Let’s talk about online interior design, and my honest take (as an independent online interior designer) on the big companies, such as Havenly and Decorilla offering virtual interior design services and make claims to being the best virtual interior design services out there. I will also talk about the alternative to these big companies, and why or why not you should choose to work with an alternative source. So, keep reading to discuss the best and worst virtual interior design services to consider for your home.
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Me, an interior designer, secretly signed up and purchased an online interior design package from Havenly just to review it for my blog, read it here. And, stay tuned, and make sure to subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss any juicy post!
The Perks of Remote Interior Design
Now, you may be wondering why someone would opt for a remote interior designer, instead of just Googling “interior designer near me” and calling the first 3 designers on the list. Well, virtual interior design has its undeniable perks when comparing to full service interior design.
The Three Biggest Advantages To Remote Interior Design
- Virtual interior design is more affordable than traditional design services (the biggest perk).
- It’s more convenient, with no onsite meetings or unnecessary steps.
- It’s faster-paced, meaning you get your deliverables much quicker.
The thing is, people are still searching for “interior designer near me.” According to my research, this phrase gets about 24K searches a month (in the US). To me, that shows people still value having a local interior designer. However, I believe more people should be open to working with an online interior designer, as these services can often meet—and even exceed—their needs.
Anyway, let’s get to talking about the big virtual interior design companies, and my thoughts.
The Fast-Fashion of Online Interior Design
Havenly is an online interior design service that connects clients with a variety of designers at a very low cost. On the surface, it sounds like a win-win: affordable design for you, lots of designers to choose from. But here’s the reality: that low price comes at a cost, and it’s often paid by the designers themselves.
These large platforms function much like fast fashion brands, prioritizing volume and affordability over sustainability and fair compensation. Interior design isn’t just about picking pillows and paint colours, it’s a skilled profession that requires education, experience, and a sharp, creative eye. Designers on these platforms are often underpaid, despite the time, effort, and heart they put into each project.
Low prices might be tempting, but just remember: with services like this, the “savings” often come at the expense of the people behind the screen.
When Interior Design Became Cheap…
The interior design industry has shifted and changed a lot since the late 90s and early 2000s. Now, I wasn’t an interior designer back then—I was just born. But in college, I was taught and mentored by designers from those generations, so I learned firsthand how different the industry used to be.
Back in those days, design was much more manual and the process was slower. There was no online furniture shopping, let alone online interior design. Full-service interior design was the norm—and really the only acceptable way to work. Makes sense, right?
This is also why some people still hold the notion that interior design services are only for the rich and famous (yes, I’ve actually had clients say this to me). Essentially, interior design used to feel out of reach for the average person.
The Shift…
Fast-forward to the rise of e-commerce, the internet, and yes—cheap furniture. Suddenly, interior design got a little easier in some ways. Gone were the days of buying expensive, matching wood furniture sets from the local mom-and-pop shop. Now, everyone was IKEA-obsessed, and designers could source furniture options quicker than ever before.
The Emergence of Remote Design
Fast-forward again, and e-design started to make its mark—especially during COVID. At that point, every major furniture vendor had gone online. You didn’t need to leave your house to buy a single thing—and for a while, you couldn’t leave your house. Naturally, many designers (myself included) adapted and shifted toward offering remote interior design services.
And, of course, capitalism did its thing. Big companies, like the ones I’ve mentioned in this article, jumped in and started offering online interior design packages for unbelievably low prices.
How low? Well, underminingly low.
Here’s the reality: traditional interior designers who work onsite typically charge anywhere from $190–$350 an hour. For example, a living room project that takes around 7 hours would cost somewhere between $1,330–$2,450 in design fees. Meanwhile, companies like Havenly advertise living room design for as little as $99.
Now, I’m not bashing those platforms—but it’s clear how they’ve cheapened the perception of interior design, to say the least.
It honestly makes me sad. I remember my professors in college warning us: “Make sure you don’t charge too little—we don’t want to undermine our profession.” Later, my design peers echoed the same message.
And now, here we are—facing a “fast-fashion” version of online interior design that undermines independent designers who charge a fair price.
The Best Online Interior Design Services
So, now that you’ve read my spiel about online interior design companies and how they’ve cheapened the interior design profession to the point of no return, you’re probably wondering: what’s the best alternative? The answer is simple: support an independent online interior designer. This way, you still get all the perks of virtual design while supporting a designer fairly, not undermining the value of the work. Plus, you get a much more personalized experience, rather than a cookie-cutter, big-box solution.
Click here for my Havenly design experience review post.
Disclaimer: I want to be clear; this isn’t about bashing Havenly. If you connect with a designer on their platform and love the experience, that’s wonderful! More power to you. My intention is simply to share a perspective: if you really resonate with a designer, consider looking them up to see if they also run their own business, and supporting them directly can make a much bigger impact. I don’t have anything personally against Havenly, but I do encourage people to make informed, conscious choices when it comes to online interior design services.
When to Seek Online Interior Design:
- You’re stuck on the direction of a space.
- You’d like a mood board to set the tone for your decoration efforts.
- Something feels “off” in your space, but you can’t quite figure it out.
- You need help designing and sourcing the perfect pieces.
- You want to visualize how a space can come together before committing.
- You need floor plans; whether it’s for furniture layout, lighting design, or space planning.
- You’re selecting finishes (paint colours, cabinets, flooring, hardware) and want everything to work seamlessly together.
- You want an entire room designed from top to bottom, without spending hours second-guessing every choice.
And the list goes on. Thanks to technology, there’s so much that can be achieved through online interior design, and it’s more accessible than ever.
Why You Need an Interior Designer
I came across a thread on Reddit about online interior design, and someone said:
“Why would you pay someone to interior design your space? You can just post photos and get advice for free.”
Read: Interior Designer Responds to Popular Design Questions on Reddit
And honestly… by that logic, why would you pay for a haircut? You could just grab some scissors and go to town yourself, right?
Look, if you’re happy with the advice from well-meaning Redditors, all power to you. But when I think of interior design, I think about how a space makes you feel: how it supports your lifestyle, reflects your personality, and brings you joy every day. It goes a little beyond a Reddit post.
So sure, maybe a 33-year-old living in his mom’s basement does know how to decorate your forever home. Crazier things have happened, right?
How To Choose Your Designer
But let’s say you do want to hire an interior designer; someone who’s trained, experienced, and passionate about making your space truly special. That’s where online interior design shines. It’s accessible, flexible, and full of incredibly talented people.
If you’re reading this, then hey…you’ve already found me 😅. And I encourage you to find others, too. Reach out, book a call, and find the designer who just gets you. Because your home should feel like you — and when it does, that’s where the real design juice is.
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Let’s design your space together, virtually.
