Many people wrongly assume that an interior designer is someone you hire to come in after construction or renovation. Once the floor plan is laid out and the drywall is set, things are much harder to change. At that point, an interior designer in Charleston can be limited in terms of what they can do with a space. For many reasons, it makes more sense to have them involved from the start. These are just a few of those reasons:

Built-Ins

Built-ins are a great way to accessorize and they can serve many functions if planned correctly. Whether you are building shelves for pantry organization or showcasing family heirlooms, installing them during construction is much less expensive than doing it after the fact. After your renovations are done, the last thing you will want to do is to start more construction. An interior designer can help by looking at your floor plan and selecting functional built-ins so that they are complete when it is time to move in.

The Flow of Your Floor Plan

Often, it is hard to imagine the actual day-to-day flow of your home when you’re looking at a blueprint. It is advantageous to live in a space to figure out how it will work with your lifestyle, but when you’re building a home or conducting a heavy renovation, you don’t have that opportunity. Interior designers are experts at devising functional layouts that give your home the best “flow” so that you can maximize spaces and reduce flow hurdles that most people don’t think about or can’t anticipate.

Furniture is Not an Afterthought

Many people start a design by putting up the walls and then shopping for furniture that fits. It is much more efficient to know what furniture you want in a room so that you can determine the right dimensions before putting objects in it. For instance, if you have a large family and want a sectional to seat everyone, it is important to know where the long end will go, where the television will be set, and how much space you need for everyone to fit comfortably. An interior designer can help to choose the staple items and lay out the rooms ahead of time so that the design “fits” the furniture you love.

Kitchen Design is a MUST

Kitchen layouts take a lot of thought, and many people feel strongly about what appliances go where. Things like which side of the sink to place the dishwasher on, the size and position of the refrigerator, and the placement of the stove relative to cooking prep areas are all things that take advanced planning. An interior designer will help you answer these questions so your kitchen is laid out in the most efficient design for you and your family. Imagine the heartbreak of finding out too late that the stove would have been so much better in a different spot.

Coastal Kitchen Renovation

Lighting, Electrical Outlets, and “Final Touches”

The placement of lighting fixtures, electrical outlets, and switches might not seem that important, but it’s best to think carefully about where you need these items. An interior designer is an expert at directing the type of lighting you need for specific areas of the home and assuring that you have enough electrical outlets to fuel all of your devices in headquarters-style areas. Not having enough outlets or improperly placed electrical conveniences is a considerable inconvenience and one you are stuck with once construction is complete.

Although most people assume that an interior designer is a professional who comes in after construction to place decor and furniture, they do much more. If you hire an interior designer in Charleston pre-build, they can ensure that your home operates with a perfect flow, provides the space you need for entertaining, and has a practical kitchen. At CHD Interiors, we help with the entire renovation and construction process from start to finish, making sure you get the touches that make a house a functional home. Contact us today to get started.