When you hire an interior design company, what exactly do you get? Many people are not sure what interior design services include. Some think it is just picking paint colors and furniture. Others think designers do everything including construction. The truth is somewhere in between.
At Liger Interiors, we believe in being very clear about what we offer. Today, we will explain in very simple words what is typically included in interior design services so you know exactly what to expect.
Initial Consultation and Understanding Your Needs and Vision for Your Home
Every interior design project starts with a consultation. This is usually the first service provided.
What Happens: You meet with the designer. You talk about your needs, your likes, your dislikes, and your budget. The designer asks many questions to understand your lifestyle.
Site Visit: The designer visits your space. They measure rooms, take photos, and note important details like where windows are, how light comes in, and any problems that need fixing.
Budget Discussion: You discuss how much you want to spend. A good designer helps you understand what is possible with your budget.
Timeline: You talk about when you want the project finished.
Here is what happens in the first meeting:
| What Happens | Time Needed | What You Should Bring |
| Meet and talk | 30 minutes | Your ideas and photos you like |
| Discuss needs | 30 minutes | List of rooms to design |
| Talk about budget | 15 minutes | Your budget amount |
| Site visit | 1 hour | Nothing, just be there |
| Measurements | 30 minutes | Floor plans if you have them |
Why This Matters: This first stage sets the foundation for everything else. Good communication here prevents problems later.
Space Planning and Creating Functional Room Layouts That Work Well
After understanding your needs, the designer creates a plan for how to use your space.
Floor Plans: The designer creates detailed floor plans showing where furniture will go, where doors and windows are, and how people will move through the space.
Traffic Flow: They make sure people can move easily through rooms without bumping into furniture.
Functionality: They make sure each area serves its purpose well. For example, a kitchen needs good workflow between sink, stove, and refrigerator.
Measurements: Everything is measured carefully to make sure furniture fits properly.
| Space Planning Includes | What You Get | Why It Matters |
| Floor plans | Drawings of room layout | See where everything goes |
| Furniture placement | Exact positions for all furniture | Everything fits perfectly |
| Traffic flow plans | Clear paths to walk | Easy movement |
| Measurements | Detailed sizes | No mistakes |
| Multiple options | 2-3 different layouts | Choose what you like best |
Why This Matters: Good space planning makes your home comfortable and easy to live in. Bad planning creates frustration every day.
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Design Concept Development and Creating Mood Boards for Visual Understanding
Once the layout is planned, the designer creates the design concept.
Style Direction: The designer chooses an overall style for your space based on what you like. This might be modern, traditional, contemporary, rustic, or a mix.
Mood Boards: These are visual presentations showing colors, materials, furniture styles, and the overall feeling of the design. They help you see the designer’s vision.
Color Schemes: The designer selects a color palette for walls, furniture, and accessories.
Material Selection: Choosing materials like wood types, metal finishes, stone, fabrics, and other materials.
Why This Matters: The design concept makes sure everyone agrees on the direction before spending money. It prevents expensive mistakes.
Detailed Design Drawings and Technical Plans for Construction and Installation
Good designers provide detailed drawings that show exactly what will be built or installed.
| Type of Drawing | What It Shows | Who Uses It |
| Floor plans | Top view of rooms | Everyone |
| Elevation drawings | Side view of walls | Carpenters and contractors |
| Electrical plans | Where lights |
Why This Matters: These drawings make sure contractors and craftsmen understand exactly what to do. This prevents mistakes during construction.
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Material and Furniture Selection with Shopping Assistance and Sourcing
One of the main services is selecting all the items needed for your space.
Furniture Selection: Choosing sofas, tables, chairs, beds, and all other furniture pieces.
Lighting Fixtures: Selecting ceiling lights, lamps, and other lighting.
Flooring Materials: Choosing tiles, wood flooring, carpet, or other floor materials.
Window Treatments: Selecting curtains, blinds, or shutters.
Accessories: Choosing decorative items like artwork, vases, pillows, and rugs.
Sourcing: Finding where to buy these items, often from trade sources not available to regular customers.
Here is what designers help you choose:
| Item Category | Examples | Where They Source From |
| Furniture | Sofas, beds, tables, chairs | Showrooms, manufacturers |
| Lighting | Chandeliers, lamps, spotlights | Lighting specialists |
| Flooring | Tiles, wood, marble | Flooring companies |
| Fabrics | Curtains, upholstery | Fabric suppliers |
| Decorations | Art, vases, pillows | Multiple sources |
| Fixtures | Taps, handles, switches | Hardware suppliers |
Why This Matters: Designers know where to find quality items within your budget. They save you time and often get better prices through their supplier relationships.
Color Consultation for Walls, Furniture and Accents Throughout Your Space
Color is very important in interior design and needs special attention.
Wall Colors: Selecting paint colors for each room and sometimes different walls in the same room.
Color Psychology: Understanding how colors affect mood and choosing correctly for each space.
Color Coordination: Making sure all colors in furniture, accessories, and finishes work together nicely.
Sample Testing: Providing paint samples to test in your space before final decisions.
| Color Service | What It Includes | Benefit to You |
| Color consultation | Professional advice on colors | No color mistakes |
| Paint samples | Test colors on your walls | See before committing |
| Color palette | Complete color scheme | Everything matches |
| Color psychology | Colors that create right mood | Rooms feel right |
Why This Matters: Color dramatically affects how a space feels. Professional guidance prevents costly color mistakes.
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Project Management and Coordination with Contractors and Workers
Many design companies offer project management services.
Contractor Coordination: Working with builders, electricians, plumbers, and other contractors to make sure design is done properly.
Timeline Management: Keeping the project on schedule.
Quality Control: Visiting the site regularly to make sure work is done correctly and matches the design.
Problem Solving: Handling any issues that come up during construction or installation.
Budget Tracking: Watching spending to stay within budget.
| Project Management Task | What Designer Does | How It Helps You |
| Hiring contractors | Find and hire good workers | You get quality work |
| Schedule coordination | Make sure everyone works on time | Project finishes on schedule |
| Site visits | Check work regularly | Catch problems early |
| Quality checks | Make sure work is good | High quality results |
| Problem solving | Fix issues quickly | Less stress for you |
| Budget control | Track all spending | Stay within budget |
Why This Matters: Construction can be stressful. Having a designer manage it removes much of this stress from you.
Purchasing and Procurement of All Materials and Furnishings
Some designers handle all purchasing for you.
Ordering: Placing orders for furniture, materials, and accessories.
Delivery Coordination: Arranging delivery of all items to your home.
Quality Checking: Looking at items when they arrive to make sure they are correct and not damaged.
Returns and Exchanges: Handling any returns if something is wrong.
Why This Matters: This saves you a lot of time and makes sure you get exactly what was specified in the design.
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Installation and Styling to Complete the Final Look of Your Space
The final stage is bringing everything together.
- Furniture Placement: Arranging all furniture according to the plan.
- Installation Supervision: Watching installation of lights, curtains, artwork, and other items.
- Styling: Adding final decorative touches like arranging pillows, placing accessories, and styling shelves.
- Final Walkthrough: Going through the completed space with you to make sure everything is perfect.
- Why This Matters: Professional installation and styling make the difference between a nice room and a magazine-worthy space.
Different Service Packages That Design Companies Offer to Clients
Not all projects need all services. Many companies offer different packages:
| Package Type | What’s Included | What You Do | Price Level |
| Full-Service | Everything from start to finish | Almost nothing | Highest |
| Design Only | Plans, drawings, shopping lists | All purchasing and execution | Lowest |
| Design and Procurement | Design plus ordering items | Manage contractors yourself | Medium |
| Hourly Consultation | Advice when you need it | Most of the work | Very low |
| Virtual Design | Online design service | Everything yourself | Low |
Why This Matters: Understanding packages helps you choose what fits your budget and how much help you need.
What is Usually NOT Included in Basic Design Services
To avoid surprises, know what is typically not included:
| Not Included | What It Means | Who Does This |
| Actual Construction | Physical building work | Licensed contractors |
| Major Renovations | Structural changes | Construction companies |
| Appliances | Kitchen appliances, washing machines | You purchase separately |
| Ongoing Maintenance | Fixing things after completion | You handle or hire separately |
| Unlimited Revisions | Endless changes to design | Limited changes included |
| Furniture Assembly | Putting furniture together | Delivery company or you |
Why This Matters: Clear expectations prevent misunderstandings and disappointment.
How to Choose the Right Service Level for Your Project and Budget
Here are tips for deciding what services you need:
| Your Situation | Recommended Service | Why |
| Very busy with work | Full-Service Design | No time to manage project |
| Limited budget | Design Only or Consultation | Save money on labor |
| Enjoy shopping | Design and Shopping List | You do fun part |
| Complex renovation | Full-Service | Too complicated to manage alone |
| Simple redecorating | Consultation | Don’t need full service |
| Live far away | Virtual Design | Can’t meet in person |
- Consider Your Time: If you are very busy, full-service design is worth the money.
- Evaluate Your Skills: If you enjoy shopping and coordinating, you might only need design plans.
- Think About Budget: More services cost more. Be realistic about what you can afford.
- Project Complexity: Simple redecorating might need only consultation. Full renovation needs complete services.
- Your Confidence Level: If you feel uncertain, invest in more professional help.
- Why This Matters: Choosing the right service level makes sure you get value for money and avoid stress.
Final Thoughts on Interior Design Services and Making the Right Choice
Interior design services cover many different tasks, from planning and design to shopping and installation. Understanding what is included helps you make good decisions and set proper expectations.
At Liger Interiors, we offer flexible service packages to match different needs and budgets. We believe in being very clear and honest, so you always know what you are getting and what it will cost.
Whether you need complete full-service design or just some professional guidance, interior design services can change your space and make your life more comfortable and beautiful.
The key is finding a designer who listens to you, respects your budget, talks clearly, and delivers quality work. When you find that right partner, the design process becomes enjoyable and the results are better than your expectations.