Betsy Helmuth introduces the premium membership and its benefits, answers Millie's question about online courses, discusses setting expectations when hiring a designer, recommends ICovia design software, and shares tips on decorating open floor plans, painting furniture, and building a house.

0:00 Introduction to premium membership
0:31 Benefits of premium membership
2:12 Question from Millie about online courses
2:59 Discussing expectations when hiring a designer
6:28 Setting expectations with designers
10:32 Recommended design software: ICovia
12:17 Promotion for online class bundle
15:13 Tips for decorating an open floor plan
18:16 Advice on painting furniture
20:13 Considerations when building a house

- Avoid hiring an interior designer without clearly setting and agreeing upon expectations for deliverables and hourly rates to ensure value and satisfaction.
- Use a consistent color palette with a base neutral and no more than three accent colors, applied in varying proportions across different areas, to create cohesion in an open floor plan.
- Do not design with an all-white color scheme for kitchens or bathrooms, as it can lead to mismatched and dingy appearances over time; instead, mix different tones and materials for a more enduring look.

Additional show notes:

Click here to ask Betsy Helmuth a design question.

Click here to upgrade to a premium member and access the bonus episodes.

Click here to become an interior designer with Uploft’s Interior Design Academy.

For more affordable tips, visit AffordableInteriorDesign.com.

For more about our residential interior design services, visit ModernInteriorDesign.com.

For our commercial interior design services, visit OfficeInteriorDesign.com.