Prefab(ulous)

Young consumers are expressing a growing interest in home decorating, a practice once relegated to moms and marrieds. Following the recent explosion of web-based interior design content, a bevy of virtual decorator and design-in-a-box services have emerged, playing to Gen Y’s desire to simplify the design process (and cut costs) without sacrificing their personal aesthetic.

Design in a Bag: Anyone who’s wandered through aisles of paint swatches can attest to the overwhelming prospect of starting a renovation without expert help. KitchenLab’s clever Design in a Bag service offers a solution: design starter kits for kitchen and bath, priced upwards of $60. Users can search within modern, classic and vintage styles, and cool, warm, and neutral color palettes, to find their desired kit, each of which contains countertop and tile samples, paint swatches, layout renderings, and a comprehensive shopping list. The service gives pointed guidance within the customer’s preexisting design preferences, and—an added bonus—cuts down the probability of breaking into tears in the middle of Home Depot.

Decorator in a Box: For renovators who desire tighter control over shaping their space, interior designer Annie Pauza’s Decorator in a Box service provides artistic inspiration in lieu of step-by-step directives. After customers complete a questionnaire about their design plans (which rooms, maximum budget), preferences (silk, suede, faux fur), and practical needs (kid- or pet-proofing), Pauza fills a box with a customized design inspiration board, color reference board, and a book loaded with suggestions on furniture placement, window treatments, wall finish, and other details likely to escape the layperson’s eye. The kit’s contents are reminiscent of scrapbook pages or vision boards; in fact, they’re so pretty customers might want to display them in the finished space.

Kelly + Olive: The hobbyists-turned-pros behind this Chicago-based interior design firm aim to appeal to the hipster homeowner set. Their manifesto promises to “make you fall back in love with your stuff”…even if that means displaying “your varied collection of princess telephones.” They also provide virtual decorator services (because “it’s the 21st century, people!”) for anyone seeking a pinch of assistance. Web-based services include color consultations, mini-moodboards for accessory selection, and full moodboards for those in need of a complete design overhaul. Like Decorator in a Box, Kelly + Olive requires customers to fill out a style questionnaire, which is written in a friendly, colloquial voice reminiscent of that of teen magazine quizzes.