8 Reasons To Engage a Professional Interior Designer

Let us start by addressing and understanding the designation of “Professional Interior Designer” as perhaps, there may be certain misperceptions or many “wannabes” out there. The definition of “Professional”, based on The New International Webster’s dictionary explains the word as “relating to a profession showing sound workman’s command engaging in some activities”.

In many parts of Europe and United States, interior designing is considered as a respectable profession as being a lawyer, doctor or real estate advisor. And yes, a professional fee either based on an hourly or project basis is expected with the service.

In Singapore however, many “commercialized contractors” calling themselves and doubling up as “pseudo-designers” slash prices to make ends meet and “spoil the market” so to speak! It is therefore no wonder that in Singapore, for the less-travelled property owners to expect “free designs”. But how can property owners distinguish a professional designer from the wannabes? Personally, I believe compliments and testimonials come from clients about a good designer’s work is far better than for the designer to say ten good things about himself or herself! Hence, credentials and looking through a designer past portfolios or projects will be the best way to ascertain the true quality of a designer.

Here are also some reasons and benefits why you should consider engaging a professional Interior Designer:

It helps owners to avoid making unwise decisions and choices when it comes to purchasing materials, furniture lights, etc. You can be confident and proud to show off your property or home! Particularly if yours is a shop or restaurant where first impressions matter, you can be assured that you will not be a laughing stock to the trained eye. A professional interior designer sees and conceptualizes the BIG picture, whereas owners more often then not, merely focus on individual issues / materials / colours, etc. A professional interior designer can help to advice on an appropriate scheme to suit your lifestyle and budget. Property owners doing their own interior design will usually end up with a “miss-match” or somewhat “chaotic” interior; especially by neglecting consideration of colour, lighting, furniture and soft furnishings and other crucial details that “completes” the whole interior. A professional interior designer will help to ensure and co-ordinate all the above for you!


Owners may feel the pinch when incurring cost on the professional fee. However, just imagine for a moment how much more you will have lost (in terms of money and time) when you make the wrong commitments due to rash expenditure, inexperience of choosing fixtures and wrong measurements. For a fraction of the cost of your property, is it not wise to leverage on the knowledge and experience of those who know best and free yourself to do the things that you do best? Design Matters! A good design truly improves the way you live as seen from the many examples around us (e.g., electricity, lift, escalators, airplanes, etc).