Interior design does not have to be an overly expensive feat. With the rise of the DIY and continued success of professional interior design television shows, retailers are becoming far more interior-friendly, with professionals in the sector reaping the rewards and pros and DIY-ers alike finding it easier to stay on budget.
Those points may not wash with West Londoners, however.
As understanding of – and emphasis on – the influencing powers of an interior design grows, the demand for professionals in the field rises.
According to the World Interior Design Network (WIDN), demand for interior designers in the majority of West London has risen so high, they have some of the UK’s biggest budgets.
The report cites the purchase of just one Knightsbridge flat which set its Ukrainian owner, Rinat Akhmetov, back £136 million.
While the spending habits of Londoners on average are obviously far different than Akhmetov’s, Britain’s budgets are certainly getting bigger and WIDN puts its down to trends, more disposable money, and status.
The WIDN report states that, along with the rise of technology, ‘clients are demanding greater control over their living environments.’
This in itself bumps up the cost of interiors, as custom features always come at a premium. The ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ factor also keeps West Londoners spending, with the amount spent on these kinds of investments rapidly increasing. Millions write blogs, books and magazine articles detailing exactly what they are doing, how they are doing it and just how good it looks, making upscale interiors more accessible than ever before.
With the price of housing increasing, especially in uber-dense London, people are investing more into their properties. It stands to reason, therefore, that they would invest equally in their interior living spaces.
Even with the costs skyrocketing in some sectors, however, it would be incorrect to ignore the personal effects these spaces have on our lives. Both within and outside the design industry, people are coming to understand the influencing power of interior design on our moods and actions. In the home – perhaps the greatest investment the average person will make – these features are held to their highest importance. While the investment may be great, the returns can be even greater.
