Renovating
Ask an Expert: How to Work With an Interior Designer
Have you ever thought about hiring an interior designer? This introduction will give you tips on how to get the best from the relationship
Did you know the role of the interior designer can be tailor-made to suit your needs? Your designer can simply provide light guidance, or he or she can be your personal shopper for everything from your kitchen units to your flooring and your cushions. A designer can even take on the role of project manager, overseeing the building work involved in your project. Sometimes an interior designer is called in for his or her unique capacity to think in three dimensions; in their mind’s eye, they see through walls and floors. So who better to invite over when you’re stuck and need some inspiration?
Collect lifestyle images
This bedroom has a dream dressing room, but even if your home isn’t cut out to include a wardrobe like this, if you like the idea, save it. Collect your favourite images by making an ideabook on Houzz. At this stage, don’t spend time analysing why you like something, just save it if you love it.
When you show your collection to your designer, you’ll be able to discuss what you’ve gathered. It’s likely your designer will help you edit the images down to several that show a strong theme or style. Then you can develop a plan for your home that will include as many of the things you love as is possible.
This bedroom has a dream dressing room, but even if your home isn’t cut out to include a wardrobe like this, if you like the idea, save it. Collect your favourite images by making an ideabook on Houzz. At this stage, don’t spend time analysing why you like something, just save it if you love it.
When you show your collection to your designer, you’ll be able to discuss what you’ve gathered. It’s likely your designer will help you edit the images down to several that show a strong theme or style. Then you can develop a plan for your home that will include as many of the things you love as is possible.
Share your ideas
If you’re naturally creative and enjoy the art and craft of homemaking, you will already have lots of ideas. So don’t hold back in the hope your designer will come up with the perfect answer – share your ideas. This enriches the conversation and it’s more likely you will then develop a plan you’re happy with and that you can implement in your own time.
The concept for turning a generous window area into a bright, sunny and colourful corner, for example, could be the result of several creative discussions.
If you’re naturally creative and enjoy the art and craft of homemaking, you will already have lots of ideas. So don’t hold back in the hope your designer will come up with the perfect answer – share your ideas. This enriches the conversation and it’s more likely you will then develop a plan you’re happy with and that you can implement in your own time.
The concept for turning a generous window area into a bright, sunny and colourful corner, for example, could be the result of several creative discussions.
Trust your designer
Many clients enjoy a home that has plenty of light and space. Sometimes there seems little choice but to paint it white to ensure a modern, clean look. But this can cause a room to feel cold and unwelcoming. One simple solution is to add a bit of colour. An interior designer would be able to offer advice as to how you can easily turn such a room into a more friendly space without losing the neat, modern look you crave.
You’ve also put the time in together looking at your taste and discussing what you want, and presumably you’ll have picked a designer whose work you already admire. So do put your faith in your designer when he or she suggests a bold colour or an unusual light fitting. Just go with it and try it – after all, you’re not changing the whole room.
If your designer is suggesting bigger changes, however, remember that one of the basic skills of the job is that he or she should be able to demonstrate their ideas in a way a client can understand. Methods include mood boards, concept designs, sample selections, drawings and scale models, so you’ll really be able to see how their ideas will look before you go ahead.
Discover ways to lift an all-white room with rainbow brights
Many clients enjoy a home that has plenty of light and space. Sometimes there seems little choice but to paint it white to ensure a modern, clean look. But this can cause a room to feel cold and unwelcoming. One simple solution is to add a bit of colour. An interior designer would be able to offer advice as to how you can easily turn such a room into a more friendly space without losing the neat, modern look you crave.
You’ve also put the time in together looking at your taste and discussing what you want, and presumably you’ll have picked a designer whose work you already admire. So do put your faith in your designer when he or she suggests a bold colour or an unusual light fitting. Just go with it and try it – after all, you’re not changing the whole room.
If your designer is suggesting bigger changes, however, remember that one of the basic skills of the job is that he or she should be able to demonstrate their ideas in a way a client can understand. Methods include mood boards, concept designs, sample selections, drawings and scale models, so you’ll really be able to see how their ideas will look before you go ahead.
Discover ways to lift an all-white room with rainbow brights
Discuss your pets
Owning a pet is a key aspect of many people’s lives. It’s important for your designer to know if you already own, or intend to own, a pet, because it will affect choices about the type of materials or colours you incorporate in a design.
In order to achieve the comfort and style you want for your home, you may not, for example, choose a cream sofa if you own a long-haired black cat or dog.
Owning a pet is a key aspect of many people’s lives. It’s important for your designer to know if you already own, or intend to own, a pet, because it will affect choices about the type of materials or colours you incorporate in a design.
In order to achieve the comfort and style you want for your home, you may not, for example, choose a cream sofa if you own a long-haired black cat or dog.
Go shopping together
Imagine this room without the rug; the dark furniture would look dull against the dark floor, whereas the addition of the rug lifts the room considerably. Picking the right rug can take a lot of time – there’s so much choice out there. So you could give your interior designer the task of suggesting options for a rug, or some other item, for your home. An interior designer will know what will work and what won’t, saving you time, stress and money!
Alternatively, invite your designer to go with you to the shops and pick something together. Accompanied shopping can be great fun.
Imagine this room without the rug; the dark furniture would look dull against the dark floor, whereas the addition of the rug lifts the room considerably. Picking the right rug can take a lot of time – there’s so much choice out there. So you could give your interior designer the task of suggesting options for a rug, or some other item, for your home. An interior designer will know what will work and what won’t, saving you time, stress and money!
Alternatively, invite your designer to go with you to the shops and pick something together. Accompanied shopping can be great fun.
Love your ‘lived-in’ look
If this artfully dishevelled and stylish Scandinavian room is how you dream your place might look after you’ve tidied up, relax.
Your room will look great ‘after’ all the hard work is done, but you will be talking to your designer ‘before’. Unlike this space, yours might be a wreck or genuinely untidy – with children’s toys carpeting the floors or drying washing draped everywhere – but don’t worry about the state of your property. It certainly shouldn’t stop you consulting with a designer; everyone’s home is a ‘work in progress’!
Discover whether Scandinavian style is for you
If this artfully dishevelled and stylish Scandinavian room is how you dream your place might look after you’ve tidied up, relax.
Your room will look great ‘after’ all the hard work is done, but you will be talking to your designer ‘before’. Unlike this space, yours might be a wreck or genuinely untidy – with children’s toys carpeting the floors or drying washing draped everywhere – but don’t worry about the state of your property. It certainly shouldn’t stop you consulting with a designer; everyone’s home is a ‘work in progress’!
Discover whether Scandinavian style is for you
Let your designer help you to choose your colours
If you’d like advice about colour, discuss this with your interior designer in advance and find out what they will bring with them to help you.
I carry 190 paint colours with me and use these in colour consultations. I then leave the chosen selection of swatches with the client as part of the service, but every designer will do it differently. They should have colour swatches, but may not be able to leave them with you, so establish what can be left and what else, if anything, you may have to pay extra for.
If you’d like advice about colour, discuss this with your interior designer in advance and find out what they will bring with them to help you.
I carry 190 paint colours with me and use these in colour consultations. I then leave the chosen selection of swatches with the client as part of the service, but every designer will do it differently. They should have colour swatches, but may not be able to leave them with you, so establish what can be left and what else, if anything, you may have to pay extra for.
Include the outside
The term interior designer could suggest your designer has no interest in the outside of the property, but nothing could be further from the truth. The external view of a well-designed home will give a hint of what’s to come inside.
Exterior choices for render, paint colours, changes to windows and doors, roof tiles and pathways are all very much within the remit of an interior designer, so make sure you include these aspects of your home in your discussions.
TELL US…
Have you employed an interior designer? If not, would you? And if you did, what did you learn? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
The term interior designer could suggest your designer has no interest in the outside of the property, but nothing could be further from the truth. The external view of a well-designed home will give a hint of what’s to come inside.
Exterior choices for render, paint colours, changes to windows and doors, roof tiles and pathways are all very much within the remit of an interior designer, so make sure you include these aspects of your home in your discussions.
TELL US…
Have you employed an interior designer? If not, would you? And if you did, what did you learn? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
The level of support you choose to arrange with your interior designer is down to you. But whatever you think you’ll need help with, it’s best to call in a designer right at the beginning of your project. This is especially true if it’s a large project, and in this case it’s advisable to get your designer involved before plans have been drawn up by an architect.
Through discussion and the sharing of ideas, a plan comes together. Your designer can hold your hand, so to speak, throughout your project and will work on developing the ideas as much or as little as you like.