Should You Hire an Interior Designer?

Can an interior designer help in the real estate process? I think so in some conditions, and that’s why I wanted to discuss the topic. Whether you’re a seller thinking about redesigning before you sell or a buyer wondering what it takes to make a house feel like your own, interior design can play an important role in the process. Keep reading to learn if you should hire an interior designer on Lake Martin Alabama.

To help answer those questions, I sat down with Erin Baker of Liz Charles Interiors. Erin works with homeowners to create spaces that feel more functional, more comfortable, and more appealing to buyers.

Erin Baker’s Most Cost-Effective Design Advice

According to Erin, many buyers walk into a house and immediately think, “Wow, I need a little bit of change, but I don’t want to spend a lot of money.”

In those situations, Erin says the first thing she would do is paint. She considers paint one of the most cost-effective ways to make a home feel warmer, more comfortable, and more personal.

Erin also points out that many buyers either inherit furniture from the previous owner or already have furniture they plan to use. Before spending money on new pieces, she likes to walk through the space and think about how existing furniture can be rearranged to better fit the home.

She explained that sometimes moving a piece from one room to another, adding a chair, or changing a sectional can completely change how a room feels. The goal is to help buyers stop thinking about the previous owners and start seeing the house as their own.

Erin’s Advice on Furniture Scale and Room Balance

One design mistake Erin sees frequently happens in condos and smaller homes. Many people assume a small space requires only small furniture, but she believes most rooms benefit from a mix of larger and smaller pieces.

Erin explained that furniture scale is important. A room feels more balanced when different sizes work together instead of everything being the same size.

She also described a design exercise she learned while studying interior design. The exercise involved evaluating a room in terms of black-and-white balance. That way you can identify which areas felt visually heavy and which felt visually light.

According to Erin, homeowners should avoid concentrating all of the visual weight at the bottom of a room. For example, a black sofa, dark rugs, and dark wood furniture paired with a white ceiling can make a room feel visually pulled downward.

Instead, she recommends carrying darker colors higher into the room through artwork, wall treatments, or other design elements. Doing so helps create a more unified and balanced look.

Why Proportion and Depth Matter

Erin says another common mistake involves furniture that is either too large or too small for the space.

Good interior design relies on proportion. Not every piece should share the same width, height, or depth.

She recommends mixing and matching furniture sizes, textures, fabrics, paint colors, and lighting fixtures. Those layers create visual depth and help a room feel more inviting, more comfortable, and more thoughtfully designed.

Final Thoughts for Lake Martin Homeowners

I appreciate Erin Baker taking the time to share her expertise. If you are wondering if you should hire an interior designer or have design questions, Liz Charles Interiors is a great resource and can help you think through everything from furniture placement to larger design projects.

As for me, I sell real estate here at Lake Martin. If you’re thinking about selling this season, this is the time of year when I start meeting with homeowners to discuss preparation, pricing, and timing.

If you’re contemplating a sale and want to talk through your options, give me a call at the number on the top of this page or click on my CONTACT PAGE. I’m John Coley with Lake Martin Voice Realty, and I would love to help you out.

Interested in reading more blogs similar to this one? If so, then visit the links listed below:

The Big Mistake Made When Moving to Lake Martin Alabama

Home Inspection Expert Tips at Lake Martin Alabama