1.   You can't choose from 5,000 paint chips. There are at least 1,000 shades of off-white alone.  A designer can help you pick out the perfect colors for your walls, ceilings, and trim.

2.  You don't know what's out there. Some of the best fabrics and furnishings exist only in showrooms, not retail stores.  A designer offers fast access to the best selections.

3.  You're afraid you'll buy the wrong thing. "There's nothing worse than a couch that's too big or too small -- or too safe," says designer Glenda Wann.  "My job is to help a client avoid expensive decorating mistakes."

4.  You don't know a good carpenter. A designer's rolodex is a trove of resources -- framers, upholsterers, drapery workrooms, contractors, painters.  (Bonus:  If a designer orders the work, she stands behind it.)

5.  You love doing your own decorating. Fine -- just start with a consultation.  In a visit or two., a designer can help you choose paint colors, fabrics, and furniture arrangements, then leave you with a detailed plan of action.