To want a heavenly home

[chilimartini]

I would very much like to get an interior designer to help me decorate my little home. I would love to come home after work and feel good and happy when I look around my flat. However I can't quite afford an interior designer. Does anyone know if students if interior design would help me and I would be happy for them to use pictures to build their portfolio? Does that sort of thing happen?

Possibly, but you couldn’t expect the same level of experience and flair as an established designer. Also depending on the amount of work it might be that building the portfolio isn’t enough, you don’t want to exploit anyone.

Contact any local uni or college and check it out with them ?otherwise , u have pin Pinterest , home mags and mood boards ?

I mean, you could ask, but it's a bit - cheeky? Exploitative? Generally, offering "experience" in exchange for something people expect to be paid for is frowned upon.

If you did want to approach a student centre and ask if their students wanted to have a go at your house, bear in mind that a) they would expect a reasonably free rein and you might not end up with your "dream" home and b) you would still have to pay for the materials and labour.

What do you expect from these students? A "mood board" with suggestions for colours and fabrics? A complete detailed plan with costings? For them to run around doing all the sourcing of materials and furniture within your budget?

There are online sites that will help you with this at a relatively low cost - I used homewings.co.uk for my new home recently (small house, first time buyer, want it to be lovely inside) and got some great ideas. I didn't buy everything they recommended, got similar stuff for a lower price, but it was great for showing me ideas I would never have thought of myself.

I used Pinterest a lot when we were in the process of buying this house to very inspiration for each room. I am very pleased with the way the completed rooms have turned out, I can't wait to finish! I'd recommend looking around yourself first. I can't imagine some designer I don't know, student or professional, coming up with ideas that I am as happy with, plus mine are unique to me. Some designers have trademarks about their designs or they use what's in the apparent fashion. Surely more fun to think of it for yourself?

@chilimartini I know of a lady who might be interested in helping if you are in Dorset ?

Why do you think you’d need an interior designer? You could put that money towards gorgeous paint, fabric and wallpaper. Have you ever created a mood board?

Sorry I think it’s incredibly cheeky trying to use a student anything for free labour. Obviously you wouldn’t pay full price but you should still pay something.
I agree with others, why can’t you do it yourself and spend the extra money on materials? Instagram is fantastic for home ideas, there are so many accounts dedicated to home decor and furnishings if you search. Also Pinterest has some fab ideas.

I think an interior designer would be a massive waste of money. Only you know what heavenly means and looks like. Pinterest is your friend.

I would love to come home after work and feel good and happy when I look around my flat

The problem is, only YOU know what that might look like.

If you're someone who loves white minimalist or industrial and a designer goes for cosy warm throws and dark walls you'll hate it.
One person's wonderful home isn't another's. Look on rightmove as well as pinterest and find something you think is wonderful, then use that style as a guide.

Sorry but it’s incredibly gauche and cheeky to try use someone’s professional skills, even a student, and try get away with not paying them by offering ‘exposure’ or pictures for a portfolio unless they have actually approached YOU or put themselves out there asking for guinea pigs.

It’s up there with offering for musicians to play your event or venue for ‘exposure’. Just downright rude. You can’t pay your bills and rent with exposure.

Pinterest is your best bet here

John Lewis will give a free 90 minute in-store consultation covering one room. Might not be a bad start.

I think people should get off their high horse about the OP asking about seeing if a student would do it for cheap/free. After all plenty of people do offer this, eg hairdressers, the OP was only asking whether it's an option.

OP I agree you should be prepared to pay something though if you want professional help - there are bound to be lots of books in your library if you want to do it yourself, or yes Pinterest. I like the book Plain Simple Useful by Terence Conran which is my sort of style.

Just design it yourself, so many resources online. Students still would expect to be paid even if a bit less

I suppose it comes down to how we value artistic/creative jobs - no one ever suggests that someone on a plumbing course might like to fix their toilet "for the experience" or that a trainee account might want to do a few free tax returns. But if a job is seen as artistic, suddenly its treated like a hobby.

I think part of it is the perception that effort and skill doesn't go into it - people in the arts are just "talented" and so it's both easy and enjoyable for them. Also I think there's a bit of resentment that they get to ponce about doing something fun rather than a "proper" job.

I mean, you can ask, OP. But think about why you assume this is acceptable to ask someone to do for free - are you also looking to find some trainee builders to carry out the work "to build their portfolios" or maybe an electrician "looking for experience"? Or are those skills you're happy to pay for?

Mood boards are the way to go. Spend a lot on magazines, tear them up, make mood boards, your dream style will come out. Might cost you a couple of hundred, and you can spend the rest of your budget on putting your plans into action.

Unlikely. If they’re good enough to do it, they’re good enough to charge.

Colleges get asked this all the time. Photography students get people offering the opportunity to photograph their wedding
Medical students are offered the opportunity to look at their bunions
Or worse
Art students are offered the opportunity of portrait painting their entire family.
Always the opportunity for the student is really about saving the client money.
Dont do it unless the opportunity you are offering will allow the student to get a great deal of exposure, win a competition or gain something more than they could get at college without the demands of a client who wants the world for sixpence.
Only you which kind of opportunity you are really offering .

Instagram!

Again, I can't recommend Pinterest enough for this. There are so many good ideas. Just create a board with all your favorite ideas and then look closely at why you like them and what do your favorites have in common. It's a great idea of working out what you want. Then think of colour palettes and try and stick to a simple palette.

Also, Maisons du Monde - I can't imagine most people not like most of their stock.

The hard part is finding the cash to fund all the lovely ideas on Pinterest... my advice is save up an amount and then set to using your budget with the help of instagram and Pinterest

A lot of Pinterest is so American and just doesn’t work in the houses we have in the UK. I still love it but definitely prefer Instagram as it’s much more relatable.