Is Virtual Design Right For You? 5 ways Know For Sure
I'll never forget the day I got in trouble for buying a pair of $80 Lucky Brand jeans. With my own money. That I earned being the top cashier at the end of the line at a La Madeleine in Austin, TX at the ripe old age of 16.
I'm sure you've had people question how you invest your hard-earned dolla dolla bills, too. But when you know what's right for you, you can always be confident in spending how you see fit.
Today, I want to help you understand what makes you a good fit for virtual interior design.
Not everything is for everyone. Knowing what works for you will give you confidence to invest well and wisely.
Virtual Interior design might be for you if:
01 | You are tech savvy.
Virtual interior design means that you’ll be communicating, well….virtually (it’s right there in the name!). So being comfortable meeting and interacting with your designer via email, video chat, online portals, etc. is crucial!
You’ll also need to be comfortable doing things like taking and uploading images, creating inspiration boards via services like Pinterest or Houzz, sharing links, accessing information on the internet in general. To ensure that your experience is smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy, you’ll want to make sure you can manage these tasks without needing guidance from someone on how to open a PDF.
02 | You have time to dedicate to your space.
Since your designer won’t be physically coming to your home, you’ll want to make sure you have the time (and desire) to tackle some things yourself. You’ll need to accurately measure your space, take photos, purchase products, and set up your space.
You’re not completely on your own with this, though! I provide step-by-step guides and detailed information (think clickable shopping lists and itemized floor plans) to you to complete those tasks with ease. For the things you’ll need to handle yourself, you don’t need to be a pro -- you just need to be able to follow directions and have the time to get them done.
03 | You have an idea of your style and goals for the space but want a little guidance.
If you already have a Dream Home Pinterest board and have a sense of what you like, you’re already well on your way with this one. Working with a designer can be a bit like show and tell -- you’ll have the opportunity to show your designer what you like and tell them why it’s important to you.
The goal is to create space that YOU love, that reflects YOUR style, that contains things that make YOU happy. And your designer will need to get to know YOU to bring your vision to life.
You’ll also be asked to make decisions and provide feedback about the ideas that your designer is presenting to you. Knowing what you like (and what you don’t!) will help you to make those decisions more quickly and easily.
04 | You’re working within a defined budget and want as much of the actual $$ to go toward physical transformation as possible.
I don’t personally subscribe to the idea that virtual interior design is only for people on a tight budget. For me, it’s really about priorities. Whether your budget is small or large, the important thing to consider is how much of that budget you want to go to the actual products that will make your dream a reality.
If you want the majority of your budget to be spent on what’s actually going into your space, virtual design is a great way to go. You’ll get guidance about how to invest your budget wisely, while saving on the implementation so you can either continue to keep costs low or splurge on higher quality pieces and finishes.
For you, the outcome and the budget are likely equally important. You want an elevated space while sticking within a defined budget. Virtual interior design can help you make that happen.
05 | You’re comfortable hiring contractors to help you get the job done.
There may be changes recommended for your space that will require a professional. Trust me, there are definitely times when it will save you time, money, and heartache to just go ahead and hire someone instead of trying to DIY it. If you’re comfortable hiring specialists (handyman, electrician, wallpaper installer, etc.) to handle those situations, go ahead and hire a virtual designer!
Virtual interior design is not right for everyone. But if you’re able to dedicate some time, communicate with your designer virtually about your style and goals, and take control of the transformation, virtual interior design might be right for you.
By the way, I refused to return my fancy Lucky jeans and I wore them multiple times a week for nearly 10 years, making my cost per wear less than a penny! To say that was money well spent is an understatement.
