At Ra Ra Designs, we recognise that employing an Interior Designer can be an exciting but daunting task. Interior Designers are there to assist you in defining your style, maximise functionality, guide you through the mountain of decisions, stop you feeling overwhelmed and help you work within your budget to achieve your design goals.
Here are our 6 top tips for employing an interior designer to design your home:
- Define your style and goals: Before you start looking for a designer, take some time to define your style. Pinterest and Houzz are perfect free media platforms with thousands of images and ideas that can be pinned to a vision board. Don’t overthink what you like/don’t like. The more images you tag have the better! This will help you to be able to communicate your expectation to your designer and ensure they understand your style and preferences.
- Research designers: Research before hiring an interior designer. Some designers just do furniture and fittings whilst others have experience in the more architectural and construction aspects of design as well as the furniture and fittings. What skill set are you looking for? Ask for referrals from friends, families, architects, QS or builders. Look for good reviews from previous clients online and finally, call the designer for an informal chat about your project and how they work as a design practice.
- Set a realistic budget: It is essential to set a realistic budget. Discuss your budget with your designer upfront to avoid any surprises further down the line. A good designer will work within your budget and provide cost-effective solutions that meet your design goals. They should also be honest with you about what is achievable within your budget to avoid disappointment.
- Communicate effectively: Designer to client relationship is crucial to the success of your project. You need to find a designer who you can clearly communicate your expectations, timeline, budget but most importantly a designer who you actually like as a person. Provide feedback throughout the process and be open to suggestions from your designer.
- Trust your designer: Trust your designer’s expertise and vision. Remember they have years of experience and knowledge in interior design and construction. Listen to their suggestions and ideas. You can always offer feedback on their ideas, but ultimately trust their judgement. This is also respectful towards them as a person and the skills that you are employing them to provide.
- Plan for the future: Consider the future when designing your home. Think about your lifestyle and future needs. Will your family grow? Will your needs change? A good designer will factor in the future when designing your space.
Employing an interior designer can be a valuable investment in your home. Follow these top tips and you will be on your way to finding the right interior designer for you to assist you in the creation of your dream home that reflects your style and meets your needs.
