What to Expect When Working with an Interior Designer.
Working with an interior designer is a positive and exciting experience. However, if its your first time, it can be a little intimidating when you don't know what the process is. Below is 4 things you can expect when working with an interior designer.
1. Have realistic expectations- Be prepared to cover the cost of materials plus any additional labor cost. Hiring extra labor can get the work done but will cost. It's not all glitz and glamour how you see on TV. Every project is different. The best way to get a handle on an anticipated budget and duration is by asking potential designers for this information upfront.
2. Take the time to find the right designer- Each designer has his or her own unique personal tastes, and business practices. To make sure your project is a success, it’s important that you and your designer are on the same page with a lot of these details. You may need to interview a few before hiring a designer, this is called a consultation. It can be an in-person meeting or held over the phone. Most are paid consultations and some are free. You can use this time to ask to see the designer’s work, learn more about their process, and ask about business practices, such as their preferred methods for communication and billing.
3. Billing- Designers set their own structure on how they will charge. Some may charge by the hour without the material, charge per square foot, or charge you the retail price of an item and take the upcharge as a fee. Either way, you want to make sure you know how much your paying for the service. A good designer will give you a budget before they start making purchases.
4. Communication is the key to success- The earlier you give feedback, the easier it will be to make changes. Especially, before the material is purchased. Its your space and you have to be happy with it. So your opinion matters!
