Top Tips for Selecting Your Interior Designer
Selecting your designer is a really big deal. Gathering as much information as possible, and making sure the pieces fit will go a long way to making your project enjoyable.
Let’s talk about what to consider when selecting the designer that best suits you and your project.
It’s important that you find the right fit!
To make sure you engage the right designer to suit your needs, it’s super important that you feel it’s a good fit so that you are able to enjoy the collaboration. Apart from design experience, personalities should play a large part in your decision-making , as well as ensuring that your designer really understands you and what you’re wanting to achieve. It’s a good idea to meet before you make your decision, ask lots of questions and do your research. This might include:
asking about their processes and design stages. Get a feel about your prospective designer’s organisational and project management skills so that you' can rest assured the project will run smoothly.
finding out about their ‘connections’. A good supplier network (for trades, products and materials) is essential. Does your designer offer trade or wholesale purchasing options (definitely a big tick!)?
reviewing websites and social media for images of past work. This will give you a glimpse of a designer’s preferred style - although that’s not to say that we’re not versatile. A good designer will gain an understanding of their client’s vision, lifestyle, personality, and preferred design style and use that information to give the client exactly the finished project they desire.
getting a sense of your designer’s values, personality an design ethos. Does your potential designer really relate to you, your lifestyle and your design preferences?
getting a feel for whether you can work together as a team. We are all individuals, with different ways of working. Make sure that you choose a designer that you feel comfortable with.
understanding their pricing structures and exactly what it includes. Ask about additional costs that may be incurred. Are fees charged on an hourly basis, an upfront fee, or a mix of both.
considering the lead in time to commence your project as well as the timeframe for delivery and completion.
asking about qualifications and experience in the type of project that you are looking to undertake.
discussing and agreeing on the project terms. For example, make sure you are both clear on the scope, who will be doing what, and the process and cost for any variations to the project that may arise.
Getting a sense that you and your designer will make good partners and that you can work collaboratively, is important if you want your project to be an enjoyable experience.
At Beautiful Spaces Interior Design we offer clients the opportunity for you to meet us, ask us anything and gain ideas about design ideas and solutions, before you make any decisions about engaging us to help you with your project. We want all of our clients to feel comfortable and confident working with us.
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e’ll meet with you for up to one and a half hours to learn about what you would like to change, improve or enhance and the ‘pain points’ that you are currently experiencing. We’d love to hear about what your dream home would ultimately look and feel like and how it would function best for your family’s unique needs and lifestyle.
During our visit, you’ll benefit from on-the-spot suggestions for quick and easy fixes as well as more in-depth advice regarding how larger issues could be best addressed and the approximate budget you’ll need.
You’ll have a head-full of ideas and an understanding of renovation and decorating costs before you embark on your project.
If you feel that you would like to progress further, we can let you know a little bit about how we work, and give you a good insight into what you can expect if you choose Beautiful Spaces Interior Design to help you with your project. We can even give you a ballpark estimate of our professional design fees if you’d like us to prepare a detailed Proposal for your project.
Thanks for taking the time to read this little blog - I hope it has been helpful. Feel free to drop us a line and we’d be happy to share more with you about our initial consultation.
- Janine Nairn
Creative Director