Residential and commercial spaces won’t be as beautiful and comfortable without interior designers. Interior designers work with clients to create a safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing space. Whether corporate, sustainable, healthcare, or universal design, these designers use color palettes, decorations, furniture placement, and functional decor to achieve the client’s vision for their space. If you’re in the process of hiring one, it’s crucial to know the right questions to ask an interior designer.
What to Do Before Speaking with an Interior Designer
Before we tell you the questions to ask an interior designer, do these steps before meeting with one:
- Identify the design concept or theme for your space. Knowing your design theme dos and don’ts will allow you to focus on precisely what you want. Decide what things you like and don’t like so you can relay this to the designer.
- Browse for interior design inspiration online. Check out some beautiful and functional interior design spaces so the designer can see your desired project outcome.
- Check the interior designer’s background. Do your due diligence and check the designer’s portfolio. See if he’s done similar projects and check if he has a proven track record.
- Set a budget. The project won’t commence if you and the designer don’t settle on a budget. Make sure you’re flexible enough but don’t stray from your budget.
12 Questions to Ask an Interior Designer
Once you know what you want, ask these questions before hiring an interior designer.
1. What is your design style?
You want the designer’s style to match yours. Ask what they specialize in and what their most assertive design styles are so you can gauge if it’s the right fit or not.
2. How much do you charge?
Establishing the budget right off the bat enables you to filter out designers who are way out of your set budget.
3. How do you charge?
Another follow-up question after asking the designer’s project amount is how he plans to charge it. Does he charge hourly, per finished project stage, or a percentage of the project cost?
4. How do you plan a budget?
Budgeting is vital in interior design, and asking the designer what he prioritizes when planning a budget is strongly advised. Some would allocate a considerable sum for contractors and some for furniture. Know how he plans to budget wisely.
5. Have you had similar projects? Describe how it went.
Knowing if the designer has had similar projects would give you peace of mind that he can achieve the goal. Ask what the most challenging part of the project was and how he circumvented those issues.
6. What are your credentials and references?
You may want to ask about the designer’s employment history and if they’ve had former certifications. Also, it might boost their credibility if they show any awards and recognition from licensed interior design organizations.
7. What’s included in your services?
Once you’ve set a budget, ask what interior design services and responsibilities are included in the project. Some examples are design consultation, site assessment, space planning, material procurement, project management, etc.
8. How will you present initial design plans and ideas?
One of the questions to ask an interior designer is how they will present the initial design plan. With the adage of technology, you’d expect designers to utilize interactive design presentations. However, combining it with mood boards and drawings is also an excellent way to diversify perspectives.
9. Who is the team working on the project?
You may be interviewing the interior designer, but he will work with a team of builders, contractors, and painters. Ask how these people will be selected and what their credentials are.
10. Describe your management style.
You want to know how the interior designer communicates and collaborates with his team. No matter how skilled the designer and his team are, the design and build process is futile if they can’t work seamlessly.
11. How do you feel about regular client involvement?
As a client, you want to get involved in the project from time to time to see if everything is going as planned. Ask the designer how he feels about this. A designer with good collaboration and communication skills will feel comfortable with this setup.
12. What if I don’t like the initial design plan?
Interior designers make an effort to present the initial design plan based on your specifications. Once you give the GO signal, the building commences. In some cases, clients may prefer something else to the initial plan presented. That said, ask if the designer goes back to the drawing board to create another design plan and concept to your liking.
Conclusion
Hiring an interior designer doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. If you know the right questions to ask an interior designer, you’ll be more confident in finding the most suitable one.
About the author
Celeste Zosimo
Share story
