Working with an interior designer has always been a luxury and out of reach for many homeowners. But with the advent of online interior design services, it’s now easier than ever to get the help you need without the cost or hassle.
Most online interior design services work in a similar way. You upload photos of your space, answer questions about your style and budget, and communicate with a designer via email, phone or video chat. Some services, like Havenly and Modsy, provide a 3D view of your room that you can interact with to make changes and see how furniture will look in your space.
There are a variety of packages to choose from with online interior design services, including mini for $99 and full for $159 (plus an in-person option at $499). These typically include a few meetings, unlimited revisions and access to your designer for the duration of the project. Some also offer a 3D rendering of your room, a floor plan and a virtual shopping cart to purchase items from that can be shipped directly to your home.
One important thing to keep in mind is that most online design companies pay their designers based on a percentage of the product sales they refer to clients, so they are incentivized to steer you toward certain products. This can create a conflict of interest and doesn’t always result in the best design decisions for your space.
Stuccco, on the other hand, only pays their designers a flat fee for each project, which leads to higher quality and more personalized designs that are free of sales pressure. Plus, Stuccco designers don’t have to juggle multiple projects and can focus solely on yours, which results in a more collaborative and flexible process.
It’s no secret that running an independent interior design business can be a huge undertaking. But with the right knowledge and support, it’s possible to build a successful brand in this saturated industry. To start, new designers should consider taking a decorating course or working as an assistant to an experienced an online interior designer to gain experience and build their portfolio. Once they’ve built a solid portfolio, they can start their own online design businesses with the help of an interior design platform, such as Foyr.
Other options for those who aren’t quite ready to launch their own businesses include finding freelance or part-time work with traditional design firms, offering their services at home shows and events, or taking on a few smaller projects with friends or family members to gain experience and build a reputation. In addition to gaining valuable hands-on experience, this is an excellent opportunity to practice building and promoting their portfolios while working on projects they love.