What Does an Interior Designer Actually Do? – Show Home Edition
If you’ve never worked with an interior designer, you might wonder what they do and whether they add value to your project. Many assume that designers just pick colours and cushions, but that’s like saying a baker just adds the icing to cakes, it’s one of the smallest parts of the role.
In reality, an interior designer can make a huge difference in your development project by ensuring that the basics are covered across each property, you have a show home that wins you sales, functions well, and appeals to future buyers whilst you focus on building the rest of your site. Let’s explore the value an interior designer can bring and the specific tasks they handle throughout a build.
The Value of an Interior Designer
Let’s look at how having an interior designer can add value to your build projects.
1. Strategic Planning and Vision
Before any work begins, an interior designer works with developers to understand their vision for the whole project. They are not just focusing on how your properties will look when they are finished, they are researching your ideal buyer to ensure that it fits their lifestyle, fixes any problems they might have and leaves a lasting impression. Their ability to combine creativity with practical solutions makes them essential to any development project.
They’ll combine their knowledge of property design with their knowledge on getting the most out of a development budget and your ideal buyer to create a plan for your show home that will sell off plan.
2. Consistent Style and Flow
During any project it’s easy for different parts of a property to feel disjointed. An interior designer ensures a cohesive look throughout, from flooring and wall finishes to furniture and lighting. This consistency gives the entire project a polished, high-end finish that helps your show home stand out in the market.
They’ll also work with you to make sure elements of the show home flow into the rest of the properties on your development so that any prospective buyers can see the end vision regardless of the plot they go for. Things like flooring, tiles, paint, kitchens and blinds.
3. Maximising Space and Functionality
Designers are experts in optimising space, whether it’s making the most of small rooms or creating smart storage solutions. In a show home they balance the need for impressive living spaces with the functional needs of your buyers like good sized bedrooms, and extras like utility spaces and built in storage. This approach ensures the whole property works for your future buyers, maximising your end values.
4. Adding Value to Your Development
An interior designer does more than make a property look nice, they help increase its value. From maximising layouts to selecting finishes that maximise your budget to staging for sale, their design choices can significantly boost your property’s market price and overall returns. They know where to invest for the best returns, ensuring your renovation budget is used wisely.
We’ve had staged homes that have gone from stuck on the market for months to sold within a week after we’ve worked our staging magic. This step is not to be missed.
Key tasks your interior designer will help with
Now let’s look at the specific areas where an interior designer gets involved during a renovation:
1. Space Planning and Layout Design
Designers assess the architects layout and work with clients to create the most efficient design. This could involve moving walls or simply addressing the flow within each room, getting this right means plug points are in the right place and buyers can see exactly how the space will work. Designers create floor plans and 3D models to show how the property will look, ensuring the layout is functional and future-proof.
We do this across all of the properties, even though we’d likely only be adding furniture to your show home.
2. Selecting Materials and Finishes
From flooring to taps and door handles, designers help select materials that will fit with the style required but maximise your budget. With their knowledge of products and trends, they recommend the best options that balance durability, style, and value.
3. Choosing Colour Schemes and Lighting
Designers carefully choose colour schemes that flow well between rooms and enhance natural light. They also design lighting plans that balance ambient, task, and accent lighting, creating the perfect atmosphere. Well-placed lighting can also highlight key features and make rooms more inviting.
We can even help with M&E drawings to make sure every light switch and plug socket is in the correct place for your buyers.
4. Communicating with Contractors
While not always the project manager, designers will communicate with contractors to ensure their vision is properly executed. They work closely with builders, electricians, and plumbers to make sure the design plan is followed and any issues are resolved, avoiding costly mistakes.
At Aben you’ll be provided a full design pack with decoration plans, flooring plans and all of the extra details and joinery specifications your builder needs to complete the project.
6. Staging the Show home
Once the show home is finished its build, a designer will stage it to make it a show stopping space. The aim of the show home is to sell a lifestyle to your future buyers, so with your ideal buyer nailed down every detail is specific to them. They style each room to highlight its best features, making the space feel both aspirational and liveable. Well-staged properties sell faster and for higher prices.
If you are doing small or larger scale developments, an interior designer is a valuable member of your team. They help create functional, beautiful homes that increase property value and appeal to buyers. From layout planning to selecting materials and staging, their role covers every aspect of the design process, ensuring the best results.
If you’re looking to get the most out of your next property project, book in a free discovery call to see what value we can add to your development. For more design tips and inspiration, sign up for our Interior Insights mailing list, where we share weekly advice tailored to property developers and investors.
