Why You Need to Hire an Interior Designer Before a Builder 

Hiring an interior designer in the pre-construction phase can save everyone time and ensure a well-planned home, from ceiling height to outlet placement. 

When Should I Hire an Interior Designer? 

If you think interior designers are only responsible for the final flourishes after your architect and  builder have created the blank canvas, spoiler alert: ​You’re missing the opportunity to make the  most of your design investment and add those personalized features that make your space feel  more yours. 
Before construction begins, interior designers review blueprints and floor plans, and see the potential of a particular wall or area of your new home. 
We can look at your walk-in closet and anticipate where you’re going to need built-in storage for your impressive shoe collection…  
Show your builder where you need a discreet outlet for that wall-mounted TV or light fixture in your home office above where your desk will be, so the wiring is done right the first time…  
And turn wasted space into ​a master bedroom breakfast bar​ where you can savor a  freshly-brewed cup in the morning ​before​ the kids start clinging to your appendages and sharing  their snot with your freshly steamed work shirt. 

There are so many decisions that go into building a home, and many of them need to be made before the hammers come out and the flooring gets installed.  

Here are 3 reasons why hiring an interior designer before a builder can help you make smarter  design decisions from the outset, so you can avoid surprise costs and frustrating delays during  your remodel or new build project. 

1. A Designer is Your Liaison to Your Builder and Architect
Building a house or planning a remodel is a big job. Having a team of professionals that can collaborate from day one is the best way to keep things moving and on schedule, account for your must-have design features before building begins, and avoid backtracking construction. 
Hiring an interior designer gives you a voice at the table and someone who knows your Pinterest mood board inside-out. We spend time on-site, ensuring your architect’s vision is reflected in your home’s interior and anticipating problems before they have a chance to become headaches. 
You can count on us to advocate for your needs at every stage of the construction process, saving you the stress of dealing with contractor-speak and unanswered voicemails. And that means no more losing sleep over contractors taking liberties with your budget or shortcuts that cheap out on your functional needs and personal style. 

An interior designer can also discuss scale changes with your architect to create furniture  arrangements that maximize your views or make it easier for you to keep an eye on your kids  when they’re playing cannonball-on-each-other’s-heads in the pool.  
From designing skylights in rooms where natural light is lacking and making suggestions for where plumbing and heating need to be rerouted, hiring an interior designer pre-construction ensures your home is a cohesive masterpiece that feels completely tailored to your living habits. 
Without this kind of expert foresight, you risk having a living room layout where your furniture  feels too squished or there’s a constant glare that disrupts your viewing pleasure of The Bachelor  thanks to a careless window placement.  

Diagram One: This is the original kitchen layout a builder suggested for one of my clients

Diagram 2: This is the new kitchen layout I designed for the same client after they hired me 

2. Make Your Design Investment Last
Regardless of how much you’re ready to invest in your dream home, you want a home that’s built  to last. If you decide you like the high-end look and reasonable price of those brass faucets for your bathroom, your builder will probably give you the old head nod and move forward without informing you of your options.  
On the other hand, an interior designer will let you know that brass may be more high-maintenance than a metal like polished nickel, so you feel more confident in the decisions  you’re making and the long-term impact they’ll have on your home. (We’ll also talk you out of those Zebra striped kitchen cabinets…because that’s what true friends do.)  
An interior designer not only professionally manages your budget and carefully curates every detail of your home, but we help you decide where investing in beauty or convenience may be worth it, like motorizing some of your larger window coverings.
As an expert in sourcing materials, your interior designer will also know exactly where to find what you’re looking for and how to get quality workmanship without breaking the bank. 
Hiring an interior designer is not only going to build you a home that’s beautiful, but also built to last.

3. Form Should Always Follow Function
Not only do interior designers keep your big vision in mind for how things will come together in  the end, but they also obsess over the small details that are easy for untrained eyes to miss  because they recognize they’ll have a big impact on how your home functions. 
The last thing you want is a master bedroom with zero space for bedside tables or a home office where the only outlet to plug your computer into is 7 feet away from your desk. This is where hiring an interior designer ​before​ a builder helps you avoid costly redesigns and change orders.  
Unlike builders, interior designers recognize that every single decision has a domino effect on the rest of your space. That means room dimensions should be dictated by the layout you want, not the other way around. Electrical outlets, AC-registers, and plumbing all need to be pre-planned to accommodate furniture placement and create better flow in your space. 

An interior designer finds creative ways to accommodate your current lifestyle while also planning for your family’s future needs, so you can create a space you love that functions exactly the way you need it to. 

So if you’re thinking of hiring an interior designer and you’re asking yourself when to get them involved?

The answer is: As soon as possible. 

Got an exciting remodel or new build project coming up that you need to hire an interior designer in Tucson, Scottsdale or Phoenix? 

Set up a consultation

“Our very large scale remodel and addition project was overwhelming until we found Kimberly, who instantly put us at ease. She helped us with communication issues with our contractor and took the remodel experience from one of anxiety and anguish to one of excitement and relief. We trusted her opinions and appreciated her fairness and professionalism. She helped us choose high quality workmanship but at the same time saved us so much money. Her personality made everything so much fun, and we had the ultimate trust in her opinions, fairness and professionalism. We even trusted her opinion when she thought we should spend a little bit more money for beauty or convenience in the long run – such as motorizing some of our larger window coverings. She was always right!”
-Dr. A Chandler- University of Arizona