When it comes to designing the interior of your home, more and more people are considering using an online service like Havenly instead of hiring a traditional interior designer. While both options have their pros and cons, there are several reasons why hiring an interior designer may be the better choice.
You may be thinking: of course we would say that! We are a full-service interior design studio, after all. But, we were recently hired by a client who had a disastrous experience with one of these online design services, and after hearing everything he went through… well, let’s just say we don’t want anyone to have to go through the same thing!
After covering some of the basic pros and cons of these popular services, we dive into our client’s story and what he’s learned from the experience.
How These E-Design Services Work
There are a ton of these online interior design services available now: Havenly, Decorilla, Stucco, roomLift, the list goes on. Modsy was one of the most popular until they went out of business in July 2022 (more on that later!).
These services have customers start by taking photos and measurements of their rooms. Some then have you take a style quiz to indicate your preferences. Then it’s time to set your budget and any constraints. The service then forwards all this information to their designers, and they (with varying timelines) send you back a digital mockup of your space and shopping list. Depending on the service, you could then have the option to consult with your designer, ask for revisions, or fine-tune the designs with a self-service tool.
The Good: Pros of Using an Online Design Service
Many people seek out e-design because of its convenience. You don’t need to find someone in your area, or meet anyone in person – all you need is an internet connection. For those with jam-packed schedules (and introverts!), this can be attractive.
Another appealing aspect is that these online services often advertise a fast turnaround time.
These online services are also generally less expensive than hiring an interior designer for a project. Therefore if you only plan to decorate a small area of your home, they can be a good resource.
Our client who tried Modsy also expressed excitement about the design style quiz they offered. He said he trusted the algorithms to be able to synthesize his aesthetic from a diverse stack of inspiration photos.
The Bad: The Cons of Online Design Services
That all sounds great, right? It seems like an expeditious way to get a new look for your home without even having to leave your desk. But unfortunately, the convenience comes at a price – and sometimes using these services will leave you with more work instead of less. A quick search for reviews of online design services reveals a lot of downsides and frustrated customers. Here are some of the most common complaints:
- Limited personalization: Many customers feel that designs produced by online interior design services are not tailored to their specific needs and preferences, and may not fully reflect their personal style. Remember our client who took a style quiz? The design style they generated for him did suit him, but it had little to do with the design they ended up creating for him.
- Inadequate communication: Some reviews express frustration with the limited communication options offered by online interior design services, such as a lack of phone or video support.
- Long turnaround times: Although one of the selling points of online services is that they’re faster than traditional businesses, many customers have complained about long waits in between rounds of feedback.
- Inconsistent design quality: Some customers have reported that the designs produced by online interior design services are not always of high quality, and may be poorly executed or lacking in creativity. Many of these designers are independent contractors and may either not be super experienced or not well-paid enough to invest a lot of effort into the designs. Additionally, even if you’re not satisfied, you may be limited in the number of revisions you can request.
- Limited product options: Online interior design services often have partnerships with specific brands and vendors, meaning that customers may have limited options when it comes to selecting furniture and decor for their space. And if those are sold out or back ordered… you’re out of luck.
- High cost: While online interior design services can be a budget-friendly option compared to hiring an in-person interior designer, some customers have found the costs to still be relatively high, especially considering the limitations of the service.
- Lack of personal touch: Some customers have expressed disappointment in the lack of attention to detail offered by online interior design services, such as the inability to see and touch physical samples or receive in-person consultations.
The Ugly: Our Client’s Disastrous Experience with Modsy
Imagine this: you’ve just bought your dream home and you’re super excited to make it your own. Your lease doesn’t end for another 11 months; you think, that’s plenty of time to get it renovated and designed!
Our client (he goes by Bass) had two projects going on at once. The first was a renovation of the kitchen area, which included a dining area. The second was the interior design of the entire home: bedrooms, dining room, living room, bathrooms, and basement.
He tried to find an interior designer first, but was disappointed in the customer service and what felt like out-of-the-box solutions from businesses claiming they provided customization. This goes to show that not all interior designers are created equal!
So Bass went to Google and started looking into online design services. Although he did his research on the pros and cons, he figured he had more experience than most with from-the-ground-up-construction and could pick up any slack. Plus, he was attracted to the style quiz aspect of Modsy that promised a design style based on his inspiration photos.
Sadly, Modsy ended up saddling him with exactly what he’d been trying to avoid. “I read all the downsides of Modsy, and unfortunately I did end up experiencing everything I’d read was a con,” Bass said.
The first few calls with the designer went well. Then, he explained, the problems started. When he got the initial mockup for the interior design of his home, he felt like the designer hadn’t even looked at his style quiz or preferences. He felt like the designer had put in zero effort.
When he clicked the items the designer had selected, he hit a dead end. “Every single piece of furniture she picked was unavailable.” And since she hadn’t given him a mood board or alternatives, he had nothing to work off. Even if they had been available, he said, each option had what seemed like thousands of fabrics and colors to choose from, and he felt lost without being able to touch them or see them in the actual design.
Meanwhile, the design for his kitchen renovation had yet to come back. After picking the finishes and sending them to the designer, he had to wait almost three weeks to receive the renderings with the applied finishes. Turns out, Modsy outsources renderings to Ukraine. “If you then need a revision, you’re already a month in with nothing to show for it.”
This turned out to be the biggest problem. “The sheer turnaround time was unacceptable to say the least,” he said. “What if my lease had been up?”
After receiving the first round, Bass got an email from his online designer. If he needed any revisions, she wrote, he’d better act fast. She had just put in her resignation and was only working through the end of the week.
Shortly after, the entire company went bankrupt and Bass was left hanging without a kitchen and without any furniture for his home. Thankfully, Bass was able to dispute his charges with his credit card, but he’d wasted valuable time.
“I’ve owned this home since April 2022, and I still haven’t moved in,” Bass said. When we talked, he said he thinks everything has changed after Covid. He thinks it’s more difficult now to deal with contractors, who, due to the economy and global supply chain issues, have been less accountable to their clients.
The most important benefit of working with an interior designer (ie, us!) was to have someone on his team. “Interior design is a collaboration to execute a project in a timely manner. When an issue comes up and you need an answer, it’s nice to feel like a team.” Having us as a liaison between him and the contractor took a lot of stress off his plate, “which is a huge advantage that you would not get with something like Modsy or Havenly because it’s simply not in their business model.”
Proceed With Caution
Overall, while Havenly and other online interior design services can be a great option for some, it’s important to consider the potential cons and weigh them against your needs and budget before making a decision.
If you are independent and willing to take on the majority of the leg work without hand-holding, online interior design services like Havenly can be a convenient and affordable option, especially for small spaces. Just make sure to read the reviews carefully!
But if you want a personalized and expert approach to designing your space that truly reflects your style and needs, hiring an interior designer is likely a better bet.
You just have to find the one that’s right for you. It may take some time upfront, but it will save you stress in the long run.
If you want someone on your team as you dive into a home project, give us a call or fill out our inquiry form. We’re looking forward to getting to know you.