February 9, 2021

Interior eDesign Explained

You definitely won’t be alone if your four walls are driving you crazy at the moment. With the pandemic currently keeping everyone behind closed doors, people are seeking out ways to improve their home environments by any means possible. As a direct result, Interior eDesign has seen its coming of age…

What exactly is eDesign?

In a nutshell eDesign enables Interior Designers to offer a remote room design service, never having to set a foot in your home.

How does it work?

Usually you will have an initial phone or video meeting to chat in broad detail about the project. You will then be asked to supply your designer with a sketched floor plan of your room with all the perimeter measurements, as well as the position of any windows, doors, radiators and sockets around the room. Alongside that, you will need to provide photos and/or a video of the room, and some room scheme inspiration images via a platform like Pinterest or Houzz. 

The designer will then work up a design direction based on your conversation and the inspiration images you have supplied. Once this is approved by you, the designer can get cracking on the detail of your design, the floor plan layout and the selection of furniture and accessories.

Isn’t this just the budget ‘Ikea’ Interior Design option?

It’s definitely cheaper than the traditional offering, but that doesn’t mean your designer is any less qualified to do a great job for you. Essentially, you will need to be prepared to be proactive. The eDesign offering doesn’t include a measuring up service or a project management element. It’s purely a creative offering and once your design is issued it’s up to you to purchase the recommended furniture and accessories, and pin down any trades that you need to complete the job.

How do I find the right Designer for me?

Due to the pandemic, many Interior Designers have taken their offerings online in some way. You may want to approach a designer whose house style particularly resonates with you, but in truth most don’t necessarily stick to a house style and are very capable of answering any brief. There are also a number of companies that dedicate their whole offering to this type of design.

What if I change my mind about the design?

Once the design direction has been agreed upon and the designer has worked up and issued your room scheme in line with the brief, then they have held up their side of the bargain. If you suddenly change your mind and want major changes, you will need to pay a bolt-on fee to cover the designer’s time.

What are the downsides?

Really very few! It’s advisable to purchase tester pots for any paint recommendations before committing because the aspect and available light in a room can dramatically alter how a paint feels in a space. That aside, it’s a very clearly and reasonably priced option, you get to keep control of the purse strings, and there are no time pressures on you to complete the job. Although you will have to bear in mind that recommended furniture and accessories can go out of stock if you wait too long.

Surely you can’t design a whole house via eDesign?

You’d be surprised! Designers are experienced professionals and very much in tune with creating the right flow throughout larger spaces. More often than not clients tentatively sign up for one room and love the process so much they go on to commission more rooms throughout their home.

Kitchens are perhaps the only exception to the rule where it would generally be recommended to go to a specialist company direct.

How much is it going to cost me?

Expect to pay around £300 for a fully re-designed room including a mood board, floor plan and product recommendations. 

How can I get started?

To see examples of my eDesign offering and to get in contact to discuss your particular project, click here