10 Times to Hire an Interior Designer

1. You Want to Get a New Space Finished on a Schedule (and Well)

There are so many issues that can crop up in a large project, including safety standards and building codes, moving interior walls and (of course) getting the furnishings and details just right — all of which can translate into major delays. Whether you’re renovating or just bought a house, if you want to get your space put together all at once, a designer who is familiar with the process can coordinate everything while keeping timing hiccups to a minimum.

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2. There’s One Room You Really Want to Feel Pulled-Together

It could be the living room, kitchen or your master bedroom — whatever the space, if there’s one room you’d love to have feeling finished, an interior designer can help make that a reality. Instead of waffling over the hundreds of tiny details that go into decorating a space, an interior designer can guide you with confidence, editing your options so the entire process feels more streamlined. And (perhaps most important) when you opt to work with an interior designer, you’re committing to actually finishing the project once and for all.

The owners of the home shown here hired designer Ashleigh Weatherill to decorate their family room. Using several of the clients’ existing pieces and bringing in a few custom-made items, Weatherill was able to create a polished space that the homeowners will be reveling in on holidays and other special occasions.

See more of this updated traditional family room

3. You Want to Make Your Home Kid-Friendly Without Sacrificing Style

Designers have access to a wide range of fabrics and finishes that can come together to create a stylish and kid-friendly home. When a young couple with a toddler, a newborn and a dog bought the newly renovated home shown here, they reached out to Kelly Martin Interiors to add kid-friendly finishes and ample seating to create a comfy and stylish family room. Martin struck a balance between clearly practical — like the sofa covered in hotel-grade fabric that can stand up to toddlers and dogs —and the surprisingly sturdy, like the leather Eames chair and rich-hued vintage rug.

Search for area rugs in the Houzz Shop

4. You Want to Make a Hardworking Space Function Really Well

Interior designers aren’t just in the business of choosing paint colors and sofas — they’re also knowledgeable about how spaces get used. If you have a space that needs to serve multiple purposes, an interior design pro can help by creating custom-designed casework, reconfiguring an interior floor plan and creating 3D models so you can visualize exactly what your finished space could look like.

Designer Kirby Foster Hurd used Houzz Pro software to convert a former garage area into a bedroom and this comfortable, accessible bathroom with materials and features that won’t go out of style. We built the existing space in Houzz Pro,” she says. “And we were able to walk the clients through what their space would actually feel like in the 3D model floor planner.” (Check out Foster Hurd’s floor plan created using Houzz Pro, then toggle to the 3D Dollhouse and Walkthrough views.)

See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software

5. You Want to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone — at Least a Little Bit

A good interior designer will work closely with you to understand your taste and needs — but they’re also willing to push the envelope a bit. If you tend to stick with the same paint colors and furniture shapes and you want to shake things up a bit, an interior designer can help use what you already love as a bridge into something new. In this dining room designed by Cynthia Hayes Interior Design, for example, a few comfortingly familiar elements — like the white dining table and woven chairs — are given a jolt with an oversized black pendant light, bold photographic art and striking pottery.

How to Work With an Interior Designer

6. You Want to Live Large in a Small Space

If you live in a compact space, you know that it can be incredibly hard to fit in everything you need without feeling overstuffed. An interior designer can help you rethink your space, correct flow issues, solve storage problems and bring a serene and cohesive sense of style to a small space.

The owners of a horse farm in Kentucky hired interior designer Barbara Purdy to transform a dark and dreary 750-square-foot ranch house into a light and bright guest house for visitors. One standout detail from the redesign is this special reading nook crafted to fit a twin-size mattress. It provides comfortable seating during gatherings and an extra bed for overnight guests, with drawers below for storage and shelves that do double-duty as nightstands.

See more of this 750-square-foot Kentucky ranch house

7. You Want to Make Room at Home to Pursue a Passion

Dreaming of setting up a home music studio, a craft room or even a brewery? Instead of starting from scratch and trying to work out all of the technical details on your own, an interior designer can make sure you’re taking advantage of your space and following necessary codes. Designer Kitty Golding of Kitty & Co. spent time researching and talking with the homeowners to be sure the home brewery was properly vented and fully functional — as well as whipping up the fun pub-style hangout zone shown here.

See how this basement was transformed into a home brewery

8. You Need to Meet Clients in Your Home Office — and It’s Looking Less Than Professional

If you’re starting or expanding a business that involves meeting clients in your home, hiring an interior designer or decorator can be a smart investment to ensure your space looks and feels as professional as you are. Homeowner and interior designer Amy Mitchell of Home Glow Design transformed a 176-square-foot former blacksmith shop on her property into the new hub for her interior design business (shown here) in just six weeks. Working with a general contractor, Mitchell ripped up the floors, repaired and painted walls and replaced two windows before installing wall-to-wall-seagrass carpet, a mix of high and low furniture pieces and custom window treatments.

See more of this she-shed transformation

9. You Want to Faithfully Restore an Old Home, or Add Something New

If you live in an older home and want to respect the integrity of your home’s architecture, a trained interior designer can be sure your interior aligns with the appropriate period details. For the space shown here, the homeowners asked designer Pam Holschuh of Copper Leaf Interior Design Studio to give their turn-of-the-20th-century Victorian a complete remodel. Along with more traditional touches, the designer added a hidden bar in the library where dinner party guests can mingle.

See more of this secret bar in a restored Ohio Victorian