An Honest Review Of Havenly Design Services

 

The post gained significant traction on Pinterest, resulting in a steady influx of emails requesting a review of Havenly. Havenly is a virtual design service akin to Modsy, and given that I have been engaged in our living room renovation for the past month, I deemed it an opportune moment to explore Havenly's offerings.

In this blog entry, I will not be conducting a comparison between the two services; rather, my intention is to elucidate how Havenly operates and what one can expect from its design packages. While a direct comparison was addressed in a previous post, let us now focus on the details of Havenly.

The Havenly Design Package I Chose

At the time of this publication, Havenly provides two design packages: The Mini and The Full. The primary distinction between the two is that the Full package includes a layout visualization, whereas the Mini does not. Both packages are currently available at a discounted rate with the promo code LELA25; however, for my personal project, I opted for the Full package.

How The Havenly Setup Process Works

The process of setting up is quite enjoyable; however, it necessitates some preliminary effort on your part. After selecting the type of room you wish to design, you are required to upload your own inspiration images. This step is mandatory, meaning you must source and upload images from elsewhere before proceeding.

I gathered several images from Pinterest and took a few photographs of a CB2 catalog, which sufficed for my needs. While I found this task manageable, it may pose a challenge for individuals who are uncertain about their desired room style.

The subsequent phase involves submitting photographs and layouts of the room. You are expected to capture images from various angles, create a hand-drawn layout sketch, and provide the room's measurements. Although this task is straightforward, it does require a commitment to effort.

The final component is an engaging quiz that prompts you to evaluate vignettes, color schemes, and materials, while also allowing you to specify your particular requirements. Additionally, you have the opportunity to select your designer based on their portfolio, which I found particularly enjoyable. It was a pleasure to browse through the profiles of the recommended designers and identify the one that aligned best with my personal aesthetic.

The Launch Phase

In the Launch phase, you engage directly with your designer through the website's chat feature to articulate your design requirements and preferences. Additionally, you have the opportunity to arrange a phone call with your designer should you wish to converse in that manner. My designer demonstrated exceptional responsiveness and communicated effectively through the messaging platform, which alleviated my need to schedule a call.

The Ideas Phase

In the Ideas phase, you are presented with three distinct mood boards that assist in establishing the room's aesthetic. I received my concepts approximately two days after the Launch phase, which facilitated a swift progression. The three mood boards aligned closely with my personal style, and I genuinely appreciated each of them.

I requested my designer to integrate many of the items I already possessed, and she successfully incorporated them into the mood boards, allowing me to visualize how they would complement the new decor she suggested. It was truly beneficial to see everything cohesively arranged in that manner.

The Concept Phase

The Concept phase is when you get specific product recommendations. Just like the Idea phase, you’re presented with a mood board, but only one this time. You can either go with the recommendations in the Concept mood board, or you can ask for a revision. I got my original concept in about 2 days from the Idea phase.

I asked for a revision because mine felt a little sparse. I had asked her to keep my sofa, book shelves, rug, light fixture, and wall art. So the Concept really only had a chair and a couple of tables added. It seemed to only cover one wall view of the room. So I asked for a little more to help style the fireplace. Within two more days, I had a more detailed concept, with fireplace styling included.

The Layout Phase

After finalizing a concept, the next step is to proceed to the layout phase. I found it somewhat unusual that the layout phase follows the selection of furniture, particularly since some items in the concept did not align with the actual measurements. However, I am certain there is a rationale behind this sequence. The layout images provided to me depicted only two perspectives of the room, in addition to a top-down view. Furthermore, the layout remained unchanged from the original design. No new suggestions were offered, although I believe there may not be an alternative layout that would be suitable for this space.

The Shopping Phase

The concluding phase of the Havenly design service is the shopping stage. Within Havenly, you have the opportunity to purchase the suggested items along with alternative options. This feature is particularly advantageous as it saves time by eliminating the need to visit multiple individual websites. Havenly automatically applies the current promotional discount codes from each retailer, striving to maximize your savings.

Additionally, designers earn an affiliate commission when purchases are made through Havenly. This commission does not incur any extra cost to you; rather, it enables your designer to receive a small percentage of the total purchase price from the retailers. This process is akin to purchasing through affiliate links found on blogs or Instagram swipe-up features.

I highly recommend utilizing Havenly for purchasing the specific items they propose for this reason. It serves as a way to acknowledge a job well done without the necessity of a direct tip. Instead of directing all your funds to CB2 for a chair, a portion of your payment is allocated to your designer as a token of appreciation for their recommendation. It is always beneficial to support the designers and bloggers you admire by shopping through their affiliate links.

So Is Havenly Worth It?

The answer is both affirmative and negative. Allow me to elaborate.

For individuals starting with an empty space and minimal furnishings, Havenly serves as an excellent resource for orchestrating a comprehensive room design. The turnaround for designs is prompt, the designer is exceptionally supportive, and the process of sourcing products is quite straightforward.

Conversely, if you already possess the majority of your furnishings and are merely seeking decorative guidance, I would not recommend Havenly. The decorative items offered tend to be quite conventional (such as books, metal chains, plants, and pillows) and somewhat limited in variety. However, it is important to note that I requested the designer to include the sofa, shelves, rug, and lighting, which may have restricted her options. Thus, I bear some responsibility for this limitation rather than Havenly.

I appreciated the three mood boards presented during the Ideas Phase, as they effectively assisted in defining a style from the outset. This aspect was particularly commendable. Additionally, at the conclusion of the design process, there is an opportunity to receive a 3D layout at no additional cost by submitting eight photographs of the room from specific angles. I chose not to pursue this option since the layout of my existing room mirrored that of the design plan.

Ultimately, I purchased a second Full package for my office, indicating that my experience was not unfavorable. The primary motivation for acquiring another package was the necessity for entirely new furniture and a complete redesign of the office space. Furthermore, I developed a strong rapport with my designer, who shares a similar aesthetic sensibility and possesses excellent ideas.

Should you wish to explore Havenly, you may use the promo code LELA25 to receive a 25% discount on either the Full or Mini package, depending on your preference.