5 Things to Ask an Interior Designer Before Hiring

When looking for an Interior decorator, you and the interior designer should be the right match and be on the same page. The search for an interior designer is fun and exciting but the process of finding the right interior designer (for you) can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming.

Interior design is more than accent pillows, paint colors, or interior fittings. The combination of purpose and fashion to create a harmonious home that is tailored to your needs, personality and style are the ingredients to exquisite Interior Design. Most of all, it should be a true reflection of you and your family’s lifestyle.

As a passionate interior designer to my craft and work,  I understand that hiring an interior designer is a commitment. This is why it is important to know exactly what you are looking for and someone who would be the right fit for your interior design project. Here are 5 questions to ask an interior designer before hiring them:

What interior design services do you offer?

This is a simple yet very important question. You want to make sure that you are working with a firm that is dedicated and excels in the services that you are looking for.

Researching their portfolio and design services will help you better understand how their interior design firm will give you a good idea of their overall project experience and design style. You should consider looking for an interior designer with experience in space planning and interior architecture of every decor and furnishings.

Some follow up questions you can ask are:

• To what extent do you offer a “full service” design experience?
• Which do you prefer, the client is involved in the project or client is laid-back from the project?  
• What is your project-management style like?

Follow up questions like these can help you better understand expectations before hiring and give you confidence the interior designer you choose is the perfect match for you Some interior designers prefer the client not to be involved in the actual project management aspects but there are clients who enjoy more involvement throughout the design process. It is good to know, from the start, of your project how your designer prefers to manage projects which will help avoid any project miscommunications or delays.

What are your design styles and inspirations for your work?

Asking this question is simply a way to get to know an interior designer. This is one good way to get to the heart of the personality, style, and aesthetics of the interior designer.

You are digging the sense of creativity on the craft and where they are coming from. This is a huge question that can help you so much in your search for the right interior designer.

You can also throw some follow up questions like:

• What are your design signatures and your favorite design projects?
• In your design projects, what are your favorite colors to use?
• What part of the home is your favorite space and why?
• Where is your favorite travel destination and how do those elements reflect in your work?

How will you make me understand your design concept and ideas?

It is vital that the interior designer is able to fully communicate the design concept and ideas to the client. So you will understand what the process will be and what will you be expecting from the outcome of the interior design project.

Most of all, seeing and understanding the concept and ideas will make you comfortable with the plans before spending too much investment on the project.  

This is a broad question that you may not be able to get the exact answers that you are looking for. It is best to throw follow up questions that would give a better understanding of the interior designer’s process as a whole in dealing with the project.

• What happens if I don’t like the design?
• How long will it take to complete the project?
• What are the specific details of every material and decor that will be used?
• How many staff will be working on the project?
• Can I see the actual samples of every material that will be used?
• Can I get demo access to the project management system?

There may be circumstances that along the way you and the designer will not be on the same page. So, it is best to know beforehand, how will your designer deal with uncontrollable situations and that both of you will be in a win-win situation.

It is also great to know who and how many people in the team will be working. Perhaps you may be just speaking your thoughts on the project but in fact, another designer will be assigned to your project. Seeing the materials to be used and having a visualization of the design plan of the project will be helpful.

Can you work within my budget?

This type of question can either make or break a deal if you are trying to decide on the right interior designer. Nonetheless, this is one of the important questions you should not miss asking the interior designer.

Every interior design project you will do, be it small or big projects involves money.  It is just ethical for both the client and the interior designer to be transparent on the budget and cost of the project. Both should be on the same page on how much the project will cost and if the interior designer can work with the client’s budget. Unless the client will declare that money is not a problem but just to achieve and turn his dreams into reality.

What would be the 2 main reasons why you will not go for a project?

This question can be asked positively but I’d rather throw one negative question in order to find out how well the interior designer will carry himself or herself to answer such a question. This is also one way how they easily get the point of this question and give you a direct answer based on their personality and approach to every client.

With this question, you will get to understand as well the limitation of the designer in dealing with the project. The professionalism of the interior designer can be gauge through dealing with negative situations. As well as how committed they are in every design project.

There you have the 5 things to ask an interior designer before hiring them. If you need help with your design project, contact designstiles today. Schedule your design consultation and learn how you can hire us by the hour design option. Click here to learn more:  https://www.designstiles.me/consult

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