4 Home Design Websites That Take the Hassle Out of Redecorating
As we enter the New Year, many of us are ready to make some changes to ourselves and our homes. If revamping your home is one of your resolutions but you don't have the time to DIY, a home design website might be just your speed:
Connect with real designers from the comfort of your home.
Redecorating is probably way down on your to-do list. Could convenient home-design websites be the answer? We asked four working moms to try online services that do the planning and purchasing for you.
Decorist
Cost: $299 to $1,299 per room, depending on the level of designer chosen
Before and the final rendering...
"Decorist gave me great ideas for colors to use in my master bedroom, which I hadn't done anything with since we moved into this home. My designer was open to my input. Plus, it was incredibly easy, convenient and user-friendly—a great service to me, a mom to 4-year-old twins. Still, being able to see the items in person before purchasing works better for me. I probably will buy only a few items they suggested."—Cortney Worrell, social worker, Denver
Laurel and Wolf
Cost: Between $79 and $249 per room, depending on level of design service
Before ...
A view of the living room.
The final rendering ...
Begin by noting the furniture you want to keep and taking a style quiz.
"Consulting with somebody who knew what she was doing confirmed my suspicions about my open floorplan—the few configurations I'd considered were my only options. And when I wasn't crazy about a suggestion she made, she never pushed back—she just changed it. She also designed with my two young sons and puppies in mind."—Cassie Ehrenberg, attorney, Philadelphia
Decorilla
Cost: Prices vary per room; for example, a kid's room costs $539 to $999, depending on the level of designer
Before ...
The (now) nursery was used as a guest room.
The final rendering ...
You can purchase a pair of VR goggles for you to view your final design in 3D.
"To personalize my daughter's nursery (reusing some of the items from my son's), Decorilla used Pinterest boards I'd put together as inspiration. They gave me plenty of options; if I said a chair seemed expensive, they'd show me three others that were budget-friendly. The downside: A traditional designer can recommend contractors in your area; Decorilla can find the fabric but not the upholsterer."—Becky Vasta, IT project manager, St. Louis
Havenly
Cost: Free for a quick online chat with a designer; $79 to $199 per room for design
Before ...
It was time for an overhaul.
The final rendering ...
She selected from 100-plus designers to find her favorite.
"I wanted to design a bedroom that would grow with my 8-year-old daughter. Budget and practicality were key, and our designer understood. She showed us options ranging from a $29 accessory at Target to a $399 piece of furniture at Pottery Barn. She also seemed to 'get' Francesca, who isn't pink and frilly. I would have liked to talk to our designer on the phone or FaceTime for a more personal touch." —Allison Frost, radio producer, Portland, OR
What You Can Expect:
Compare and contrast all four of the decorating services, and pick the one that works for you.
Written by Lisa Tucker for Working Mother and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.
And when you're ready to tackle your next home project, let us know how we can help! From kitchen remodels to a new deck, we've got you covered.