This week I found the perfect spot for the colour course I’m scheduling here in May (dates coming soon) and I am renting the space from an instructor who has her own school. It’s not this house (below) but wouldn’t that be fabulous?
She mentioned a popular national shelter magazine and said she has banned it from her design resources (for inspiration) because of their annual “Do-it-Yourself/Decorating on a budget/how to get the look for less” issue.
But do you know what I think? It’s probably one of their best sellers. Not everyone can afford to hire a designer to decorate their home from top to bottom but a large percentage of the population certainly want to live in a home that has the feeling that a designer has been there.
It’s also the reason some of the most popular blogs (see this blog ranking site to view) are about budget decorating, thrifty shopping, etc.
Why do designers get cranky about a ‘How to get a designer look for less’ magazine issue? I guess the same reason some designers get exasperated with Home & Garden Television that show spaces that get transformed for almost nothing and the viewer has no idea the huge team and operation behind producing that kind of result!
I’ve heard designers in the industry say that it distorts the actual time, money and effort it takes to really have a beautifully designed room. We show up and price out custom drapery and well, it’s not $20 a panel is it?
10 years ago the statistic I heard was that 6% of the population will hire a designer; however I would not be surprised if the decorating shows on TV have increased that number with more people getting educated about living in a beautiful space!
So if you are in the process of decorating or designing your own home on a budget and you have design talent? Start up a blog to document what you are doing, and who knows, you might end up on the first page of the rankings very soon!
So here’s the question, Do you think DIY magazines and TV diminish the necessity of a designer?
Related posts:
10 Things Every Blogger should know
10 Tips that will take your Home Design blog to the Next Level
Is hiring a Designer a Luxury or Necessity?
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