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Young and red haired woman designer leaning on desk with interior projects and color picker, managing design budget.

RESPONSIBLE FOR A DESIGN BUDGET? 12 TOP NOTCH WAYS TO MANAGE IT

November 2, 2017

Forget the design budget

We’re not saying to [totally] throw caution to the wind, but it’s better to get your interior design goals out before you decide what and where to compromise on your design budget. Start off with a clean slate (and a new notebook), and record what it is you’re looking to achieve at the finish line. Keep style, aesthetic, and overall feel of the desired space in mind.

Dream big

To expand on the first tip, never say never when it comes to interior design. If there’s a piece you’re drooling over, but the price tag seems intangible, make sure you still include in your goals. Even if it doesn’t seem like it’ll fit into your interior design budget, keep in mind that there are always options. Use the “Notes” app on your smartphone to keep an updated list with you at all times!

Plan to succeed

Detailed organization is totally underrated. Along with your goals, invest in a detailed summary of your interior design budget. Think of it as a blueprint that you can review when you need to so you can stay on track. Analyze everything from what spaces you’re designing, to which pieces of furniture will go where, and how much you’re able to spend on each piece.

Use custom designs

To achieve one-of-a-kind styles, become the creator. Over at Audrey Lane, there’s an amazing design tool where you can create your own custom tile! There are also design experts on hand who can offer their two cents.

Shop smart

What you spend your money on will depend on a number of things, from what kind of space you’re creating to the needs of the client. Never underestimate the gems you can find on the world wide web! Talk with fellow designers to see where they find the most success and see if you can apply it to your project.

Weigh options

There are a plethora of decisions to be made so it’s important to give yourself options along the way. Skip the narrow-mindedness and swap it for optimism. Openness could be the difference between super success and massive failure.

Priority over desire

This is a tough one, but it can make all the difference. Prioritize the necessities you need to really knock this interior design project out of the park. Everything else is either a distraction or something that can be added down the line.

Build as you go

Let’s say you’ve maxed out your budget, and your project is technically complete. But, you really wanted that massive mirror to top it all off. First off, breathe. It’s all gonna be okay. Second, it’s not the end of the world if you have to progress the space into the dream that it deserves to be. Could there be a phase two for this particular project, with an expanded budget?

Stay focused

Avoid impulse buys at every cost! It definitely helps to keep your list of priorities nearby when distractions try to peel you away from the goals you’ve set.

Save where you can

There are always corners you can cut when designing for a client. But, be wise about where you’re going to cut. It is better to splurge on what’s necessary to reach your goal than not. Once you do that, it should become more clear how you can juggle your expenses.

Spend the leftover design budget

Truth be told, this rarely happens. You know, when you have some leftover spending from a project. However, it is possible, so be prepared with this list of savvy ways to spend leftovers from an interior design budget!

Get inspired

We like to get inspiration from Instagram, especially from the custom tile gals at Audrey Lane. But however, it is that you prefer to get inspired, do that! Use past projects to help you figure out the yes’s and no’s for whatever project you’re working on currently.

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This post was written by Elizabeth Chambley