Choosing an interior designer to help decorate your home the way you want it to be decorated? Don’t become overwhelmed with making the right choice because we will provide you with questions that you need to ask an interior designer before hiring them.
Continue reading this article to find out the questions that you need to ask before making your final decision.
1. Ask for Their Portfolio
One of the first things you need to do before deciding on the interior designer that you’re going to hire to decorate your home is their portfolio. The portfolio will detail all of the work that they’ve done in the past through pictures.
Viewing their portfolio will give you a better idea of the type of decorating that the designer specializes in. From there, you can decide whether their design aesthetic fits the needs and wants that you have for your home.
2. Do You Have References?
If the designer doesn’t have a readily available portfolio to provide, the next best thing you can ask for is references. These are like testimonials from people who may have worked with the designer in the past or may have hired them to decorate their homes.
After they provide you with the references, ask the designer to give you some time to check the recommendations and get back to them with your decision.
3. How Long Does it Take You to Complete a Project?
You must ask the designer what their timeline for projects is. No one wants to hire someone and then have them take over a couple of days or weeks to complete interior design.
If the designer has a track record for taking longer than expected, you may want to consider hiring a different designer to complete the job that you’re hiring for.
4. What are Your Interior Design Fees?
Before you sign a contract with an interior designer, you need to ask them their fees. One of the recommended things, before you begin your hunt for a designer, is to decide on the budget that you want to allow for hiring a designer.
Once you’ve decided on a budget, you can then begin searching for a designer. If the designer informs you of their fees and is higher than you’re willing to pay, you need to find another designer.
However, if the fees fit within your budget, you’ll need to ask what’s included in the package you’re paying to ensure you’re not being overcharged for the designers’ services.
5. What’s Your Favorite Design Style
Asking the designer what their favorite design style is will help you decide whether they’re able to meet your needs. If they specialize in one style, you should ask if they’ve ever designed an area like the one that you want them to design.
If they don’t specialize in the design you’re looking for, you’d be better off choosing a different interior designer to suit your needs. But, if they have experience decorating spaces that are similar to your ask if those were recent.
6. What is a Must-Have for Your Designs?
There are times when an interior designer has to have pops of color throughout the home or focus on a more neutral palette. You should ask this question to gain a better understanding of the level of attention that they pay to detail.
For example, a designer may want to use neutral paint colors to go crazy with placing smaller details around the home that feature lots of colors. Or the opposite choosing a brighter hued paint color and using neutral colored accents around the house.
If you ask what their must-haves are and it doesn’t match what you’re thinking about, you can always ask them to increase the amount of smaller details they use or reduce the amount that they use to best fit your style.
7. How Will You Communicate With Me?
Being able to communicate with your designer in case something doesn’t go as planned is crucial. You need to know how the designer will demonstrate the design and any changes in design that need to be made.
When the designer wants to make changes to the design, will they provide you with a visual representation of the changes they want to make? Will they communicate with you before spending more money?
All of these things will make a difference when it comes to time and money. If the designer doesn’t communicate well, then you will want to consider hiring a different designer. It should be understood that the pandemic is changing communication forever.
8. Who Does Your Team Consist Of?
You’re going to ask this question because you may have to pay for the extra help that they have to decorate your home. However, when choosing an interior designer, you must understand that they don’t do everything on their own.
A designers team may include:
- Other designers
- Appointment scheduler
- Contractors
- Installation professionals
Another reason to ask this question is so that you know who you’ll be in contact with for the majority of the process. And it also gives you extra time to verify the work of the designer that you’re hiring.
9. What Contractors Do You Recommend?
If you’re looking for other work to be completed on your home, you may want to ask the interior designer what contractors they recommend to complete the work you need. The contractors that they recommend are people that they’ve worked within the past.
The designer can also be a reference for them and the work that they’ve done in the past. And who knows there might be a discount for you because you were referred to them through the designer.
When choosing an interior designer, there are tons of things that you need to consider. You’ll want to ensure that you make the right decision or have wasted money on a design you’re not satisfied with.
If you’re looking to hire an interior designer, contact us to help make your house a home. And for more beneficial articles, continue scrolling through our blog section.
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Hi, I’m Kimberly, the owner of KH Home Design serving Connecticut. With my streamlined process, exceptional customer service, and impeccable design sense, I’m here to transform your home into a stunning reflection of your personal style and needs. As a multi-award-winning Interior Designer with a passion for design and a deep understanding of psychology, I create spaces that not only look amazing but also feel amazing to be in. Book a Complimentary Call today to get started on creating the home of your dreams.
