When you decide to renovate your house, it is crucial to carefully select your interior designer to get the best results. It is almost like searching for your soul mate because you need to have some chemistry and like the same style. Finding someone you can work with and who ‘gets you’ and your vision of a great home may be a very personal process. Here are some tips to consider when looking for a interior designer.
- Research
Where do you find an interior designer? Doing an internet search is not the best approach to finding one. Consider three options before going online. The first thing you want to do is find designs that speak to your style. Visit model homes or show-houses in your area and choose something that you like. You can also look through local design magazines and write down the names of people whose designs speak to you. Second, ask your friends or family for recommendations. If you know someone who has used such services, they will help you get contacts. You can also contact professional organizations that list down all interior designers in your area.
- Determine your budget
How much do you want to spend on your home decoration project? You have to set your budget upfront with your potential interior designers. Some may turn down small projects; therefore, it helps you narrow the list of candidates. Different professionals have different ways of charging clients. Some have a fixed rate for all services, some charge per session, and some will purchase everything you need. Choose the one that works best for you if there’s room for negotiation, the better.
- Effective communication
As much as you trust the interior designer’s experience in home decoration, you must be able to communicate precisely what you want in your home. If their choices do not please you, let them know. It doesn’t matter if it is small things, like the color or size of a plant pot. A good practice would be to put together a file of design images and share it with them.
- Check and sign a contract
It is vital to have a contract that highlights all the terms and conditions of the project. It enables both you and the professional to know what to expect from each other. Most of them usually have one drawn up for their clients. It may be something as simple as a letter, but there has to be proof of the terms of engagement.
- Have an open mind
As much as you may be dead sure of what you want when it comes to renovating your home, be open to new ideas and suggestions. You may not agree on everything with your interior designer but be open to new things. As you settle on which interior designer you will work with for your home decoration project, compare notes, and choose the best one.
Article prepared in cooperation with Ignas Limited.