Interior Decorators vs. Interior Designers in Austin: What You *Really* Need (and What You Don't) for Affordable Interior Design in Austin

Balm Interiors Dripping Springs Dining Room Design

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What Kind of Design Help Fits My Life (and Budget)?

What Is eDesign and Who Is It For?

Full-Service vs. Virtual Interior Design in Austin

Need Help Deciding? Start Here

Question + Answer

Balm Interiors Farm Loft Project

Okay, so you want to redo your house. Not tear it down and rebuild it—just redo it. Make it feel intentional. Finished. Like it matches your actual style instead of a collection of things that were at one point on sale at Target.

Who do you call for that?

Hi! I’m an interior decorator in Austin, and most of my clients come to me because their house doesn’t feel finished yet. 90% are regular folks who are tired of the DIY look and ready to be obsessed with their own regular life homes.

What Kind of Design Help Fits My Life (and Budget) — if you're looking for affordable interior design in the Austin area?

Let’s talk about what kind of support actually fits your season of life.

If you want the “walk in and everything’s perfect” experience—furniture assembled, styled, flowers in a vase—full-service interior design is for you. It’s high-touch and honestly, an amazing luxury if you're short on time and have a larger budget.

But if you’re okay doing the measuring, assembling flat-pack furniture, and calling Pottery Barn when your rug shows up in the wrong color (been there), eDesign might be more your speed. You’ll get the strategy, the layout, the links, and the expert eye, but you get to get to use your own hands (and hours) to do all the projects before and after that really drive up that full-service design fee.

Balm Interiors Exterior Refresh

If you’re curious, eDesign is virtual interior design available to you whether you live in Austin or anywhere else. A majority of my eDesign clients live in Austin but I never even step foot in their homes.

What Is eDesign and Who Is It For?

Think of eDesign like ordering the blueprint to your dream room, without someone else showing up in your foyer with a tape measure and taking a blindfold off your face when it’s done.

eDesign is virtual interior design that’s perfect for busy women who want their homes to feel polished and personal but don’t have thousands to spend on furniture delivery and install coordination.

You send me your photos and measurements, we work together on Zoom and Google and email. I send you a full plan: layout, product recommendations, paint colors, and styling notes. You take it from there, but you’re never alone. I’m still in your corner for questions, edits, and the “wait, where does this go again?” moments.

You’re doing the leg work yourself, but not by yourself.

Balm Interiors Builder-to-Bold Georgetown Project

Full-Service vs. Virtual Interior Design in Austin

Still not sure which one fits? Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

Service Type	Best For	What You Get	Starting Point
Full-Service Design	You want hands-off, high-end, low stress, end-to-end install and styling	Design, ordering, install, styling	Onsite Consultation
eDesign	You want pro guidance, and to spend more on the room and less on design fees	Layout, sourcing plan, style guide, Q+A support	Project Calculator

Full-Service is ideal if you are short on free time, but you’ve got some coin.

eDesign is perfect if you’re a DIY spirit who wants wants your home to look amazing, but you also love announcing how much you paid for a thing when someone complements it.

Balm Interiors Hill Country Ranch Home Project

Need Help Deciding? Start Here

Not sure where to begin? Try my Project Calculator. It’ll help you ballpark your furnishing budget and see which design support makes the most sense for your space.

If you’re leaning full-service, we always start with an onsite consultation. Email me and we’ll get something on the books.

Your home should feel like you. Let’s make that happen together.

Question & Answer

What are my options for virtual interior design in Austin?

If you’re looking for virtual interior design in Austin, eDesign is a great option. It’s a remote service where you send in photos and measurements, and I create a detailed design plan with layout, product links, and styling tips. You implement the plan yourself, but I’m here for support along the way. It’s perfect if you want a designer look without the full-service price tag.

What are affordable options for interior decorating in Austin?

Affordable interior decorating in Austin starts with choosing the right service for your needs. If you're not doing construction or moving walls, you probably don't need a licensed designer. A decorator (like me!) can help with layout, furniture, color, and styling. My eDesign (virtual interior design) packages are budget-friendly and give you everything you need to finish your space like the pro you are.

What is eDesign and how does it work for Austin homeowners?

eDesign is virtual interior design service for folks looking for design help without the price tag of full-service design. I send you a customized design plan—complete with layout, furniture suggestions, paint colors, and styling guidance—and you carry it out at your own pace. It’s a smart option for busy Austin homeowners who want a pulled-together space but don’t mind doing the measuring and furniture assembly themselves.

How much does it cost to hire an interior designer in Austin, Texas?

It depends on the service. Full-service interior design in Austin is a luxury service, design fees will start at $5k for a several room project that lasts several months. If a fabulous experience if you can stretch your budget, but if you’re on a tighter budget and want to handle on the hands-on parts yourself (and save a little money), eDesign is a great affordable options. My Total Transform eDesign services start at $497 per room depending on room size and type, and you can get an estimate using my free Project Calculator.

Keywords: interior decorators Austin, affordable interior design Austin, interior decorating Austin, budget-friendly interior decorator Austin, help finishing my home Austin