What does an interior designer actually do during a renovation?
One of the questions I'm asked most often is, "What does an interior designer actually do?"
Many people assume interior design is simply choosing paint colours or helping you pick out furniture. While those things can certainly be part of the process, the role of an interior designer during a renovation is much broader than that.
In reality, my job is to help you make hundreds of decisions with confidence, ensuring your home feels cohesive, functions beautifully and reflects the way you live.
Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how I work with clients during a renovation.
It starts with a clear vision
Before we even begin talking about tiles or tapware, we spend time establishing the overall vision for your home.
How do you want your home to feel?
What do you love, and just as importantly, what don't you love?
How do you use the space every day?
These conversations form the foundation for every decision that follows. Without a clear design direction, it's very easy to end up with a collection of beautiful individual selections that don't quite work together.
A renovation should feel intentional from room to room, not like a series of unrelated decisions.
Helping you choose finishes
For many homeowners, this is the stage that feels overwhelming.
There are endless options when it comes to:
flooring
tiles
paint colours
cabinetry finishes
benchtops
tapware
hardware
Every showroom seems to have hundreds of choices, and often things start to blur together.
My role is to narrow those options and guide you towards selections that complement one another, suit your home's architecture and, most importantly, reflect your personal style.
Instead of asking, "Which tile do you like?", we're asking, "Which tile works best within the overall design of your home?"
It's a subtle but important difference.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of decisions involved, my New Build and Renovations service is designed to help you confidently choose finishes that work together and suit your home.
Looking beyond individual rooms
One mistake I often see is homeowners making decisions room by room.
The kitchen gets designed first. Then the bathroom. Then the bedrooms.
By the end of the renovation, each space may look lovely on its own, but the home doesn't necessarily feel connected.
One of the most valuable things an interior designer brings to a renovation is the ability to look at the home as a whole.
I’m constantly considering how one space flows into the next, ensuring materials, colours and finishes create a cohesive experience throughout the home.
Joinery that works as hard as you do
Beautiful joinery isn't just about aesthetics. It's about creating storage that suits your family, maximising awkward spaces and making everyday life easier.
During the design process, I'll often work through questions clients hadn't even considered.
Where will the coffee machine live?
Is there somewhere for school bags?
How wide should the drawers be?
Will those cupboards actually be practical?
These seemingly small decisions can make a significant difference to how your home functions for years to come.
Never underestimate lighting
Lighting is one of the most overlooked aspects of a renovation. It's also one of the hardest things to change once the build is complete.
I help you think beyond just choosing decorative light fittings.
We consider:
how each room will be used
natural light throughout the day
task lighting
ambient lighting
feature lighting
creating warmth and atmosphere
The right lighting can completely transform the way a home feels.
Helping you avoid costly mistakes
Perhaps the greatest value an interior designer brings isn't choosing beautiful finishes.
It's helping you avoid expensive mistakes.
Whether it's selecting materials that don't work together, overlooking practical considerations or making changes during construction, small decisions can quickly become costly.
Having a clear plan from the outset gives everyone involved - from your builder to your cabinet maker - a roadmap to work from.
It also gives you confidence that every decision is contributing to the same overall vision.
Is hiring an interior designer worth it?
Renovations often involve investments of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
When you consider the scale of that investment, allocating a small portion of your budget to professional design advice can be one of the smartest decisions you make.
My role isn't to tell you what your home should look like.
It's to help you make informed decisions, avoid costly mistakes and create a home that feels beautifully considered, functional and uniquely yours.
If you're planning a renovation in the Illawarra, Sutherland Shire or Southern Highlands and would like support with your selections and design decisions, you can learn more about my 2-Hour Interior Design Consultation or get in touch to discuss your project.
Sometimes a few hours of expert guidance at the beginning of a renovation can save countless hours—and many thousands of dollars—by helping you get it right the first time.