How to Choose the Right Interior Designer for Your Home
Choosing an interior designer is one of the most important decisions when renovating or designing your home. Your space should reflect your style, perspective, and lifestyle requirements, marrying them with your home's innate character. A good designer will know how to bring that vision to life.
1. Think About Your Needs and Vision
Before you start looking for a designer, spend some time thinking about what you need. It’s often easy to know what is not working before you know what you really want or need. Start by making a list of things that aren’t working or could be better.
Additionally, you may be able to identify the kind of project you are looking to do. Are you considering building a new home, renovating or adding on to your home, redesigning a single room, or simply updating your décor? Do you want a designer who can work with a specific style, or do you need help defining your aesthetic?
Thinking about your goals will help you find a designer whose expertise aligns with your project and who can help further define your needs and bring clarity to your vision. Examples: If you're working on a large-scale renovation, you might need someone with experience in construction and architectural collaboration. If you're looking to refresh a space with furniture and finishes, a designer with a strong eye for style might be ideal.
Getting clear on what you want to achieve will make it easier for you to find someone who is a good fit for your needs.
2. Check out their Style
Every interior designer has their own style and approach to designing a home. It’s a beautiful world out there, and it’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole of Instagram beauty! Some designers focus on contemporary, minimalist designs, while others excel at more traditional or eclectic spaces. A designer’s portfolio will give you a good sense of their style, perspective, creativity, and the types of projects they’ve worked on. Visit websites or social media profiles to see if past work resonates with you.
Remember that while a designer’s style should align with your preferences, their ability to adapt to your vision and honor the home's architectural style is just as important. Look for a designer who can bring fresh ideas while still respecting your desires
3. Consider Experience and Expertise, and Reviews
While style is essential and definitely an initial indicator of whether you’re a match, a designer’s experience and expertise are critical. Look for a designer with experience in the type of project you’re undertaking. Have they worked on similar renovations or design challenges before? Do they have a background in working with architects, builders, or other specialists you might need for your project? Are they well-versed in the intricacies of custom furnishings, considering durability, sustainability, and/or lead times?
A seasoned designer will also understand the complexities of budgeting, project management, and timelines. They’ll know how to navigate potential issues and keep things on track, saving you time while insulating you from unnecessary stress.
One of the best ways to gauge a designer’s credibility is through testimonials and reviews from their past clients. Positive feedback can give you insight into how a designer works, their professionalism, and previous clients' satisfaction. Ask us for references, and contact those clients to hear firsthand their experiences.
Look for someone who has built strong relationships with their clients. This is another indicator of how well you may be a fit. A good working relationship is critical to your experience and the project’s overall success.
Interior designers often work with a network of trusted contractors, builders, and artisans to help bring their vision to life. A designer with a strong network of reliable, high-quality partners can help ensure that your project runs smoothly and that the final result is of the highest standard.
Ask about their relationships with other professionals in the industry, such as architects, electricians, or carpenters. A designer with a well-established network of trusted collaborators can save time and effort when finding the right team for your project. Likewise, if you are already working with builders or architects, ask them to recommend a designer who may be a good fit for you based on their experiences, too! A great team with synergy and respect for one another always yields the best results.
4. Understand Their Processes and Services
Interior design is a complex process, and strong communication is paramount. From the first meeting, pay attention to how the designer listens to your needs and asks questions. A great designer is a great listener; this is part of the bedrock of our design approach at Milton House. We aim to understand your lifestyle, preferences, and goals, ultimately defining the criteria for our solutions, marrying both form and function. More often than not, we find ourselves uncovering criteria you didn’t realize you had that make so much sense, but you hadn’t put your finger on it yet.
Also, consider how well they explain their business model, service menu, and design process. At Milton House, we ensure your clarity regarding our ethos, design approach, timelines, and how we will keep you informed throughout your project. We also ensure that you thoroughly understand the design agreement terms you are signing off on, identifying and honoring your target investment. Transparency from the beginning sets you up to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the design as it unfolds.
5. Pricing Transparency
Pricing can sometimes be tricky for any design project, but it doesn’t have to be. Working with Milton House to establish your investment from the beginning eliminates the need for anxiety about pricing to crop up. We offer guidance on how to align your project goals with realistic suggestions for what can be achieved. We are upfront about our design fees, including additional costs for furniture, materials, and labor.
We ensure you understand the breakdown of costs and get a clear agreement on how our services are charged. Setting a transparent investment amount and visiting it regularly provides parameters for the team to remain on track throughout your project, avoiding surprises. What might your project cost, and how can you quantify a budget? Not to worry—we’ve got you. It’s part of our process; we establish it from the beginning.
7. Chemistry and Trust
At the end of the day, your relationship with your designer will be key to the success of your project. Most design project durations last months or years before they are completed, in many cases, depending on size. You want someone you genuinely enjoy, feel comfortable with, and trust to make crucial decisions on your behalf. You will be collaborating closely on one of your most important places- YOUR home. You want to enjoy the journey as much as the people you trust will guide you there. Look for a designer who offers you the experience you deserve and is the person to be your advocate and creative confidant.
It’s important to feel confident in their ability to manage the project, stay on budget, and communicate effectively with you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, voice concerns, and express your ideas throughout the process.
Conclusion: Trust Your Instincts & Make Your Decision with Confidence
Finding the right interior designer for your home really comes down to one thing: confidence. We are big about communicating transparently and setting expectations and project parameters. Because of this, we are able to deliver our clients a luxury experience and elevated design that gives them confidence.
Are you interested in working with Milton House? Schedule a time with us here. We’d love to hear from you.
