Seven Questions To Ask A Prospective Interior Designer

Did you know that you are not required to hire the first interior designer you contact with? Quite the contrary. You should approach your sessions more like professional interviews. It’s an opportunity for you and the designer to sit down, discuss your ambitions and visions, and get a sense of one another so you can evaluate if you’re a good fit. A personal connection is almost as vital as the designer’s skills and abilities because you will be working closely together, possibly for a long period depending on the extent of the project.

Here is a brief list of questions that will generate vital information and assist you to discover more about the prospective designer, her philosophy, and her general design style.

Can you work with our budget?

For any given home repair job, you absolutely need to create a budget, unless your funds are completely limitless. For the sake of maintaining your sanity and preventing you from getting in over your head, you should settle on this number and make it definite. Prepare for a 10% to 15% emergency cushion in your budget. As soon as you get this figure set in your possession, you will be able to run it past your potential designers to determine whether or not they are able to work with it.

How do you charge? 

For any given home repair job, you absolutely need to create a budget, unless your funds are completely limitless. For the sake of maintaining your sanity and preventing you from getting in over your head, you should settle on this number and make it definite. Prepare for a 10% to 15% emergency cushion in your budget. As soon as you get this figure set in your possession, you will be able to run it past your potential designers to determine whether or not they are able to work with it.

When are your fees due?

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a design’s finances are frequently the most difficult component (see how the first three questions are all about money?). This is why it is so vital to have complete openness in all financial matters. Does your interior designer want half of the payment now, and the rest when the work is finished? Does she favor being paid in installments rather than all at once? Make sure that all of the financial agreements are put in writing and signed by the appropriate parties so that there is no chance for misunderstanding.

What is your design forte? 

In principle, any experienced professional interior designer should be able to provide a flawless rendition of any design that you can imagine. In point of fact, we are all human, and this means that we each have our own unique design strengths. If you are a committed adherent of modernism, it is in your best interest to collaborate with a designer who concentrates on modern design. Find a designer who has a portfolio filled with designs that have a funky-chic aesthetic if you prefer items that are a little more varied.

Can you show me examples of my style/budget/ideas in your portfolio?

Furthermore, as the saying goes, seeing is believing. Spend some time going through their portfolio. Do you think you could make a home out of any of their designs, particularly the ones that are within your price range? If not, it’s possible that they aren’t the right designer for you.

Do you offer industry discount fees? 

When a designer has been in the industry for a longer period of time, she has more opportunities to make contacts with other people. Because of these contacts, the company is frequently able to purchase home furnishings and textiles at discounted rates, which the company then offers to its customers.

Can you provide professional references? 

Remember not to disregard the significance of references. It is a good idea to chat with people who have worked with the designer in the past so that you can get a better feel for how she operates, how she handles obstacles or hitches, and other such things. This feedback is frequently the deciding factor in who a client chooses to hire.

When you’re ready to start interviewing prospective interior designers, keep these seven questions in mind. By asking about their experience, design process, and past work, you’ll be able to get a better sense of whether or not they’re the right fit for your project. And once you’ve found the perfect designer, you can sit back and relax knowing that your home is in good hands. So what are you waiting for? Give us a call to schedule a consultation.