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Not just cushion fluffers
Why do I want to be an interior designer?
Interior design isn't just about arranging furniture or fluffing cushions. To me it is a mixture of creativity and problem-solving skills, with which we can turn unused spaces into rooms and change houses into homes. This is what makes me passionate about the job I do. And at the base of it all there's a feeling of doing my little share for making the world a better place.
Living room with a custom made sofa.
Design: INSIDESIGN - Photo & Styling: ESS.Creative
Interior design is creative problem-solving
I love challenges. The first challenges in our interior design projects are usually spatial challenges – to understand what the client really needs and how on earth can we make it happen in the house they have. It requires thinking out of a box and creativity.
The next challenge is to optimise the design so that we know we’ve selected the best possible option and can comfortably exclude all other solutions.
The biggest challenge is usually implementing the design. Building something new in an old house in Inner West Sydney may require a lot of troubleshooting and co-operation from a many different trades. The work itself is sometimes very hard, but the thrill I get at the end is priceless.
Living room with a custom designed bookcase over a window to a fish pond.
Design: INSIDESIGN - Photo: Conor Quinn
Gratification of seeing the results
The best part for me is to see joinery ready. It's especially the joinery because getting there has usually required months of design work and looking at the drawings and images of the joinery. To see the actual product in real life, and to experience how it changes the house makes me feel extremely proud. “I made this and it’s good” – feeling gives such a thrill.
It does go beoynd my personal satisfaction, too. To witness the spark of joy and amazement in our clients' eyes as they first walk into their newly designed home is fantastic. To see how changing their living environment changes their lives gives this job a meaning.
Casual luxury in a living room.
Design: INSIDESIGN - Photo & styling: ESS.Creative
Designing for a Better World
But there's a deeper reason that fuels my passion and explains why I'm so invested in this career.
One of my earliest clients, a helicopter doctor, had an extremely busy schedule filled with life-and-death situations. She didn't have time to furnish her home, even the basics, and she trusted me with the task. It made me realise that creating a calming home for her wasn't luxury, but a necessity, for someone who gives so much to others.
This encounter crystallised my purpose – I can't save lives, but I can design spaces that enable rest and recovery for those who dedicate their lives to making a difference.
So for me, interior design isn't just about aesthetics; it's a meaningful way to give back. By creating spaces that nurture well-being, I can contribute to a better world, one room at a time. It's a rewarding job, where my expertise transforms into impactful change in someone's life.
Bedroom with custom designed bedhead
Design: INSIDESIGN - Photo & styling: ESS.Creative
Whilst we interior designers admittedly do fluff cushions to finish off decor, it is more than that: we're improving lives. We put our creativity and problem-solving skills in use to create an environment that enables someone else to go out every day and save lives.
The joy I derive from home transformations is the knowledge that my work contributes to someone else being able to live their life to the fullest. They will have happy memories with kids growing up in a kitchen we made. They will relax and rejuvenate in a bathroom we designed. They can feel calm from the chaos of the outside world inside their home. And with that we're playing our part in creating a kinder and more meaningful world.
Please do get in touch if you'd need help to create a calm home for you.
Sari