Back to the Drawing Board

                   Special Report: Back to the Drawing Board. Interior Design Forecast 2009

Being deeply involved in the Interior Design world involves me in meeting many top designers on a regular basis. Last year saw a lot of very worried faces at trade shows and seminars I attended between September and December 2008.

January saw great relief as the calendar turned to 2009, with most of us happy to see the end of 2008 with the continuing global economic collapse, which has everyone in professions allied to the building industry – interior designers and decorators included — worrying about the coming year.

I feel that the outlook may not be as bleak as some think. One thing is certain: in difficult economic times, two seemingly opposing things will happen: one, people will spend less money, and two, people will spend more time in their homes. Without the cash to spend on evenings out, there will be more attention paid to staying at home and enjoying the pleasures to be found in one’s own living room.

And that’s good news for designers. In hard times, people are looking at what they have and are investing in sprucing up their homes, redesigning their kitchens and adding on sun-rooms rather than risking selling up and risking a whopping loss on their capital.

We are all aware that the housing market has taken a big hit this past year. Homeowners who had been planning to sell their homes are now re-examining their options. Many people, who absolutely have to sell and move, are wondering what they can do to increase their chances of a getting a decent price for their homes. Others are looking at refurbishing what they have and holding fast until the economy improves. Either way, the interior designer wins in these difficult times

I have found that I have literally gone “back to the drawing board” in its truest form. I am designing extensions and kitchens like never before. It is hard work, but thank goodness I have the qualifications and experience to be able to take on such demanding work. Anyone can sell fabrics and wallpaper; that is what sales-people do. During the good times, it was easy to take this highly profitable route. But now in these difficult times, it is wonderful to be able to produce new and innovative designs for clients who do not have as much money to spend as previously and who want to enjoy their homes without breaking the bank.

Personally, I am optimistic about the future of hard-working interior designers during these difficult and challenging times.

Orna O’Reilly

Kinvara. February 2009