How to Get the Best From your Interior Designer

The aim of your interior designer and project coordinator is to create the home you want that suits your lifestyle. A good interior designer is trying to get the best possible end result within budget and with the least inconvenience to you. Nevertheless there are some areas where you can help.

1 To avoid misunderstandings sake sure all decisions are recorded in writing and if necessary on a drawing. Make sure you understand the drawings and if you don’t raise the matter with your interior designer.

2 Look carefully at all the samples and make sure you like you like all aspects of the sample supplied – the colour and the finish. What variation can you expect between the sample and the stock that will be supplied? What is considered normal? Are you happy with it? If not select something else.

3 Decide what you are going to do yourself and do it. If you have an agreement with your interior designer that you will do some of the selection yourself then you must actually do it and do it on time. You are part of the whole team and if you fail to deliver on time, in the same way as anyone else on the team be it a plumber or electrician fails to deliver, the project will not move forward, and you may incur costs if other people’s work is rescheduled as a result.

4 Once the project starts try not to make changes. Changes can create delay, a contractor may need to reschedule work and as a consequence not return for several weeks.

When you make changes the original plan has to be cancelled. Everyone has to be informed of the change. Items that have been ordered then have to be returned and there is usually a restocking charge. New items need to be ordered. This all involves a great deal of time. Plus the new arrangement may have knock on effects elsewhere which will cause further unforeseen costs.

5 Keep an eye on your budget. If your budget is limited bear that in mind when you make your selections. You can’t have the best everything if you don’t want to spend much (and indeed it is necessary to have the best of everything to achieve a good effect).

You must share your budget with your interior designer. A good interior designer is working for you to achieve best value with your money and they cannot do this efficiently without a full understanding of what you have to spend. Work with your interior designer to identify a contingency to cover those unforeseen costs that always appear in any project no matter how big or small.

Make sure you fully understand the scope of works for your interior designer ie exactly what they are doing for you and the basis under which they will charge.

Your relationship with your interior designer is important especially at a potentially very stressful time when your home is in turmoil and being traipsed through by strangers in big boots. A good interior designer is there to provide you with the support you need to help you through and even enjoy this potentially traumatic experience. A relationship of trust and one built on the basis of good communication is essential to ensure you achieve the wonderful home you deserve.