After two renovations — one with an interior designer and one without — I have strong opinions on this.
Renovation 1 (kitchen + main bath, no designer):
We sourced everything ourselves using Pinterest boards and showroom visits. Result: functional, cost-effective, but three things we now wish we’d done differently:
- Tile pattern on the bathroom floor (too busy — live and learn)
- Kitchen island too narrow (we read 36 inches was standard; 42–48 is much more functional for two cooks)
- Lighting was an afterthought — ended up adding pot lights 2 years later
Renovation 2 (primary ensuite + laundry room, with designer):
Hired a designer at $125/hr (total ~$4,200 in design fees). What we got:
- A cohesive material palette that we’d never have pulled together ourselves
- Practical spatial planning (the laundry room layout she proposed is genuinely genius — fold-out table, hanging rod positioned correctly, proper ventilation)
- Contractor coordination — she knew exactly what specs to put in the scope so the tile setter and plumber weren’t freelancing
My take:
For small refresh projects: skip the designer. For anything involving spatial planning, material selection across multiple rooms, or where you’re spending $50,000+, the design fee typically pays for itself in avoided mistakes and better contractor management.
GTA designers with renovation specialization are listed on home.renovation.reviews — the community has reviewed several.