If your home or a room in your home needs a face lift, you may want to hire a professional designer to help with the make over, but this costs money. The next best idea is the amateur designer, we all know one. That girl in the office spends her lunch hours reading design magazines and is only 20 credits from finishing night school design courses, or Aunt Jan whose home could be in a Martha Stewart magazine, or our Uncle Frank who can build anything from cupboards to clocks. Whoever it is, all of us know at least one person who could be a designer on the side. But before you ask for help from the amateur designer, there are some things you should consider.

Time- The person you are ask to help you may have a limited amount of time to devout to the project. So you may not be able to progress as quickly as you would like, or in some cases they may not be able to help you finish at all. To them, they are doing a favor for a friend, not pursuing a career, so you and your project will get their leftover time, which will likely be very limited.

Versatility- Your amateur designer may only be good at designing according to their own taste. So, if you like their style, but not their taste, you may have to work hard at helping them to adapt. They will be eager to suggest things they like, but you will have to remind them that the two of you are working to redesign you home.

Money- Since your amateur designer will probably be working for free they may feel that they are entitled to pressure you into choosing certain things. This can be a hard matter to navigate. You, of course, want to express thanks for their help, but you shouldn’t be pressured into making changes that you don’t like. If you sense this entitlement starting to grow you may want to finish the project alone, especially if you are working with a close friend or family member. Redecorating or designing your home is no reason to cause tension in your relationshis.