Virtual Interior Design: All you need to know
/A well-designed interior is something every homeowner aspires for, but often finds difficult to achieve due to lack of knowledge, time, and often, the cost of getting a professional design consultation. Whatever the reason be, there are solutions available today to cater to everyone’s needs, regardless of their limitations. A virtual interior design consultation is a simpler alternative to traditional interior design, with an easy process that is carried out online. Whether you are an introvert wanting a cozy home (but without having to interact with anyone), a workaholic with no time to spare, or just someone stuck in quarantine wishing for a comfortable home office, there are many reasons why the virtual design process might be the best bet for you. Here is a rundown of the process, what to expect from a virtual interior design, and why online design may be better than an in-person design consultation:
A video consultation may be done at this point of the process for you to explain your requirements to the designer in detail.
This is also a good time to let the designer know of any varying needs or design preferences within your family. With these two steps out of the way, you can now relax!
Renders are usually offered as an extra and are preferred by clients to help visualise the space more effectively. It can also act as a simple reference while putting together the design to understand what should go where.
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The online design style is one that works especially well today and is a modern adaptation of the traditional interior design model. It lends itself to people pressed for time or money and makes good design and aesthetics accessible to all. A good interior design handles more than just aesthetics - it helps create more functional and comfortable spaces and allows everyone to realise many functional benefits. There are several other benefits to getting an interior, designed virtually as well, some of which include:
Price: One of the biggest benefits to getting interiors designed online is the low cost. Getting an interior designer to take care of every part of your home design may not be feasible sometimes due to the high costs involved. As online design consultation charges are fixed and explained clearly in advance, a virtual consultation allows you to get an expert’s advice on how to design your space at a fraction of the cost. The virtual design also works out cheaper than most DIY design approaches, as a professional interior designer can help you avoid making costly mistakes and recommend the best options for your budget. This eliminates the need for trial and error and the costs you may incur in the process.
Ease: When it comes to designing or redesigning your home, an online design is by far the easiest way to get it done. A remote interior design service allows you to get design recommendations using a simple process which can be taken care of entirely from the comfort of your home. A designer will provide functional and aesthetic solutions suited to your needs, allowing you to simply choose a design that works best for you. As most products such as furniture and lighting can be purchased online, delivered to your location (and not to mention, returned, if you don’t like them), the entire interior design process can be done without setting foot outside your door.
Compromise: Disagreements are common in households when it comes to making design choices. As each member of a household may have different opinions on what they prefer and what they think would be best for the house, it is not uncommon for there to be a standoff, causing all progress to come to a standstill. A professional designer can help in such situations, drawing from their extensive knowledge of the field to provide interior design ideas and options that consider the opinions of all parties involved, and are agreeable for all of them. This expertise is available just a click away through virtual design, allowing you to receive guidance in exactly the steps you need and no further, while keeping the home design process simple and clear.
Photo by Kari Shea
@element5digital
The process for getting a home interior designed online is quite simple. Once you have decided to get an online design, the first step involves providing photos and measurements of the rooms to the designer.
This helps the designer visualise and understand the space as clearly as possible without having to visit in-person. After this, you can share your requirements and any home design inspiration or references you may have selected based on your design preferences.
The requirements could be something like turning a spare bedroom into a home office or a nursery, providing easy interior design and decoration ideas or a living room design to add a large couch or dining table to a small area.
The designer will now use all the details you’ve shared with them including the existing house design and come up with one or more interior design solutions to fit your space. This generally includes a mood board showing the design concept and style, a floor plan that allows you to clearly see the layout and what goes where, and a furniture and home decor design selection that suits your budget and needs. Another video consultation may be provided at this time for the designer to describe the design to you in detail and explain why certain elements were selected as part of the design solution. The designer can also help you with alternatives for further changes or recommend additional consultations as per your need. The designer may also offer 3D renders and walkthroughs on more complex designs to better explain the design and help you get a better understanding of what the space would look and feel like.
Once the design solution for your space has been finalised, all you need to do is implement the changes! The changes could be a simple rearrangement of things already present in your space, or something slightly more involved - such as, buying new furniture or accessories, changing the paint, adding or removing wallpaper, or even structural changes.
While painting or wallpapering can be done over a weekend, bigger changes involving modifications to the structure may require you to hire a contractor. Many online design firms can make recommendations to you from an approved list of contractors based on the work needed.
This is a great way to take away the pain of having to find someone who can execute the design to your liking. Whether you’ve opted for a few minor design changes, or a completely new design theme for your house, the online design process can be very efficient, and allow you to get design solutions faster. And with that, your house gets turned into a home that suits you and your family!
Photo by Lukas Blazek
Time: A virtual interior design process is easily the least time-consuming way to get a space designed. Not only does it cut down time spent on design meetings and home visits that are part of a standard design process, but it also reduces the need to spend long hours researching on how to design your space by yourself. This makes remote design ideal for those with less time to spare. You can consult with a designer and get your home designed during a short break at work or even while taking care of your child or housework! The short timeframe of the overall design makes it the perfect solution for households that run on a tight schedule.
Flexibility: An online design allows for more flexibility in the design process. Whether you would like to take care of some parts of the design yourself or get help only with specific areas of your house, it is easy to find a design package that meets your needs. Meetings can be scheduled at your convenience, giving you complete flexibility to choose a time slot, unlike a traditional in-person design consultation. The overall cost of the design consultation can make it easier for you to decide what works best in your home and not lose a large amount of money if you decide not to go ahead at any point of time. Altogether, these factors of virtual interior design provide significantly more freedom than the in-person design process.
Accessibility: A traditional in-person design involves being in close quarters with designers and others over long periods of time. With the ongoing pandemic, that may not be advisable, or even possible for that matter. The ability to get your home designed by a professional remotely is ideal during quarantine. This can be particularly beneficial for those who are immunocompromised or at risk, as it makes the process safer for them and reduces risk. The online home design service also brings the design process closer to designers who may be unable to travel and make house calls with all the restrictions in place.
An in-person offline design is convenient and accessible for many, as designers are involved in every part of the process. The traditional design process can also provide more comprehensive design solutions, as the designers are able to get a better feel for the space they have to work with and a better understanding of the people who will be using it. However, for those looking for an easier and faster way to get it done at a reduced cost, and for those who want to design their own houses with guidance from a professional, a virtual design is a great option. Online interior design services provide various design solutions to improve spaces, along with detailed instructions on what needs to be done, where to source materials and which contractors to employ, making it easy for anyone to revamp a home with just a few clicks.
