DECOR : Best Way to Avoid Going Over Budget Is to Have Right Budget

Decorating costs often exceed budget, mainly because most of us, if we’re going to do something, want to do it right. But it’s possible to hold your ground--if it’s reasonable to begin with and your resolve is strong.

“You do need some flexibility because unanticipated things happen,” says Charles Gandy of Atlanta, former national president of the American Society of Interior Designers.

If remodeling is involved, an unexpected problem may crop up, such as having to move a plumbing pipe in the wall. More typically, the budget gets out of control when more costly items are substituted for those originally planned.

“In our work, we end up begging from Peter to pay Paul,” Gandy says. “For instance, if I know I have $100,000 to spend on a job and I find a piece for $8,000 when we budgeted $5,000, I will look for ways to save in another place.”

It makes sense. But a psychologist--to say nothing of an accountant--might say it sets an unfortunate precedent.

“Designers and clients both tend to go over budget,” says Thomas Grabowski, a designer at Hudson’s department store in Southfield, Mich. “Once they get into it, they find something better that costs more, or they decide that they want to add items not included in the original plan.”

Designers of office space are the exception. Probably, Grabowski says, they’re more likely to come in on budget because they are less likely to make changes in the plan. A facilities officer for a large company, for example, rarely will be seduced to buy a more expensive desk.

“The designer’s role is to evaluate whether the budget is adequate to meet the client’s expectations,” Gandy says, “and if it is not adequate, to explain why not.”

Most clients are unaware of price, and designers may underestimate it to avoid sticker shock. But an experienced designer who does his homework should be able to provide an accurate estimate, says Joan Halperin, a designer in New York.

A reliable figure generally requires at least a rough floor plan, an idea of what is to be bought and the desired quality of furnishings and workmanship, Halperin says. For example, $30,000 is realistic to decorate a living room, but not if antiques and expensive furnishings are required.

“There is a wide range of prices for home furnishings, and costs vary greatly depending on whether the client does or does not require high-end brand names and antiques,” Grabowski says.

Even the best-laid plans can go awry. Customers at Ethan Allen Interiors stores nationwide typically exceed their stated budget by about 15%, even though prices are clearly marked.