Home Q&A: Is it always advisable to consult an interior designer?

Should you hire an interior designer if you know what you want? We talk to pros and homeowners

Kitchen and light planning are two of the most important areas of interiors to get professional input. Picture: Alex Urdaneta for Carton Iteriors

Imagine being in that happy situation of having bought your own home, or just about to start building, and thinking you know exactly what you want, you can’t wait to start buying for the interior with gusto.

It’s possible you’re suffering from the Dunning-Kruger effect that frequently afflicts new homeowners who have absolutely no interior design training. “People often know what they’re aiming for but don’t understand how to achieve it,” says Jackie Carton, interior design architect at Carton Interiors and president of the Interiors Association, an Irish membership organisation for qualified interior designers and interior architects.