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Decorate at Your Own Risk: Why You Should Hire a Designer Instead

By U.S. News & World Report

Renovating and redecorating can be a very exciting time. Many of us have a mental list of projects around our home that we have been itching to start. In the simplest of cases, it’s a new color palette for your walls, or maybe a new rug or sofa. For others, you may be finally planning your dream kitchen or master bath.

Whichever your situation, the anxiety level can be the same. Making changes to your home can be an intensely personal process, and it’s difficult to hand over the reins, even if the process is too overwhelming to handle on your own. For some, making design decisions around the home can lead to some fairly contentious dinner conversation as well. So why not give yourself a break and consider what a designer can do to help?

There’s the misconception that interior design services are only for the wealthy, but most jobs prove the opposite. Great design is available to everyone, and comes in all price ranges.

A good designer should be able to come into your home and for a fair fee be able to help you edit what you already have, make sound decisions regarding the scale of the room and what should fit appropriately in it, and suggest ways for you to customize the room to bring it in the design direction that you want to go.

[See: Current Design Trends That Will Date Your Home.]

A New Kind of Service

With the popularity of the DIY Network, HGTV and remodeling and design site Houzz, consumers have a lot more information at their fingertips and are more eager than ever to get their hands on their projects.

This trend has created a niche customer that wants design help without the commitment of a full-blown designer renovation. Some design firms have begun offering paid consultation appointments that serve as free-form, working design appointments.

This consultation has brought stylish design to a whole different market. For clients who want advice on paint colors, furniture placement, furniture editing, and other general assistance. After a couple hours, both sides walk away satisfied with the results, which can concludes the interaction or lead to a more detailed project assessment.

Either way, you’re excited and energized because you have a plan for success. This is a great way for customers who have never worked with a designer before to get their feet wet with the process. Ask designers in your area if they offer these types of appointments.

[See: Weird Home Features That May Confuse Homebuyers.]

A Fresh Perspective

A fresh set of eyes is invaluable for troubleshooting design issues in your home, and who better to serve that purpose than a trained designer? It has probably taken a long time for your home to get into the state it is in.

Let’s face it, most of us do a lot of living in our home. Our furnishings are a collection of things purchased and donated — items we feel guilty getting rid of because they have memories. We’re wary of discarding rugs that have survived two generations of pets because Sparky still brings sticks into the house. Many of us have followed the well-meaning advice of family and friends only to find their style doesn’t quite fit your idea of what “farmhouse industrial” is.

Much of the design mistakes in our homes go unnoticed to us. We see it every day, and offensive items fade into the background as a means of necessary denial. We don’t know how to fix it, where to put it or what to replace it with, so we leave it.

The kids need a convenient place to put their shoes, so we give in and put a rack by the door instead of in the closet 3 feet away, because the closet is packed with too many coats and a lot of soccer balls and shin guards on the floor. While it may seem impossible to find a better way to handle the overload of stuff, a designer is trained to help solve these problems in ways that fit within your budget and lifestyle.

[See: 12 Home Improvement Shortcuts That Are a Bad Idea.]

A strange thing happens when one goes to select a new paint color, rug, or sofa. Even though you may want a change — maybe you no longer like your French Provincial style and would like to opt for more of a spa look. There’s a strong likelihood that, left to your own devices, you’ll inadvertently select items and colors closer to your existing look. It’s human nature; you’ve been living with it and are used to it. You’re comfortable with it. You’ve re-decorated and at some point you will become aware that something isn’t quite right. Don’t wait for your spouse to go out of town and re-paint. Call an interior designer.

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Decorate at Your Own Risk: Why You Should Hire a Designer Instead originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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