A Guide to Hiring an Interior Designer

Looking to update your home? Hire an interior design expert! These professionals are the answer to your decorating problems, helping you create a space that suits your unique personality and lifestyle. Having them around has many benefits: for one, they'll help you get through picking the right color from fifty shades of grey (or any other motif you choose). They can maximize unused corners, create more space, and refresh your home with a new, inspiring vision.

Before you hire an interior designer, here are some things you need to know.

What is your budget?

Decorating is fun, but it's also expensive. There's just too much inspiration everywhere. You’ll find it in books, magazines, celebrity homes you see on TV, and even on Pinterest! However, you need to remember that these rooms aren't exactly cheap, especially when working with an interior designer. Before you start hiring one, make sure you have a realistic budget and prepare to stick to it no matter what happens.

During the consultation: Ask your interior designer about their payment structure. Their rates are usually influenced by experience, expertise, and location. Remember, fees vary on a case-by-case basis. There is no single template on interior design.

When do you want it done?

Time is gold for both you and your interior designer. Remember, the scale of your redesign will require a specific amount of time, so be reasonable, especially when you're planning an overall home renovation. This kind of work will require careful planning. At some point, you may have to be ready to give up your creature comforts while parts of the house are being renovated.

During the consultation: Proper communication is key. A good interior designer will keep you updated with the goings-on of your redesign, let you in on possible delays, and help you adjust to the new timelines.

What do you actually need?

One way to determine your overhead costs is to know exactly what you want for your space. Going minimal? Modern glam? Mid-century? Take this chance to scour the web and take note of the potential unforeseen expenses. Make sure to purchase the essentials first. Then, when you need extra stuff, you may personally buy home decor online.

During the consultation: Show your interior designer your vision board, a collection of inspiring images that will help you figure out what you want for your home. This will include colors, furniture, room layout, patterns, and other details that showcase the things you love. Your interior designer will help you prioritize which items to buy first and will recommend the best places to purchase room furnishings later on.

What do you intend to keep?

Not everything about interior designing is an expense. Sometimes, it's also making the best use of what is already there. Recognize which items are important to you, like a family heirloom or a cherished art piece. Go through your room. Do an inventory of what you intend to keep.

During the consultation: You want to tell your interior designer about the items you can't part ways with, but you also need to be open to suggestions. Sometimes, it could be more logical to donate or recycle items that aren't visually in-sync with the restof a room’s design.

Now that you’ve got these items all worked out, it’s time to pick your interior designer. Here are some of the things you might want to look into:

1. Their credentials: experience, awards, skill, and reputation

2. Their portfolio: past clients, references, network of contractors

3. Their services: consultation, site assessment, concepts, and project management

4. Their frequency of communication

5. Their design process: do they have a style preference close to your vision? Have they done similar designs in the past?

6. Their fees: do they charge a flat rate or an hourly rate, and if they require upfront fees

You want to have peace of mind while working with them, so make sure to hire only the best in your area. Following these tips will help you ensure that you’ve got your vision, and finances still intact at the end of your project.