Interior Design Trends

How Much Does an Interior Decorator Cost?

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Interior Designer?

By San Francisco DesignInterior Design Tips, Interior Design Trends

How Much Does an Interior Decorator Cost?

You’re not alone if you’ve ever wanted a total home refresh. Every homeowner wants a comfortable and chic space, but few people have the eye for design that successfully accomplishes both goals. Enter professional interior designers. Not only are interior designers trained on the ins and outs of design styles, but they are also intimately familiar with color theory, virtual design, and project management.

When you’re on the hunt for the right professional, there are several factors to consider before you make a decision. Which styles do they specialize in? What is the lead time for a project? Do they have connections with furniture companies?

These questions are all important, but we are willing to bet your biggest question is, “How much does an interior designer cost?”. After all, a design can only go as far as your wallet can. However, many people forget you’re not paying for throw pillows and paint swatches when hiring someone to design your home. When you hire an interior designer, you’re paying for convenience, total project management, peace of mind, and years of experience & schooling to back it up. An interior decorator is worth much more than their price tag.

How Much Does an Interior Decorator Cost?

Here are some of the most common ways professionals charge for their services and some fees you may not have considered. They include consultation fees, cost per hour, and project fees.

Consultation Fee

Some designers charge a fee for an initial consultation to review your tastes, likes & dislikes, and budget. A consultation typically lasts about an hour, and interior decorators generally charge accordingly. An initial consultation can cost between $50 and $250, depending on the hourly rate. Some professionals, however, don’t charge a consultation fee at all—though it’s rare. As with hiring anyone, research before sitting down for a consultation.

Pay-by-Hour

Most designers charge by the hour for their services. Typically, you can expect an hourly fee of around $150, but a designer’s rate can range between $50 and $500 per hour. Considered the simplest way to pay an interior designer, the pay-by-hour method doesn’t include furniture or additional materials.

Pay-by-Project

Depending on the needs and scope of your home project, your interior decorator may charge a flat fee for their services. The contract should list precisely what is included in this fee.

By the Square Foot

In this option, your space’s square footage determines your interior designer’s cost. Larger spaces will cost more, and smaller spaces will cost less. Paying by square foot is a common practice for commercial design.

Complimentary Design

Hold on. Did we just say “complimentary design”? That’s right! At San Francisco Design, we don’t charge for our interior design services when a customer purchases. When you buy furniture for your home’s design or remodel, the design is on us! We provide everything from the initial consultation & design planning to project coordination & execution, free of charge. We don’t stop there, however. When you book a whole home design process with our professionals, we provide a discount on our furniture. What could be better than that?

What to Consider Before Meeting With a Designer

Before you meet with an interior decorator, there are a few things you need to know about yourself and your home. Consider these things before meeting with a designer:

Your Budget

One of the most important things you should know before starting a project with an interior designer is how much you can spend. Interior design projects, in particular, must have a clear budget before jumping in. Whatever your budget, give yourself some room to breathe in case you run into unexpected expenses.

Your Style

Before you meet with anyone about designing your home, you should have a good idea of the overall style you’re looking for. You don’t need to know everything about your style, but saying “I like a lot of things” won’t cut it. Don’t be afraid to be picky when you talk to your designer; make it very clear what you’d like to have in your home.

On the flip side, you should clearly know what you dislike when meeting your designer. There’s nothing wrong with having a list of things you’re NOT looking for. After all, you’re the one who will see it every day!

Interior Design at SFD

San Francisco Design has the expertise to transform your home’s interior, regardless of style, budget, or project scope. Our Utah-based interior designers are professionals who are incredibly skilled at what they do. If you want the space of your dreams, hire us to do it for you! Contact us today to get started on your next project and get all the info on costs & hourly rates.

November 2, 2020

Sofa vs couch - Side by side comparison shows the difference between sofa and couch

Couch vs. Sofa: What is the Difference?

By San Francisco DesignFurniture, Interior Design Tips, Interior Design Trends

Sofa vs. Couch

The journey to finding the perfect sofa can include a lot of questions. One that comes up repeatedly is whether you should use the term couch or sofa. You might hear a mother tell her kids to get off a couch. Another time, that woman could call that same piece a sofa. It is a tricky distinction that not everyone understands.

Many associate sofas with formal spaces and couches with more casual living rooms or family rooms. In the end, few people truly know the correct terminology for the couch and sofa. Should you say that you are sitting on a couch? Does a sofa look different than a couch? Will interior designers sneer at you if you say couch instead of sofa? Even if you say the right one, do you know why you say couch or sofa? Answering these questions will help you feel comfortable looking for a new couch or sofa. The interior design experts at San Francisco Design outlined each item’s origins and the subtle differences between the two in the breakdown below.

Let’s look at what you should know about couches vs. sofas and the difference between them.

Sofa

What Is The Origin Of The Word ‘Sofa’?

The term ‘sofa‘ dates back to 2000 BC in Egypt and derives from the Arabic term ‘suffah,’ meaning wooden bench covered in cushions and blankets. Looking back at the original renderings of sofas will further clarify the definition. In those days, sofas were an exclusive luxury for the upper class. Then, the Romans started enjoying sofas in the form of chaise loungers. As time passed and the Industrial Revolution brought forth updated styles, designers started thinking of ways to appeal to the masses. Affordability and comfort took center stage, with ornate designs thrown to the wayside.

Modern-day sofas now incorporate comfortable fabrics and cheaper textiles for an updated design. A few designers who popularized the production of modern sofas include Le Corbusier and Charles Eames. Their sofas looked beautiful without sacrificing function. Today, sofa manufacturers are finding new ways of improving upon past designs. Some changes that have hit the industry lately include additional fabrics, improved leather tanning techniques, and advanced foam engineering.

Couch

History Of The Couch

The term ‘couch‘ stems from the French word ‘coucher,’ meaning to lie down. The history of this furniture item is the same as the sofa. The terms are interchangeable. However, most in the interior design industry rarely use the term couch but opt for a sofa.

So, are you wrong if you use the word ‘couch’? – No. A couch is something you lounge on, let your kids play on, and let your dog use it from time to time. It is a big, fluffy furniture item found in man caves and laid-back television rooms.

What Is The Difference Between a Couch and a Sofa?

The difference between a couch and a sofa is style and function. You can associate sofas with formal living spaces and hosting opportunities. Sofas sit a few people rather than an entire family or group, and you probably wouldn’t use them daily. Couches are the opposite. You use your couch often for sleeping, watching television, and spending time with your loved ones. They can come in various sizes and styles but probably seat more than four people.

It doesn’t matter if you use the word couch or sofa. Our designers advise that you try not to stress about it. If someone corrects you, take it with a grain of salt. The minuscule differences between the two might make a difference, but be confident in whatever word you choose.

BROWSE SOFAS

Practical Tips for Choosing Between a Couch and a Sofa

Choosing between a couch and a sofa is about more than just aesthetics—it’s about creating a space that fits your lifestyle and reflects your personal style. Here are some practical pointers to guide you:

Evaluate Your Space: If you’re furnishing a large, open living area, a structured sofa with clean lines can provide a polished focal point. For smaller rooms or cozy nooks, a couch with plush cushions might create the inviting atmosphere you’re going after. Our experts could even help you visualize how different pieces will look in your home.
Consider Functionality: Do you need seating for casual lounging or formal entertaining? Sofas are often ideal for hosting, while couches are great for family movie nights or weekend relaxation.
Match Your Style: For a modern or minimalist interior, a tailored sofa works beautifully. If you prefer a relaxed, eclectic vibe, choose a deep-seated couch with textured fabrics or bold patterns. Not sure what fits your home? Our designers can help you get to the perfect balance of comfort and style.
Think About Your Household: Families with young children or pets might prefer stain-resistant materials and durable construction. A sectional couch with removable cushions can be a practical choice, while a sofa in high-quality leather offers elegance that ages gracefully.
Explore Customization: Need something specific? Many sofas and couches can be customized in size, material, or even modular configurations to fit your unique needs. We can help you create a piece that’s truly yours.

Browse Our Couch and Sofa Collections

San Francisco Design offers a selection of modern and contemporary sofas and couches for your living, dining, and bedroom areas. Our contemporary sofas and couches look great without sacrificing any comfort. Our online store and Utah showrooms are stocked with living room furnishings in various materials, including cloth and leather.

You can even receive advice from our interior design specialists to help you find the perfect living room furniture that brings your space to life. Browse our online store to see our hand-selected items in stock and ready to ship. You can also visit our Salt Lake City and Park City furniture stores to see what else we have. Come in today and outfit your living room with the latest modern couches and contemporary sofas.

June 3, 2020

how to clean a modern sofa by San Francisco Design

The Latest and Greatest Modern Designs

By San Francisco DesignInterior Design Trends

It’s no surprise that modern design continues to dominate the design landscape. Sleek, sophisticated, and minimal, the modern style is a perfect choice for any home. While other design styles have become old and outdated, contemporary design continues to be a driving force. Here are some of the latest and greatest aspects of modern design, as well as some style tips from our expert interior designers:

Curves and Smooth Edges

Perhaps one of the most notable shifts in modern design is the shift from clean to curves and smooth edges. That’s not to say clean, sharp lines aren’t used in modern style; in fact, many designers are combining minimalist sofas with curved accent chairs and office furniture. Incorporating both curves and sharp lines adds dimension and texture to a space, making it feel more like home.

Contemporary Fireplaces

One of our favorite modern trends is that of the contemporary fireplace. Forget the notion of bulky red-brick fireplaces, today’s fireplace is all about sleek simplicity. Many homeowners are opting for seamless fireplaces that blend into the wall but still brighten and enhance the space aesthetically. Not only are wall fireplaces an innovative accent to your contemporary living room, but they also require virtually no maintenance. Could it get any better than that?

Greenery

We’ve said it before, and we will say it again: adding greenery to your home is a fantastic way to bring color and authenticity into its interior. A word of advice? Our designers recommend that you accent your home with real greenery rather than faux plants. Not only do real indoor plants look more genuine, but they can also improve your health-boosting your mood and clearing toxins throughout the home. Try to pair your indoor greenery with a unique vase or container for that eye-catching effect.

Old and New in Harmony

Contrary to popular belief, contemporary design isn’t dependent on the concept of “new”. While the incorporation of unique accents is important, old is just as stylish as new. Take some of your trinkets from vacations past and pair them with new statement pieces for a design that puts others to shame.

Darker Kitchens

Modern kitchens of the past have incorporated white into their designs, often relying on the color white to do all the heavy lifting. From subway tiles to appliances, many contemporary kitchens have been realized in white over the years. However, the trend for an entirely white kitchen is falling by the wayside in wake of darker hues. Regal blues, emerald greens, wood tones, and everything in between serve to add depth to the most-used room in the home.

Personalize Your Space

Gone are the days of impersonal wall paintings. Today’s modern designs are unique because they have character. Own your space by decorating with things that mean something to you — don’t be afraid to let your personality show through the walls and decor. DIYing a light fixture here or displaying a personalized canvas there is the perfect way to make your space modern and unique.

Statement Furniture

More than ever, modern interior design is turning to furniture to be the focal point of every space. From living room to home office, the success of your contemporary design depends on your furniture. After all, furniture is the first thing the eyes are drawn to. However, finding modern furnishings with personality is no easy feat. Many contemporary pieces can be bland, dysfunctional, or just downright uncomfortable, making your space feel less like home and more like an awkward art exhibit. Luckily, pieces like these are the perfect combination of comfortable and contemporary.

San Francisco Design

No matter which aspects of modern design you would like to implement in your home, let San Francisco Design be of assistance. With contemporary furniture that ranges from leather sofas to modern bookcases, we have everything you need to transform your home. Our interior designers are experts in contemporary style and truly bring your unique vision to life. Visit our website to view our latest products or contact us today to schedule an appointment with a designer. We can’t wait to help you get started.

April 27, 2020

Chiavarina Chair Simplistic Kitchen Design

6 Classic Designs Making a Comeback

By San Francisco DesignInterior Design Trends

Design experts continually look to the masses hoping to predict the up-and-coming trends. Most of the time, specialist publications do a great job rounding-up what is next on the docket. From modern furniture designs to contemporary twists, trends can be a hit or miss for many. However, sometimes the design industry can get so wrapped up in trying to create something “new” that we lose sight of the basics.

Basic designs should always include a myriad of things: quality and durability. If a designer is innovating something, they should never sacrifice one for the other. Instead, they must hit the sweet spot where both quality and durability meet. Quality and durability rely primarily on the materials and how the design incorporates them in the final product. Also, if you hope to keep your freshly acquired piece for years to come, customers need products that stand the test of time.

Along with finding attractive designs, these designs also respect the environment by lasting for many years. It is these eco-conscious decisions that will help push designers to create pieces that revolutionize the industry while appealing to consumers. If you hope to join us in the movement, here is where we see classic design transformed into the new modern world.

Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi (known as Campanino), Chiavarina chair, 1807

According to some, Marquis Rivarola “brought with him a lightweight chair with a wicker seat from Paris … which had enjoyed great success … at the time of the French Directorate” (E. Bacceschi, 1986). That chair design spawned the “classic Chiavarina” which was used to furnish noble residences for over 150 years until it became the focal point of the great era of Fifties Milanese architecture. The chair was even used by Gardella, Caccia Dominioni, and Albini.

Today, manufacturers across the world sell the design in bulk. If you are looking to add this classic design into your home, make sure you find quality work. These chairs are an excellent option for minimalistic or Scandinavian interior designs.

Arne Jacobsen, Egg chair, Fritz Hansen, 1958

Perhaps one of the most infamous chair designs of the 20th century, the Egg Chair by Fritz Hansen was designed for the lounge of the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. It was a revolutionary design because of its extremely unique design, comfortable shape, and its thin inner shell. In the present day, it is still one of the most recognizable designs ever created.

Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Arco floor lamp, Flos, 1962

Speaking of classics, one of the most recognized objects in Italian design is the Arco floor lamp. Designed as a central ceiling light alternative, Arco is still used in homes everywhere. Named for its “arc,” the design also beams the light directly towards where it needs to shine. Whether you use it in a reading nook or for table lighting, it’s beam range is a major positive for accent lighting.

De Pas, D’Urbino, Lomazzi, Sciangai folding clothes stand, Zanotta, 1973

The 1970s was an era of design that transformed the way we saw the most ordinary household objects. One example of this is the Sciangai. The typological invention is reminiscent of the famous game of pick-up sticks and even won the Golden Compass Award in 1979. While the Sciangai might have initially been seen as a fun and playful object, it is now a real “interior design sculpture.”

Paolo Rizzatto, Costanza floor and table lamp, Luceplan, 1986

If you want to find a newer design that re-imagined a classic, look no further than Rizzatto’s Costanza floor and table lamp. The Costanza is a stripped-down version of the classic shaded lamp that uses cutting-edge materials. It truly is a “contemporary classic.” You can find many takes on this design wherever you go, which is what makes this design even more of a classic than it was before.

Bruno Rainaldi, Original Ptolomeo bookcase, Opinion Ciatti, 2003

As we look to newer takes on the classics, Ptolomeo stands tall. This design by Rainaldi proves that there is more innovation to look forward to as the years come. The Ptolomeo bookcase transforms the typical bookcase into a sculpture of its own, that, once filled with books, the column structure is entirely invisible. It revolutionized the world of contemporary furnishing and also won a Golden Compass Award in 2004.

Discover the Classics at San Francisco Design

Let the experts at San Francisco Design help you find the classic pieces to incorporate into your space. Whether you need modern furnishings to update your home or want to add something special, we have a range of products to choose from. Come and visit our showroom or schedule an appointment with one of our interior designers to learn more.

October 10, 2019

Design Trends: 2017

By San Francisco DesignInterior Design Trends

What is new for 2017?

First let’s talk about the color of the year, Pantone Greenery!

Greenery is a yellow/green, a color of freshness a color of renewal!

Perfect for renewing your home this Spring!! Now let’s talk the trends for 2017 to help you renew your space!

First, trend we will see this 2017 is BOLD wallpapers. Lots of color and lots of designs!

Wallpaper can give your home a fresh kick, and with the new improvements in wallpaper engineering its a breeze to put up and take down!

The next trend we will see in 2017 is Comfortable Luxury, people want modern and comfort, the styles in 2017 will be a perfect unification of the two.

Down seats with clean frame design allow you to have all the comfort in the world while maintaining a chic modern home. Because our “living” rooms now a days truly are LIVING rooms. We eat, we sleep, we play and we party in our living room or great room. They are almost a multipurpose room, lets make them chic and comfortable!

And, finally we will continue to see the trend of ‘Mid-Century Modern’ grow. And I know the term gets thrown around too often but it is an easy way of describing this clean lined retro trend that has been growing over the past years. With this trend continuing we will continue to see also see the blending of mid-century modern with Scandinavian contemporary.

2017 trends are fun, colorful, stylish and comfortable! What more could you ask from a year!? Stop in one of our showrooms to see how we can set your home up for a stunning 2017!

Thanks for reading,

Kelly; Owner & Designer!

February 20, 2018

How Much Does an Interior Decorator Cost?

Consultation Fee

Pay-by-Project

Complimentary Design

What to Consider Before Meeting With a Designer

Your Style

What Is The Origin Of The Word ‘Sofa’?

History Of The Couch

What Is The Difference Between a Couch and a Sofa?

Practical Tips for Choosing Between a Couch and a Sofa

Browse Our Couch and Sofa Collections

Curves and Smooth Edges

Contemporary Fireplaces

Greenery

Old and New in Harmony

Darker Kitchens

Personalize Your Space

Statement Furniture

San Francisco Design

Company