Oh My Styled Life

Last month, we gave you three reasons why you should hire an interior designer. If you missed it, you can catch up on that post HERE. So… let’s talk next steps. Below are three tried and true pieces of advice on how to have a successful client-designer relationship. Stick to these tips and you’ll not only end up with a home that you love, but you’ll walk away having had a headache-free renovation experience.

Be Prepared

Do a little ground work ahead of time! Have 2-5 inspiration images per room, and identify your favorite things about each photo. And, if there are any features of your space that you want to use as design inspiration, let your designer know! Be ready to also answer the following questions:

• How do you need your rooms to work? Think about what this space will be used for, who will be using it and how it will be used. What is its primary use – hosting, Netflix nights or working? Is it a high traffic area that will be used by all? Or is it a personal space for one person? If pets and kids will be running rampant throughout the space, that’s something to think about too.

• Does the room need to serve any special functions? Storage is a big consideration in design, and is always something to think about! If your space needs to serve multiple purposes, such as a guest bedroom doubling as an office, this is important to note.

• What is your design style and design aesthetic? And if the space is for more than one person, it’s great to know their style too!

Unsure of what your design style is? Take our Style Quiz to find out!

• How formal or casual would you like the space to be in its styling?

• What is your timeline? How quickly would you like your space finished? Keep in mind that interiors can take four to six months to complete, especially if you’re ordering custom items. If you need things sooner, your designer will need to know now!

• What is your budget? If you have a firm budget in mind, your designer will need to know this, too. And if your budget is flexible, a good designer will still be able to give you an estimate on how much your project could cost. It’s also helpful to know your priorities. For instance, maybe you want to splurge on your entry and living room, but take a more budget-oriented approach to your lower level or kids room.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions!

Don’t be afraid to ask your designer questions. In fact… we love them! When you have questions, ask them. And not only do we encourage this, also give feedback when you have it. This will prevent any miscommunication or confusion down the line. If you aren’t sure just how to put what you are thinking into words, provide photos of your ideas.

Additionally, an interior designer is there to not only chat with you, but with the rest of the team. Part of their job is to handle the small details, and make the renovation process as painless for you as possible.

Set Realistic Expectations

There’s nothing more frustrating than expecting one thing and getting another. We get that! A good designer will make sure to have a conversation with you about timelines, budgets and deliverables, but as stated above, make sure to ask questions too. And if you have an expectation, share it! This will ensure that your designer is aware and can deliver on it, or conversely let you know if it’s not realistic for any reason.

In case you missed it, we put together a monthly design guide earlier this month on the blog – a timeline of what home projects you should be thinking about when! This will help you to not only prepare your project from the outset, but to have realistic expectations on how long your project will take to complete.

From preparation, to asking questions, to setting realistic expectations, there are simple ways to make the process of working with an interior designer a positive one. If you’ve made the first step of deciding to hire an designer, we would love to chat! Tell us about your project HERE.

Click HERE to read more from our blog!