How to Hire an Interior Designer to Make Your House a Dream

Custom-designed and decorated homes are on the rise. As many as 73% of homeowners are planning to renovate their homes this year. The main goal of these projects is to enhance personalization within the home. 

Hiring an interior design professional helps to manage the process. Designers work to provide creative direction while adding value to the experience. They also offer expert design techniques and insight into the latest trends.  

Yet, how do you find the perfect interior designer to handle your home renovation project or a new build? Here are the top tips for how to hire an interior designer to boost style, comfort, and function in the home.  

Do Your Research 

It helps to begin with an online search for the top designers in your area. This makes it easy to research websites to gather interior designer info. Here you can browse samples of their previous projects, including photos and video. 

While researching, look to make sure the designer’s sense of style matches your own. See if they have a wide range of different designs or stick to more of a niche market. Niche designers include those who mainly work on luxury projects or sustainable living. 

Get a feel for the designer’s level of experience and area of expertise. Find out if they have experience in whole-house design or only focus on certain rooms, like kitchens and baths. Other designers may only handle renovations, new home builds, or commercial spaces.  

It’s best to think about how involved you want to be in the decision-making process. This will tell you what kind of designer you should be looking to work with.

Some designers will manage the entire project from start to finish. Others will offer a la carte services, including:

• Consultations for DIY projects
• Assistance with design and space planning
• Creating new design concepts
• Purchasing materials and furniture

You should also look to see if the designer has any accolades that set them apart. This includes design awards or features in a magazine or book. Read all their customer testimonials and online reviews as well. 

Another idea is to ask for recommendations from friends, family, and work colleagues. Homebuilders and realtors are other good sources of information. These professionals can tell you what to know about hiring an interior designer in your area. 

Get an Idea of Project Costs

During this phase, you also want to get an idea of the designer’s pricing structure. This will help you during the budgeting process. 

You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $500 per hour for design services, depending on location. Designers will either charge by the hour or a flat fee. Some designers will even offer different pricing packages depending on your unique needs. 

Schedule In-Person Interviews 

One of the best tips for hiring an interior designer is to compare a few different companies. Start by selecting a list of your top 5 interior designers to meet with.

This way, you can make sure your personalities mesh well and you like their design style. This also presents an opportunity to discuss the project in greater detail. You can go over the estimated costs and see if these can be achieved with your budget.  

It helps to make a list of interview questions to ask each designer. A few good topics to discuss include:

• How much experience they have
• The estimated project costs
• How their rate structure and billing method works
• What to expect at the initial consultation
• The estimated timeline for completion of the project
• Which suppliers and brands the designer works with
• If the designer has any recommended contractors to help complete your project
• How the designer works to help cut project costs 

It’s smart to always take a look at each designer’s contract ahead of time as well.  

Pick the Right Designer for Your Needs

When you hire an interior designer, always put your project needs first. This is key for how to hire an interior designer that works with your budget and style. 

Some designers only work within the luxury market. Expect their prices to be way higher than a more budget-friendly designer. 

Be sure the designer understands your project scope and can meet the demands of the job. Some designers only handle full-service projects. Yet, others give their clients more control over project details.  

Some of these interior design planning details can be overwhelming for homeowners. Yet, it’s essential to pick a designer that will allow you to be as involved or uninvolved as you want. 

Provide as Much Detail and Inspiration as Possible  

The more visual examples you have of your vision, the easier it will be for the designer to bring your ideas to life. Providing the designer with details helps define your style and set the tone of the project. 

Great interior designer tips include finding inspiration from pictures and videos. Use social media tools like Pinterest, Instagram, and Houzz. Design magazines and online blogs are other great sources to use.  

Some clients prefer to give full creative control over to the interior designer. But be sure to communicate your needs from the very beginning when hiring an interior designer. This ensures the final results will exceed your expectations.   

How to Hire an Interior Designer to Fit Your Project Needs

These tips will help you learn how to hire an interior designer that meets your unique needs. The best designer for your project will work with your budget and design style. 

They will bring forth vast experience in design trends and techniques. The designer should also be willing to collaborate with you on project details.

Looking for more inspiration for your next home improvement project? Check out the decor and design section of our blog for all the latest tips.