arrangement, and other features of the room before you begin purchasing items.
  • Next, you can select specific fabric choices, paint colors, furnishings, and accent pieces for the space. 
  • Find a balance between trusting the skill of your design pro and communicating your preferences and desires throughout the redesign process.

Bring Your Dream Home to Life with the Help of a Star Furniture Designer

Designing a space in your home should be a pleasant experience. While some home decor projects start out seeming simple and enjoyable, they can sometimes feel complicated and overwhelming, especially if you're trying to handle them on your own. The good news is that you don't have to transform your home all alone. Partnering with an experienced designer can provide many benefits to your redesign project, including helping you establish a clear vision, saving you time and money in the long run, and making sure the end result reflects your unique personality. 

At Star Furniture, our trusted design team is eager to show you how simple and convenient partnering with a professional designer can be. Partner with us and experience the unmatched quality of our interior design services in Houston. If you've never worked with a design pro before, stop by one of our showroom locations today to learn more about how we can help bring your dream home to life quickly, easily, and affordably!