Starting an interior design project is such a fun and exciting time! But the process of hiring an interior designer can be overwhelming. Where do you begin?
You know that you need to hire an interior designer. But how do you know which designer is right for you? Luckily, it’s easy to find a designer who understands your vision inside and out. You just need to ask the right questions.
As designers, the more we know about you, the better. That’s why we recommend you prepare to interview us when we meet for our initial consultation. Depending on your project, you may be working with your designer for months, even years. You want to make sure you click! Knowing what to ask your designer is a crucial part in establishing the vision you’ll share.
What to Do Before Hiring an Interior Designer
Before meeting with any designer, we recommend you think about what you like and what you don’t like. This seems like a common sense first step, but it isn’t as easy as it sounds! There are so many options to consider: colors, textures, patterns, finishes, and many other not-so-obvious scenarios, like how often you entertain.
Having an idea of your major do’s and don’ts is an important starting point for us. When you can articulate what styles you resonate with you, your interior designer is more capable of eliminating concepts that won’t work. Narrowing possibilities down to the ones you’re sure to love is a great way to start the conversation. Before you meet with us:
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Browse interior design mags
Now you’re speaking our language! Some of our favorites are Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Galerie Magazine, and Veranda. Online publications like Dwell, Lonny, and Rue are great resources as well.
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Search for interior design ideas on social media
Instagram and Pinterest are basically online portfolios for designers all over the globe. More and more design firms are also turning to TikTok to share before and afters. Video is a great way to visualize a design team’s talent.
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Google “interior designer in…”
You’re sure to find local designers’ websites and local media covering the best design in your area. We also don’t mind if you share photos you’ve found on our website or on other designers’ sites. We are completely client-centric, designing your home in the style or styles you prefer most.
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Visiting an art gallery, antique shop, or fashion boutique
A great designer can translate your inspiration and passions into a design that suits you. Some of our favorite spaces have been inspired by a painting or were designed around a family heirloom.
Many of our clients will gather their favorite inspiration images into a folder or Pinterest to share. You can even bring your favorite fabric swatches, magazines, and even room layouts to your first consultation. In fact, we recommend it!
Questions to Bring to your first Interior Design consultation
Now that you’re prepared, it’s time to schedule your consultation. Many times, this meeting can happen virtually or over the phone, but visiting the studio or having prospective designers visit your home are better options. As long as you have your must-haves and preferences, this will be a fun and enjoyable first meeting. Designers love it when you come prepared!
1. Show me your favorite projects. What did you like most about them?
You’ve more than likely reviewed the firm’s portfolio online before your meeting. Now, you want the designer to describe their style, their approach, and what they loved most about each project. Sometimes, that’s not obvious from their published portfolio. Many designers only show a handful of their presumed best or most recent work. There could be an entire archive of designs that you’ll absolutely love.
When the designer reviews their portfolio, pay close attention to the words they use. Ask what the clients had requested to see if that was clearly translated in the design. ou should feel aligned with how the designers describe the style in each project. If you do, that’s a great sign that you’ll connect on your home’s vision.
There are many designers who have mastered a singular style and others who take inspiration from their clients. If you know what you want, go with the former. But we also recommend stretching outside of your comfort zone with a designer who practices in a variety of aesthetics.
For example, at the Laura U Design Collective we don’t specialize in one particular style or look. Whether it’s contemporary, traditional, eclectic, romantic, or serene, we find inspiration from our clients and what they enjoy. There are many designers like this, as well as designers that stay within one style profile. If you find you gravitate towards a French Provincial look, it makes sense to work with a designer that specializes in that style. But if you aren’t sure where you sit on the style spectrum, or if you’re willing to get out of your comfort zone, try interviewing a variety of designers and ask to see their portfolios.
No matter what, connect with firms who have portfolios that speak to you.
2. What design services do you offer?
This is an important question for a couple of reasons. First, you want to make sure you’re working with a firm that specializes and excels in the services you need for your project. Second, you want to understand how the design firm thinks about themselves.
For example, you may only need assistance with picking a color palette, but have no idea where to start. In this case, you wouldn’t need a full-service design firm. Their processes, and costs, would be too robust for your project. Instead, you may be better served by working with a design consultant or even going with virtual consultation services.
If your project is more comprehensive, including custom cabinetry, moving walls, or even adding an addition, it’s important to clarify these needs upfront. Project scopes can expand, and they often do! So, even if you’re not ready for those extended services just yet, feeling secure in your designer’s ability to eventually take that on, will set you both up for success.
Laura U Design Collective is a bit different. As a “wholistic” design firm, we address design at every stage, from the ground up. Our favorite projects start with the architectural planning through to the final flourish of a decor pillow, and we manage everything in between. This could include working with our creative director, keeping your builders on pace, assisting with color selections, designing custom furnishings, fine art advisory, and space planning. If you want to take a trip to the markets, feel free to invite us! We love shopping with clients, helping them find that one piece you cannot find anywhere else. It’s best to consider all the services you would like to have in order to make your home feel complete. But it’s also important to listen to the design professional. They may have a fantastic service suggestion that you haven’t thought of yet!
3. How much do you charge and can you work with my budget?
Before you sign any contracts, you should be 100% comfortable with the way your interior designer has priced their services. There are a variety of ways designers will charge:
- Hourly billing: Your designer will log the hours they’ve spent designing your home and managing your project. Every month you will receive an invoice detailing the hours and costs related. This is a transparent way to price; however, you may be concerned with efficiency.
- Fixed price: With this structure, your designer will charge a percentage of the furnishings or cost of construction (depending on your scope). Usually, this is 5-15% of the materials and furnishings costs. This pricing method enables a consistent billing amount month-to-month, but can change depending on project costs.
- Cost plus: Your designer will charge the cost of the furniture or materials, plus a markup for their services. Typically, you can expect a 35% markup on items to compensate the designer for their time.
If you don’t have a budget already in mind, we recommend interviewing a few different designers to get a baseline for what your project should cost. Don’t worry – there are many designers out there, all of whom price their services differently. You will find someone able to work with you at any budget.
Understanding an Interior Designer’s Costs
At Laura U Design Collective, we focus on large-scale, luxury home projects. For furnishings, we estimate a furnishings budget of $150,000 per 1,000 square feet of designed space. Some clients budget a bit less and some budget substantially more. We can help guide you based on your preferences. In addition to the amount allotted for furnishings, we also charge hourly. Nationwide, designers charge, in general, about $75-$200 per hour. On top of your furnishings budget will be a cost for the design team to manage your project. This cost varies, as we have senior designers and assistants at different rates. We’ll review these costs in our initial meeting.
Be aware that there will be retainer charges, shipping/moving charges, and even updates for materials costs. Tariffs and taxes will certainly change the initial price too. If the sky’s the limit, you’ll have a wonderful time getting to know a luxury designer. They’ll be there to support your design dreams every step of the way. And if your budget is limited, don’t worry. There are many designers out there and we assure you your home will look amazing!
4. How will you present your design concept and ideas? What is your process?
This is really two questions, but they are both very important. While there are some standardized ways to approach a full-service interior design project, there are many different ways to present concepts, renderings, and finish schedules. You may want an online experience where you can access your design presentations 24/7. You could also request 3D renderings for each room. You may need your designer to work with civil engineers and your HOA. Whatever you need, you should feel like your chosen designer is your advocate every step of the way.
Creativity is of course, paramount to a design that you love. But don’t neglect the way that creativity is structured and presented to you. Here is a glimpse into our full-service interior design process, at a very high level:
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Discovery
Each project begins with a comprehensive discussion to identify the client’s needs and style. We review inspiration images and talk through the home’s overall space plan.
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Inspiration
Our design team creates a room-by-room concept statement that guides the overall design direction of the project.
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Design
We present fully developed design ideas and if any revisions are necessary, they’re shown in a follow-presentation where the final design is selected.
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Procurement
Once the design is final, our in-house procurement team orders your new furnishings, fixtures, and accessories.
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Installation
Depending on the project scale, our design team will spend 1-5 days installing all the art, furnishings, and accessories in your home.
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Big Reveal
It’s time to celebrate! We welcome you to your new home and unveil your new interior!
We also work with clients on Instagram and Pinterest. These visual platforms make sharing inspiration photos easy. At the studio, our design teams will create project boards where we collect anything from full bedroom designs to small lacquered boxes. This is a great way to keep the lines of communication open between designer and client.
5. Who will be working on my project and how are they selected?
When hiring an interior designer, it’s important to know who will be working on your project. Many times, the name on the door will have a talented team behind them to carry your project through from start-to-finish. You may not want to work with a team and would instead, prefer to work with one designer.
If you’ll be working with a team, ask to know more about the backgrounds of everyone involved. Again, it’s imperative that everyone understands your design style AND the way you prefer to communicate. At Laura U Design Collective, we utilize design teams, which consist of a Senior Interior Designer or Senior Project Designer, Lead or Associate Designer and a Junior Designer, throughout the project. Our designers work closely together to ensure that old adage of “measure twice, cut once.” It’s essential to have more than one designer on every project because there are so many moving parts. We also have a purchasing assistant, who manages the logistics of ordering and install. Our founder and creative director touch every project. They meet with every client. As the project moves forward, they review all design concepts and attend walkthroughs. While they won’t be your main point of contact, they’ll be there to oversee all aspects of your design.
6. What happens if I don’t like the design?
This happens from time to time. The initial design presentation could be a huge hit, but sometimes, it’s a big miss. Don’t let this discourage you. We have always been able to overcome those issues in subsequent design presentations. Keep in mind, design is always changing. Your personal style is evolving. And it takes time to curate an interior that is perfect for you. Keep using social media inspiration boards. If you’re out and about and see something you like, send us a text message or email. We will always go back to the drawing board and present a fresh design. Stay open-minded, prepare yourself for some design risks, and be honest with how you’re feeling. At the end of the day, this home is yours. It should speak to you.
7. Have you ever worked on a project like mine before? Do you have success stories?
Here, you’re looking for positive testimonials and a glimpse into the designer’s portfolio. You may be able to find these on the designer’s website, but it’s important that you ask in the design meeting. Often times, our clients request internet privacy, so we cannot publish their homes online or on social media. For the most part, however, they do permit us to share their interiors with potential clients in our design meetings. The consultation is a great way for you to see the designer’s immense body of work. You may even see some of the projects the designer has deemed too old to share online any longer! As you peruse the portfolio, think about tying the design back to the budget question. You’ll begin to create a better idea of what your budget can produce in terms of a real design. As for the testimonials, it’s pretty straight forward. You want to make sure the designer has had a positive impact in terms of design. Keep an eye out for feedback that mentions things like:
- “easy to work with”
- “handled everything”
- “caught the mistake and corrected it”
- “saved us so much time”
- “understood what I was looking for”
- “better than I could have ever imagined!”
8. What kinds of clients do you like to work with?
We encourage all homeowners to ask their prospective designers this question. Everyone has their ideal client and you have an ideal vision of the designer you want to work with. Being honest and decisive here will put you on the path to design bliss. At Laura U Design Collective, our ideal client appreciates good design and is simply too busy to tackle a full-home project (renovation or new construction) on their own. So, they bring us on board to manage all aspects of the process. They are open to new ideas, trust our judgment, and appreciate that we handle everything for them. We love to work on entire homes, historic restorations, large-scale renovations, and new construction. We especially love when we can start working as soon as they break ground! From this, you can gather that we don’t do well with DIY. You can also see we have experience working on projects from start to finish and love to do so.
What Else to Ask an Interior Designer
If the designer isn’t providing an answer that feels right to you, it’s okay to move on. Communication is the most important part of the designer/client relationship. Don’t worry if it begins to feel like a job interview. It is a job interview! You want to make sure that you’re on the same page. Here are some follow-up questions that you might want to add to your agenda:
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How do you select builders/architects to work on my home?
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Can I purchase the furniture on my own?
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What designers do you like personally?
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Where do you find your inspiration?
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What if I have to put my project on hold?
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What builders/architects/contractors do you work with?
Hiring an interior designer is a commitment, but it’s also a really fun process. Rest assured, the creative innovator who possesses a keen sense of your individual style is out there somewhere. I welcome you to contact Laura U Design Collective team if you have any questions about your next project. We love to talk about new homes!