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Original poster

How many interior designers / garden designers do you know

37 replies

Iusedtoshopatsafeway · 30/01/2026 09:19

….and how many people do you know who have used one of these services?

I know 4 people who have recently re-trained as garden designers within my local network.

Yet among my friends & family I don’t know anyone who uses the services of a garden designer.

Ditto interior designers, although I do have one (very well off) friend who used an interior designer to do her house top to bottom.

I live in a well to do area, kids at private school etc, plenty of big houses.

Anyway, I’m just being nosy as a lot of people I know seem to be retraining in these areas but I’m wondering how much work there really is?

I also wonder this about personal trainers, although to a slightly lesser extent.

OP posts:
SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 30/01/2026 09:20

The garden and interior designers i know
(Two) are dicking about playing at work and looking at "nice things" all day because they have family money and /or their husband is a VP at Blackrock/ JP MORGAN

PTs is a real job althouh agian can be "played at" but ilthry are a much more likely to be used by general population imo.

HairyToity · 30/01/2026 09:32

The interior designer I know is about 60. She did a fine art degree and then trained as an interior designer after. She's been doing it for over 30 years. She isn't from a posh background, and very straight talking. She works for a firm of architects and does the interiors for hotels/ corporate clients etc. She doesn't interior design homes. She doesn't say much about her job but the little she does say she makes sure her hotels aren't done to trend, but considers how it'll all look in 5-10 years (doesn't want it to date quickly), coming in on budget and practicality/ durability / comfort is all important.

Buscobel · 30/01/2026 09:40

I don’t know any interior designers, but we used a garden designer last year.

BarnacleBeasley · 30/01/2026 09:48

I've used both, and I'm not particularly rich. The interior designer was recommended by a friend. We were getting an extension/conversion and needed help with layout and fittings/finish. She was ace - really well connected with local trades, had discounts with various suppliers that she could pass on, and was good at joining discussions with the building contractors on site and helping us all make sensible decisions together. We saved so much time and energy on research and decisions as she would listen really carefully to what we (thought we) wanted, then give us three sets of options to pick from (including budget ones). The joiner said some of the fittings and materials she sourced/recommended were things he would have seen on site while working for high-end developers, but wouldn't have known where to get. Then after working with her on this project, we'd learned enough not to need her when redoing other parts of the house.

Garden designer similar - well connected with trades, got all the clearance, tree surgery, fencing, painting etc. sorted out for us, and helped us plan the garden. I'd say you'd probably save more money than you spend on a good designer, because plants are expensive, so if you don't know what you're doing and then your plants all die, you've wasted quite a lot of money.

Anyway, what I learnt from this is that both jobs involve a lot of project management and good trade connections, and not just wafting around thinking about what might look nice.

MerryGuide · 30/01/2026 09:50

2 garden designers, 1 with rich husband and 1 where its a lifelong passion and career change. Don't feel I could justify using one but it would be lovely to!

LaundryScales · 30/01/2026 09:57

I personally know one interior designer. I know a few people who have used interior design services when renovating their homes.

I am not sure how a “garden designer” is different to a “landscape gardener”, but use of landscape gardening services is pretty common in my area.

I know quite a few people who have used PTs (including myself).

VacayDreamer · 30/01/2026 10:53

I know one interior designer, one garden designer (both are hobby jobs), one life coach.

Brilliant jobs if you can afford to indulge your passion!

Piglet89 · 30/01/2026 11:05

We used the services of an interior designer to design our whole home after a complete house renovation. Our ID’s first role was as part of a design and build company so was used to dealing with builders etc. Another lady I interviewed for the role seemed more focussed on textiles and actually said she began work as an ID thinking people would just accept her style basically as gospel let her do what she liked in their homes. I can’t believe she admitted that at our first meeting! I needed someone who could work across all the various needs of a whole home renovation, with structural changes to the property etc. I’m glad I hired the woman I did.

We are wealthy, I’d say. One child at an independent school and two cars etc etc. We both work in financial services.

FruAashild · 30/01/2026 11:10

I've hired a garden designer for a small backyard garden, she designed and project managed the build (there was a lot of hard landscaping). We went from never using the garden to using it regularly. She was well worth her fee.

I've never used an interior designer, and don't know anyone who has. Using an independent bathroom company is probably the closest. I think there's probably a big difference between the best interior designers and those that do it as a hobby job.

Piglet89 · 30/01/2026 11:11

Sorry I should also say our ID’s job (she is now self employed) is NOT a hobby. She is a single mother and her ex provides no maintenance whatsoever.

Our working styles did not align always - but she is extremely skilled at what she does, has superb attention to detail and working memory and great ideas.

There are interior designers and interior designers. Like any profession, as it has evolved, there are more formalised processes around it - mood boards etc to try and draw out the client’s taste. She also mentioned she is just starting a job where she suspects the clients will just allow her carte Blanche to do what she likes with their whole home, which will speed the whole process up - but they have a lot going on and less bandwidth than I did to really get into the weeds on the millions of decisions you must make when placing your own stamp on your home’s style.

My friend hired an ID who was an absolute fucking muppet (think ordering bits of furniture that wouldn’t fit in alcoves). I’d have sacked her the moment that kind of mistake happened. I reckon there are probably quite a few such muppets “playing” at interior designing who see wealthy people coming and take advantage of that.

But the really skilled ones like mine are worth the money because our house would look a heck of a lot worse, had we not engaged her.

jay55 · 30/01/2026 11:11

I knew one interior designer, he got burnt out working in fashion and made the move and was bloody good at it. I wish we were still in contact as I’d love to hire him when I move.

Never met anyone who used one. Or garden design.

mindutopia · 30/01/2026 11:12

None and none.

Notmymarmosets · 30/01/2026 11:14

DH is a qualified garden designer. Unfortunately there is no work , so fortunately he has a proper job as a paramedic!

Ineedanewsofa · 30/01/2026 11:21

I’m adjacent to the industry so I know many interior designers and not all are created ‘equal’. There is a definite subset for whom it’s the new publishing (London based, daddy bought them property at 18, married a gilet) who will be replaced by AI in the next 5 years. Then there are those who have studied it, understand how people occupy spaces and can create beautiful, practical spaces for optimal living. AI will not touch these people for a good while.
I would happily use one of those guys but can’t afford them 😂

GCSEBiostruggles · 30/01/2026 11:33

I know 2 garder landscapers/designers. I think post Brexit was a boom time for them but work is drying up now as people tighten their belts. Although as one said, when people stay at home for the holidays they sometimes want a complete change in the garden as they use it differently, so maybe it is about to take off again.

Don't know anyone who has used an interior designer - I like my own style and the idea of having someone buying stuff to stage the house is a very odd one. I have things around me that are part of my life and travels, not stuff from a designer that matches the skirting board!

FruAashild · 30/01/2026 12:25

@GCSEBiostruggles a good interior designer should discuss with you what you want to keep and what your style is. And plan in storage and display of your treasures.

I follow quite a few on instagram and one of my favourites is an American whose whole thing is reusing things her clients already own and sourcing second hand / vintage stuff from FBMP. She takes the stuff they love and makes the room cohesive.

LookingThroughGlass · 30/01/2026 12:30

I don't know any, and no one of my acquaintance has ever mentioned using one.

I like to do my own designing, although if I were rich, it would be nice to have an expert to work with, particularly to give a view on costs and feasibility. I would never spend money on something like that in my present average-income circumstances.

ApolloandDaphne · 30/01/2026 12:35

I know one garden designer and one interior designer because I used their services. We had our entire landscaped and it was worth every penny to use a professional. The interior designer owns a shop locally and she helped me choose curtains and blinds after we renovated our house. We then ordered them from her shop. We didn't have to pay a fee for this but I'm sure it was passed in the form of the costs for our items.

JamesClyman · 30/01/2026 12:48

I once worked with the daughter of an interior designer whose business was so good (pubs, restaurants, hotels etc) the daughter left our firm to join her mum's.

Never met a garden designer altho' I know quite a few professional gardeners and landscapers.

Never used the services of either.

MadamWhippy · 30/01/2026 13:13

Dh is a garden designer/landscape gardener. Initially did designs and building work himself but now he designs and has 3 employees who do the build work. Very lucrative and plenty of work in area we live in.
Friend has recently completed an interior design course but not sure how much she'll use it outside of her own home.

Mumtumtastic · 30/01/2026 13:21

300 and they won’t leave me alone.

Go away Lawrence I don’t want a boudoir style cerise sherbet bedroom, get out me bushes Monty, I don’t need topiary! Can anyone recommend a good repellent?

MiddleAgedDread · 30/01/2026 13:26

None and none (as far as I know)

DizziLizzy · 30/01/2026 13:31

My DH is a GD but he offers the whole service from design to build and completion. The cost of the design comes.off the total if customer chooses to proceed

AlwaysGardening · 30/01/2026 13:35

LaundryScales · 30/01/2026 09:57

I personally know one interior designer. I know a few people who have used interior design services when renovating their homes.

I am not sure how a “garden designer” is different to a “landscape gardener”, but use of landscape gardening services is pretty common in my area.

I know quite a few people who have used PTs (including myself).

Edited

Garden designers design gardens, landscape gardeners build gardens. Landscapers may design a patio but wouldn’t be involved in the layout of the whole garden. Some think they are designers but sometimes the results results work but I’ve seen quite a few which don’t!

Sorrelbird · 30/01/2026 13:44

I used an interior design service and intend to do so again. With their access to discounts the amount I saved paid for their services.