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Hiring an interior designer can be valuable, but pricey.
That’s not to say you can’t get professional, personalized styling tips and home makeovers if you’re on a budget. And let’s face it, most of us are now.
Here you can find your own design guru for advice on furniture placement, interior trends and color schemes – and some don’t cost a dime.
Ask an expert: Heal’s offers in-store and online interior design services. An expert comes to your home to take measurements
No costs involved
There’s plenty of help in the High Street if you know where to look. Many offer virtual advice, if you prefer to chat from the comfort of your home via a video call.
Next offers free virtual, in-store and at-home appointments. A consultant questions you about your style, budget and what you want to achieve.
You will then receive a custom mood board and floor plan, complete with a shopping list on how to achieve the look.
Samples will be sent to assist with any furniture selection. If you spend more than £5,000 Next offers discounts.
Free advice is also offered at John Lewis. Enter your zip code online and you can choose from available stylists near you.
You will receive a mood board, floor plan and 3D visualization and a list of all discussed products with fabric samples.
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive service, you’ll get a 30-minute initial call and an invite to review their suggested design scheme.
“Some customers want a quick update, so it’s just a matter of putting together accessories that can breathe new life into a room,” says Wil Law, home design stylist at John Lewis. “Others are planning a multi-room makeover. I can only work with a client for an hour or many months.”
At Heal’s there is an interior planning service. It includes an initial conversation with an in-store designer, who will come to your home to take measurements.
For those living outside of London, no home visits are offered, but virtual advice is on heals.com.
You can also take a free one hour session at Designers Guild, in one of the London stores or virtually.
A stylist talks about fabrics, wallpaper, paint, furniture and accessories. There is a fee if you want a more complete service.
You can have a free one hour session at Designers Guild (designersguild.com) in any of the London stores or virtually
Cheap and cheerful
If you don’t mind investing a bit in your design sessions, check out Ikea’s design advice for £25. This will get you an hour of online session. You get a product collage, a 2D map and a detailed shopping list.
For an enhanced service for £90 you can get two 45 minute online meetings and 3D views of the room and wall height as extras. This service limits the advice to one room.
Make an investment
Design help is on hand from a number of high-end brands. Although there is a higher price tag, you may get some or all of your money back if you buy some or all of the suggested items.
Oka’s design service starts with a free consultation in-store or online.
After a visit to your home or a detailed look at your plans, the designer makes a proposal.
Oka charges £450 for design help, although the fee is waived if you spend £5,000 on furniture and accessories. Upon delivery, the designer will unpack and style everything for you.
At Designers Guild, the interior design service (in addition to the free hour-long chat) will buy you a home visit – as long as you’re in London or the Home Counties – there’s an extra charge if you’re further afield.
A design package with samples and virtual mood boards is created, as well as a full quote for the proposed items. If you proceed, the £295 charge will be deducted from the final bill, with no minimum spend.