10 Questions To Ask An Interior Designer Before Hiring, PLUS Bonus Lists!
Make sure you hire a real & very experienced designer, vet them properly before you hire.
T he client-designer interview is the most important step in your home design project's process. Hiring the right one is vital for its success. So be sure to take your time in the process of hiring an interior designer to find one that's very experienced, gels well with you, and that you feel the job is right for. That way, you can trust your home's in good hands. To help you simplify the process to find the right one, in this blog post I’ve outlined a comprehensive list of 10 essential questions to ask before you hire PLUS 2 FREE BONUS LISTS of additional important questions!
In these 2 bonus lists, you'll find more important questions to ask your designer PLUS a list of questions for your designer's references. Because the more details you gather when looking for the perfect professional, the more equipped you’ll feel about making the best decision for your room or home project. To access these additional lists, simply send us an email at info@laramichelle.com with BONUS LISTS in the subject field.
First, What Questions NOT to Ask an Interior Designer During Your Interview
- Don't Ask: What this time should NOT be used for is to glean lots of design advice, request design plans in advance, paint colors, furniture sources, or any other design ideas for your home. These are the expert skills and resources that great designers have worked hard for years to hone and acquire, and it’s what you’re hiring them for! Please don’t expect to “test” a prospective interior designer during this time as to what they would do in your home. You can view their previous work to see if you like their style, call their references, and get inquisitive with lots of questions about how their process works to ensure you’ll be a perfect match.
- Great Design Takes Time: A good, experienced designer may give you a tip or two before being hired, but then would let you know that they need to follow their design process first to give you any real design plans or advice. Lots of thought, creativity, and expert planning goes into great design! This work would begin once the designers contract is agreed upon and signed.
An experienced designer is key to your projects' success.
Understanding the Designer's Background
1 How Long Have You Been in Business?
- Experience: Experience is crucial when evaluating an interior designer! Their years in the industry reflect their credibility and expertise, enabling them to navigate diverse projects effectively. Experienced designers bring a wealth of knowledge, having tackled challenges from initial concepts to final delivery. Inexperienced designers will have trouble making decisions that can hinder the progress of your project so make sure the designer shares this information during your initial consultation with them.
- Design Expertise: Experienced professionals are adept at learning the homeowner's design styles, offering tailored solutions that meet specific style preferences. Also find out about their project management skills and what they did in the past to smooth out any hiccups that would complicate things on jobs for other homeowners.
- Education: It's essential to find out what formal interior design education the designer you are considering has. Also, inquire if they have ever worked for other design firms before starting their own business.
- Design Services: Ask your designer what services do you offer? Also ask if there is an interior design service they specialize in? Usually these services are listed on their websites but it's always good to confirm and get more clarification.
Good designers have strong portfolios on their website.
2Can I See Your Portfolio & What is Your Design Style?
- Portfolio, Website, & Social Media Review: Make sure to review their past work! Any good interior designer has a website featuring photos of their best past projects for you to view. Also note how professional and creative their website looks. Note if you feel their overall website looks attractive, has beautiful photography, is well thought out, and has a plethora of information for visitors to learn as much as possible about their background & firm. This provides crucial insights into their design style, past project experience, and how they present themselves. A great designer should also have a good social media presence showcasing their interior design work where you should find inspiration.
- Discuss Style: Clearly communicating your preferences up front ensures the designer understands how to tailor their work to meet your expectations and align with your personal style, whether you prefer modern minimalism or cozy traditional designs. The more this is discussed up front, the better the process will be. An experienced designer is adept at bringing out your style in their designs to create your dream home.
Project Management and Communication
3What is Your Process?
- Design Process: Understanding the designer's process is important. It typically begins with a consultation to discuss your goals, preferences, and budget. This phase allows the designer to grasp your vision and any specific needs while offering an opportunity for you to inquire about their experience and design style.
- Once Hired: Are mood boards or 3D renderings submitted for your approval to convey design concepts? Once approved, the designer proceeds with detailed planning and procurement, selecting materials and managing timelines. Throughout the project, they oversee construction, coordinate with contractors, and manage installations, ensuring every detail meets your expectations until a final walkthrough.
4How Do You Communicate with Clients?
- Preferred Methods: Will they communicate via a combination of emails, phone calls, texts, and zoom meetings? In-person meetings are often required when reviewing floor plans, fabrics & finishes. Will they be easily accessible and respond to your inquiries in a timely fashion?
- Updates & Progress: What is the frequency and format of updates and progress reports? Regular updates that keep clients informed about milestones, challenges, and decisions, ensuring transparency and alignment with the project's timeline and goals should occur. This helps fosters effective collaboration every step of the way.
5Who Will Be Working on My Project?
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Designer’s Team: Understanding who is on the team working on your project is important to maintain an effective collaboration with an interior design firm. Typically led by a main designer, the team includes roles such as design assistants, draftsmen/women, or project managers. It’s important to know if you will be working with the firm’s lead designer or if your project will be handed down to an associate designer or design assistant.
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Client’s Team: Do you already have members of your own on board, such as an architect, builder, or contractor? It’s important to hash out who will be project managing and overseeing to ensure all runs smoothly.
Budget and Fees
6What Are Your Fees and Payment Structure?
- Discuss Fees: Make sure to understand pricing structures which often include hourly rates, fixed fees, and cost-plus percentages on purchased items. Openly discuss your budget early to set expectations and effectively allocate resources. Clear communication ensures transparency in managing costs and achieving your design objectives within your budget.
- Common Pricing Structures: Every designer charges differently and their rates vary with no specific guidelines. Various ways most designers charge: A flat rate for a specific scope of work, an hourly rate, or a commission model where they earn a percentage on purchases made for the client's home. Often, a combination of these fee structures is used. For an in depth look at fees and pricing, check out my super informative blog post How Much Does an Interior Designer Cost.
7How Do You Manage Budget Concerns?
- Have the Budget Talk: It’s important for you to share an approximate budget for your project up front. Doing so will enable designers to have an idea of how much work you can realistically get accomplished and also how to prioritize the work. An experienced designer will know if your design goals work within your budget.
- Managing Budgets: Designers manage budget concerns by initially establishing a detailed budget that is in line with client priorities and project scope. They prioritize spending based on needs and client preferences, suggesting alternatives when necessary, whether the budget is limited or not. Experienced designers are able to know how to manage your budget best when issues arise.
8Can You Provide an Estimate for My Project?
- 1st Type of Estimate, Designer Fees: It’s important for you to know what your prospective designer approximate fees will be for your project. This will enable you to incorporate the fees into your overall budget. Experienced professionals will be able to give you a good ballpark figure after meeting with you and gathering all of the project details.
- 2nd Type of Estimate, Project Budget: This requires extra time and ideally having your design plans already completed to get estimates from contractors and price furnishings & decor. Therefore, if you require ballpark project estimates before hiring the designer, expect to be charged for this extra time and service. Also note, since at this time you won’t have definitive design plans completed, these project estimates won’t be completely accurate, but can just give basic clear idea of costs.
Timeline and Deadlines
9What is Your Estimated Timeline for My Project?
- Duration: Designers typically provide a timeframe based on its scope, complexity, and specific requirements. This includes key milestones from initial design to completion, factoring in aspects like space size, renovations, material procurement, and necessary town approvals. This is why it is important to have a thorough walkthrough of your home or review any blueprints available with your prospective designer.
- Schedule Disruptors: Factors that can influence the timeline include construction and delivery delays, design revisions, client decision-making, and coordination with contractors. Clear communication and realistic expectations help ensure smooth progress and timely completion, with flexibility to address any challenges that may arise.
Client References, Reviews, Awards, & Press
10Can You Provide References from Previous Clients?
- References: When requesting references from an interior designer, ask for contact information of past clients. When contacting their references, inquire about their overall experience, communication effectiveness, adherence to timelines and budgets, and the quality of the final design. Additionally, ask how the designer handled challenges or setbacks during the project and whether they would recommend the designer for similar projects. Ask about the their professionalism, reliability, and responsiveness too.
- Bonus List!: Be sure to also get my extensive 2 FREE BONUS LISTS of questions to ask designer references! Simply email us at info@laramichelle.com with BONUS LISTS in the subject field.
- Online Reviews: Do they have strong testimonials or online reviews? These insights provide valuable perspectives on their reputation, service quality, and client satisfaction.
- Awards & Press: Do they have a press page highlighting editorial features in magazines or online publications? Have they recently won any design awards? Accolades like these will lend credibility and position them as experts in the field.
Final Steps
What Happens Next?
- Next Steps: After you have carefully chosen the professional you'd like to work with, the next steps involve signing their contract and sending your retainer. You can then set a date to begin design phase 1.
- First Meeting: Preparing for the first official meeting and project kick-off, your designer will measure your spaces & review gathered information. Then they will begin developing initial design concepts. Good designers will request their clients send them idea books, Pinterest boards, inspiration shots, or photos of things & styles they like and don't like, so the designer can get an idea about their clients taste.
I hope this helps you find and feel more prepared when you're looking for your perfect designer to fulfill your design dreams! Please share your experiences, we’d love to hear about them in the comments section below! Be sure to get our 2 FREE BONUS LISTS by emailing us at info@laramichelle.com with BONUS LISTS in the subject field.
Happy Designing!
6 Comments
Wow, this is such a helpful post and amazing questions to know, thanks! Do you happen to travel to other locations, we’re out in CO?
Hi! do you only work in Westchester NY and Greenwich Ct? We’re building a home in Florida and need help!
Thanks Bianca, yes I travel to where ever my clients need me! Email me or fill out our form on our contact page and will get right back to you. XO Lara
Hi Linda, yes I do travel to other locations. Please email me or fill our our contact page form and will get right back to you XO Lara
It’s evident you’re passionate about this subject. Your enthusiasm is inspiring.
Thank you appreciate your kind words! XO Lara