5 tips for working with an interior designer

Planning to hire an interior designer for building your dream home – you need to look at the scope and budget of your project and match it with the skills and expertise offered by interior designers. Here are tips you can consider before hiring an interior designer.

An interior designer can bring into life the dream and vision you have for your home. The interior designer provides professional advice for the project’s development, from concept to completion. Design plans and drawings for the internal layout of the building, selection of furniture, fixtures and fittings, project schedules, and coordination with other specialists are well taken care of once the interior designer is on board. 

Engaging an interior designer may seem like a complicated process as you have to select the best suitable one from the designers available in your area. Each has different experiences and offers a wide range of budget options. Here is a checklist to ensure you find and engage the most suitable interior designer:

Hiring interior designer

Set a timeline

The scope and scale of the work will decide the time it will take to complete the project. Set a reasonable deadline for project completion. If you are planning a full-scale makeover or building a new house, allow time for the interior designer to work out the plan, modalities, permissions, and other aspects of designing.  

Find your design style

It is your dream that the designer will turn into reality. Think about how you want your house to look. Browse through information and images available online. Select the themes and design styles that appeal to you. Take inspiration and collect pictures of the look you find appropriate for your home. You can start with one room or one corner and then develop the theme for the entire house. The information will help the designer create the right look and feel for your home. 

Check out local and online talent for a match

For selecting a suitable interior designer, you need to create a pool of designers and choose the most ideal for the job. Scout for local talents in your area, and check for the information available in local magazines. You can look online for interior designers offering services in the area. Ask your family, friends, and acquaintances for details of designers who have worked for them or are known.

Meet a selection of designers

Put together all the information available for the designers who suit your requirements. Check their credentials, qualifications, portfolio, and past projects. Based on this information, select the designers and discuss your project with them. Explain your vision to the designers and ask them to show their latest work to get a fair idea of their sense of style and design. Ask them to share the contacts of their previous clients. Get feedback on their work.

Ask for contractors

Apart from interior designing, your home would require other contractors for civil and electrical jobs. Most designers know and have their contractors for these jobs. Ask him to get them on board as well. Your project will make great progress if all the contractors work as a team. 

Enquire about required permits

Administrations and municipalities have their set of safety codes and permits that need to be fulfilled before you start the project. They need to review the drawings and check whether the proposed work is in accordance with their guidelines. Check the services offered by the interior designer for all the permits and documentation essential for the project.

Understand the scope of services

Interior designers have their specialisations. You need to select the one most suited for your scope of work. Discuss the extent of work, budget, fees, material process, project timelines, and total project cost with the designer. Take quotes from the designers and weigh all the options before approving to hire one.

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Before hiring a good interior designer, you need to finalise what you want to get done and the budget that you can afford for the project.