Working With an Interior Designer

If you've ever thought about working with an interior designer, some doubts might have stopped you cold. Fearing it would be too expensive, or that you'd get stuck with a room you wouldn't like, you may have given up on the idea altogether.

However, using a design professional can, and should, be a good experience.

Working with a designer can save you money in many situations by allocating resources wisely, eliminating decorating mistakes, and increasing creative thinking about your project.

Some Tips

Prepare yourself - Decide on a budget. Collect color swatches you like. Have pictures to illustrate what you like and what you don't like. Think about the furniture pieces you hope to keep. Listen to all ideas, but never go against your heart. Try using the Modern Nest Boardmaker provided in this websites Nesting section.

Ok, you've met your designer, now what? How can you be helpful, remain in control, and ultimately end up with a design that is pleasing?

Communicate with your Designer - Listen. Talk. Listen. That's it in a nutshell. The designer will tell you your concept of the project, and be frank about your budget limitations (everyone has them).

Finances - No one likes sticking to a budget, but everyone has one. Be conservative. Plan a project with goals and phase-in purchases over a few months or years if necessary. Make sure you're very clear on exactly how you'll be charged, when your designer needs deposits, how you'll be billed, what you get, and when the work should be complete. Will you be charged for phone calls, shopping trips, or in-home consultations? Are purchases marked up or discounted?

Each designer has a different way of working and various fee structures, whether a flat fee, hourly fee, or percentage of purchases. Even if you don't want to spend a fortune, there are many ways to use a designer on a very tight budget. Start small if you wish, using a designer for a short time on an hourly basis for a specific project.

Getting the Design that fits you best - The more information you can give to your designer the better. Your needs, your preferences, and your style can be conveyed in both words and pictures. Collect photos from magazines of rooms, furniture, and color schemes you like, and use these to illustrate your ideas.(Again, the boardmaker is an excellent tool for this pre-design process) This will give your designer a place to start in creating a design specifically for you. (Make an extra set of color copies if needed.)

However you choose to proceed with your project, whether you consult with a designer or read up in a how-to book, -- the more information you gather the better, and the better your remodel, your room and your home will look when your project is over..