In a world where convenience often trumps tradition, the realm of interior design has seen a shift towards virtual platforms offering online decorating services. However, the allure of having a professional interior designer curate your living space goes far beyond the digital realm.
In this blog, we will dive into the undeniable benefits of hiring a full-service interior designer over opting for the seemingly efficient but sometimes impersonal approach of online decorating companies such as Havenly interior design. Keep reading to learn the pros and cons of each service so that you can make the choice that is right for you.
What is Havenly?
Havenly is an online design service similar to Modsy that creates digital room designs for you based on your answers to a brief survey. They give you a shopping list of things to purchase to create the look on your own.
What is Welcome Home Styling?
Welcome Home Styling is a full-service interior design firm located in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Unlike online design companies like Havenly, we offer full-service interior design, full-service renovations, and new build design, as well as fully curated shoppable digital design boards for clients who want convenience and personable designs. No matter your needs, we are here to help!
If you’re searching the internet for an interior designer near me or an interior decorator near me, Welcome Home Styling is a perfect choice for anyone in the greater Jacksonville, FL metro area and people who live in St. Johns county Florida too.
From conceptualization to execution, we ensure that every element seamlessly integrates into the overall aesthetic, creating a harmonious and cohesive environment. This attention to detail is often challenging to replicate through mainstream online services that may lack a comprehensive understanding of your space and how your space functions on a day-to-day basis.
Online Interior Design Services
There are a ton of online interior design services available now: Havenly, Decorilla, Modsy, Stucco, roomLift, and the list goes on. Many people seek out e-design services because of their convenience. You don’t need to find someone in your area, or meet anyone in person – all you need is an internet connection. For those with jam-packed schedules, this can be attractive.
These online design services have customers start by taking photos and measurements of their rooms. Some then have you take a short generic style quiz to indicate your preferences. The service then forwards all this information to their designers, whom you’ve never had a face-to-face conversation with, and sends you back a digital mockup of your space with a shopping list.
That all sounds great, right? It seems like a fast way to get a new look for your home without even having to leave your desk. But unfortunately, the convenience does come at a price – and sometimes using these online interior design services will leave you with more work instead of less.
After reading Havenly reviews and the reviews of other online design services, we noticed a lot of downsides and frustrated customers. The most common negative review of Havenly design services is limited personalization.
Havenly interior design’s website advertises that it has created over 100,000+ designs. It’s easy to see that they are focused more so on quantity versus quality. Many customers feel that designs produced by online interior design services are not tailored to their specific needs for the space and preferences, and may not fully reflect their style.
Although one of the selling points of online services such as Havenly is that they’re faster than traditional businesses, many customers have complained about long waits in between rounds of feedback, some people wait as long as up to 30 days.
Online interior decorator services often have partnerships with specific brands and vendors, meaning that customers may have limited options when it comes to selecting furniture and decor for their space. And if those are sold out or back ordered… you’re out of luck!
So if you are expecting a personalized and expert approach to designing your space that truly reflects your style and needs fluidly and cohesively, hiring a professional interior decorator is the better option.
Welcome Home Styling Offers Digital Design Services
While Welcome Home Styling offers full-service designs for clients who are looking for us to take on all of the elements of their design process such as ordering, project management, and installation, we also offer virtual design board services!
Welcome Home Styling’s Virtual design, also known as digital design, is the perfect solution for individuals who want professional design guidance and direction for their space with the personalization and experience of an interior designer but prefer to take charge of ordering and styling the products themselves.
First, Welcome Home Styling offers a one-hour interior design consultation meeting is a valuable opportunity to connect with your designers and gain initial insights and advice for your project. No matter what interior design service you select (Virtual Board, Full Service, or New Build/Renovation) we always start with a consultation. This allows for more personalized service.
During the consultation we will discuss the project room(s), your design preferences and style, functionality, and any specific challenges or concerns you may have. We will briefly touch on the budget to ensure that our recommendations align with your goals. We will discuss our initial interior design ideas such as color schemes, layout ideas, and overall design direction, and help answer any questions you may have about our design process from start to finish.
From there, we will schedule a “measurement day” when we come and get all the measurements needed for spatial planning and furnishing selections. This is scheduled at a separate time after the consultation so that we can give you our full and undivided attention, without having to rush through your vision and try and measure your space(s) at this time.
Once we have all of this information, we get to work on the design of your space. Designing your space entails spatial planning such as floor plans for furniture layouts, and detailed selections down to the hardware and coffee table books. There is a lot that goes into the interior design process so this can take up to 2 weeks to get you a finalized presentation. We will set up a virtual meeting to discuss with you the design and how we envision the execution of the items listed.
Whether you’re revamping a room in your home, or planning a full home makeover, our Virtual Design service offers you interior decorating expertise and personalized recommendations.
Similar to an online service like Havenly interior design, you will receive a customized design board, product list, along with spatial planning, and design guidelines to help you execute the plan effectively, with the added personalization that Havenly and other online interior design companies lack.
Elevate Your Space with the Help of a Professional Interior Designer
As we wrap up our exploration of interior design options, it’s evident that the choice between hiring a local interior designer or interior decorator and utilizing an online decorating service like Havenly interior design depends on individual preferences, priorities, and the desired outcome for your living space. While both options offer unique advantages, there’s a compelling case for the benefits of entrusting your project to a full-service interior designer.
One of the standout advantages of working with a local interior designer near me is the personalized touch they bring to the table. Unlike online platforms, full-service designers offer face-to-face interactions, creating a collaborative and intimate design experience. This personal touch allows for a deeper understanding of your lifestyle, taste, and aspirations, resulting in a space that truly reflects your personality.
The hands-on collaboration, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering a tailored experience contribute to a final result that exceeds expectations. The expertise of a full-service interior designer ensures that every element in your space is carefully curated, creating a home that is not only visually stunning but also functional and reflective of your unique style.
If this sounds like the best fit for you, we would love to hear more about your project! Welcome Home Styling’s digital design services are available to everyone no matter your location.
Our full-service interior design services are for people located in the Jacksonville, Florida area and St. Johns county area including Nocatee, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach, and Sawgrass. Click the link below to send us a message regarding your interior design project. We can’t wait to meet you.