Are you struggling with a specific area in your home, or maybe multiple spaces, and could use some solid advice on what to do next? It’s easy to become frustrated or overwhelmed by the many decisions that go into shaping your home so it works perfectly for your lifestyle and supports your well-being.
That’s where an interior design consultation comes in. In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of booking one and how working with a professional designer can give you clarity, confidence, and a solid plan for your home.
Why Book an Interior Design Consultation?
The challenges may be something like a poor floor plan, an awkward layout, or simply a lack of inspiration. Sometimes it’s about coming up with a colour scheme, theme, or overall aesthetic that truly reflects your style and taste. Other times, we hold on to furniture for sentimental reasons even though it doesn’t serve our space well. These situations create stress, but they can be solved with the guidance of a consultation.
A Focused Plan to Move Forward
Booking an interior design consultation can be a game changer. In just one session, you’ll leave with a focused plan that helps you move forward with confidence. A consultation is also a great first step if you’re unsure about tackling a full renovation or changing multiple rooms — it allows you to test the waters and gain clarity without making big commitments.
Support Beyond the Consultation
Many designers offer follow-up support after your consultation, so if you need an extra push, you’re not left on your own. At Total Home, our consultations help you get focused and provide practical solutions so you can create spaces you truly love.
And according to HGTV one of the biggest benefits of hiring an interior designer is avoiding costly mistakes while saving time. That’s exactly what a consultation is designed to do.
Let’s break it down so that you can decide if booking an interior design consultation is exactly what you need to become inspired, and at ease while creating the home that you and your family will love again.
Design Consultation Tips for Floor Planning
Living Room Before
Living Room After
What’s essential to any home is how you move through it day to day. If a table blocks your walking path, that small inconvenience can add up to daily frustration. Over time, it affects how you feel about your home and can even limit how you entertain guests.
A design consultation helps prevent these issues by focusing on flow and spacing. For example, leaving at least 36″ between large objects ensures you can move comfortably around furniture.
Many homeowners shop for furniture without measuring room dimensions — including windows, doors, and openings. This often leads to buying pieces that are too large, too small, or simply too many.
The benefit of an interior design consultation is having an objective eye to creatively edit and refine your layout. This process gives you practical solutions for better flow and a space that feels welcoming and functional.
The Benefits of a Colour Consultation
Bedroom Before
Bedroom After
Colour directly affects how we feel in a space and even our mood. It’s one of the most powerful elements in creating an atmosphere of well-being. The goal is always to find colours that spark a positive emotional response in you.
A thoughtful colour consultation can often set the direction for an entire design scheme. The right shade can support your favourite piece of artwork, furniture, or textiles, helping them feel intentional and curated rather than random.
During an interior design consultation, clients sometimes tell me, “I don’t hate it,” when referring to their current paint colour. My response is always the same: you deserve more than “I don’t hate it.” The right colour is achievable, and when you find it, the difference is dramatic — it changes how you experience your home every single day.
Should bold statement colours live on your walls, or should they be pulled into art, textiles, and accessories? Would a soft neutral backdrop better suit your lifestyle, with subtle hints of colour layered in? These are exactly the types of questions explored in a design consultation. The result is a colour palette that feels aligned, timeless, and deeply personal.
The Importance of Art Placement
Living Room After
Art is one of the most personal aspects of design, which makes its location especially important. A great piece of art deserves a wall that draws your eye to it in a positive way — ideally stopping you in your tracks.
Placement matters even more when the subject of the art doesn’t align with the room it’s in. For example, a painting of a fruit bowl displayed in a bathroom feels random and unintentional.
Scale and orientation are also key components of good placement. A tiny piece of art on a large wall gets lost, while a large piece on a small wall feels overwhelming. Similarly, the orientation of the art should complement the orientation of the wall.
When art is placed incorrectly, the focus shifts away from the subject or beauty of the piece and onto the uncomfortable way it interacts with the room. A thoughtful interior design consultation helps you determine not only what art fits your home, but exactly where it should be placed to make the right impact.
Functional Design for Everyday Living
Living Room After
Living Room After
Dysfunctional spaces are rooms that feel unintentional. They might contain disjointed collections of furniture and décor, too many pieces crammed together, or not enough furnishings at all. The underlying thread is a lack of direction — and without direction, a space can’t truly serve a purpose.
Sometimes these rooms include items you like, but they don’t work together or meet your needs. A room performs at its best when the space is clearly defined and thoughtfully planned. Good function not only makes your home more enjoyable, it also adds real value to your everyday life.
An interior design consultation helps you set the right intention for each space. Together, we can create a plan that delivers both style and function, ensuring your rooms support your lifestyle beautifully.
Finding Your Design Style
Living Room Before
Sitting Room After
Many homeowners feel unsure about their interior design style. Some don’t know where to start, while others know what they like but struggle to bring their ideas into a cohesive vision.
An interior design consultation can bridge that gap. A professional perspective helps you build a plan based on what you already own and what needs to be added. This guidance transforms scattered ideas into a unified, intentional design.
Inspiration is also key. Pulling ideas from online sources, magazines, or a designer’s portfolio gives you a tangible way to communicate your goals. Together with your designer, you can refine those inspirations into a cohesive look that reflects your personality and ensures everyone is working toward the same vision.
Your Next Steps
Living Room After
Interior design is a creative process that provides unique solutions tailored to your home. It’s not limited to floor planning, colour, art placement, or style — there are countless other benefits of a design consultation. From tackling irregular rooms and flex spaces to solving storage challenges or exploring renovation ideas, a consultation gives you clarity and direction.
If you’re ready for creative guidance, an interior design consultation will prepare you for the road ahead with confidence. Not everyone will need a designer to help execute the solutions provided — but when you do, I’m here to help at any stage of your design journey.
Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments or connect with you on Instagram @total_home_design
