Are you looking to redo the interior of your home? Before you grab your paintbrush and toolbox, you need to consider the benefits of hiring an interior designer.

While you may have renovated parts of your home before, a highly trained and knowledgeable designer is a more reliable option for renovating your home’s interior. Plus, an interior designer knows which materials to order, so you can actually save money down the line. 

But before you go and hire an interior designer, there are a few important considerations you need to make so that you make sure you hire the right interior designer for your project.

Ready to hire the best interior designer for your project? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know.

1. The Scope of Your Project

Before you go and look for an interior designer, you need to decide on the scope of your project.

For example, are you looking for a simple room design, or do you need the entire interior of your 3-bedroom house renovated because you’re selling it? Knowing the scope of your project will help you make sure you don’t get overwhelmed, especially if you notice that the project keeps getting bigger and bigger in your mind.

2. Experience

Now that you know the scope of your project and what exactly needs to be done, you can start looking for an interior designer.

One of the first things you should look for is experience, as this will determine how efficiently the designer can complete the project. While a more experienced designer may cost you more upfront, this option can save you money down the line.

A more experienced interior designer, for example, will know how to order and purchase the right materials. They will also know how to supervise contractors and make sure your project stays within budget.

3. Their Design Style

Next, you want to look at the designer’s style and see how it matches yours. If you’re not sure what your design style is, take a look at some of the most popular interior design styles and see which resonates with you the most.

No matter how experienced an interior designer is, their style should still be a good match for yours. Otherwise, you could be dissatisfied with even the highest quality renovation.

You also want to look at how well the designer’s style and philosophy fit with the scope of your project. For example, if you only need one room renovated, you want to be sure that the designer can help you integrate the new design with the rest of your house.

The best option here is to make a list of designers you are interested in working with, and then look at their interior design portfolios. 

4. Your Budget

Another huge factor to consider is your budget. If your budget is on the lower end, you’ll need to make a list of potential designers and get a quote from each. 

For example, do you want only designer decor? Or are you happy with more budget-friendly furniture and decorations to complement your new interior? 

Your budget should include the cost of the designer’s services, how much materials will cost, and how many contractors they will need to hire.

5. Their Team

You also want to see if the designer works as an individual or as part of a firm. An individual designer will need to hire out more help and contractors, while a design firm may already have many of these individuals on their team.

This means that the team could work in both design and interior architecture, and have a set group of reliable contractors that they work with for each project.

6. Your Expectations

A huge aspect of the design process is figuring out what you expect and how involved you expect to be in the process.

For example, do you want to let the designer come up with most of the ideas? Or do you want to have the final say before any work starts?

You need to communicate these expectations to your interior designer to avoid any miscommunications or confusion down the road. 

7. Ask the Right Questions

When you’re looking to hire an interior designer, there are a few questions you must ask to get a better idea of them and their process. These include:

• References
• What design services they offer
• How they structure their projects
• How they charge (hourly, flat-rate)
• Whether they’ve done similar projects

Asking the right questions not only helps you see a designer’s experience, but it will help you see if they’re the right fit for you and your project.

8. Their Availability 

Next, you want to make sure that the designer will be available for the duration of the project.

This is another reason why it’s good to hire an experienced designer, as they are less likely to overbook themselves and will be able to dedicate themselves to your project.

You also need to make sure that they’ll be available to answer any questions or clear up any confusion if it arises. 

9. The Contract

Finally, you need to get a design contract drafted, and then take a careful look at it.

A good design contract should, at the minimum, include the scope of work, the duration of the project, the cost of the project and payment, and what happens in the case of a dispute. 

If you’re unsure of anything in your contract, you can always consult with a lawyer before signing anything. 

Use These Tips When Hiring an Interior Designer

Hiring an interior designer can be one of the best decisions you make for your home or condo.

Not only can an experienced interior designer help save you money down the line, but they’ll help you make a more liveable home that’s more in line with your personal taste and design style. 

At Murphy Maude, our team of interior architects and designers works collaboratively for the highest level of customization. 

Ready to design the space of your dreams? For a high-end, fully in-house design experience, contact us today.