You’ve got the imagination, but you lack the skills to get the job done alone. Can an interior designer help you take what’s in your head and make it a real space that you can live or work in?
An excellent interior designer doesn’t only use their own ideas, expertise, and experience. They will also know how to make the dreams of others come true.
Here are some tips to help you connect with an excellent interior designer and work with them to bring your ideas to life.
Find the Best Interior Designer for You
Look at the designer’s experience. Don’t be afraid to ask for references from previous clients. And contact previous clients directly for the full, unedited stories of how it was to work with that professional.
You can connect with the best designers for you using Leadar. This B2B service is a huge US database that can help you find and contact professionals in the industry of your choice.
Avoid Scammers
Many people make claims they can not live up to. To be sure that you’re engaging with a genuine professional, verify their identity. Nuwber can help confirm people’s names, addresses, professions, and more. It’s an extra step in the process, but it can save you time and money in the long run.
Be Clear
The better the interior designer understands what you want, the more likely they will be able to make your vision real. Think about how you want your space to look and be descriptive. Comparisons will help. Consider the light, the colors, and how you intend to use the room.
Be Concise
While it’s important to explain what you want, a brief that goes on too long can be hard to follow, let alone fulfill. Try to get to the core of your desires. Attempt to reduce what you are going for to a tagline or an elevator pitch. You’ve got 20 seconds. What are the most important aspects of your project and why do they matter?
Use an Interior Designer that Communicates Well
Communicating ideas isn’t all on you, even though you are the one with the vision. You need an interior designer who can not only repeat back what you’ve asked for, but can demonstrate that they’ve understood what you want using their own words.
You want an interior designer with design skills, but make sure to look out for their interpersonal and communication skills too. This way, you can stay on the same page when it comes to fleshing out your idea and making it happen in a physical space.
Also, even for a small design project, you are probably going to involve several professionals. Your interior designer may require someone to do some of the hands-on work. And then there are suppliers to provide materials, such as fabrics, textiles, lighting, or stone. An effective communicator can ensure that you get the materials and workers you need. This can save you a lot of time and money.
Express Emotion
Saying how you want your space to feel can help a designer get to the heart of a design and understand not only the specifications of your design but the goal. When the designer knows how the space is meant to make people feel, they will be able to use the right tools to achieve that effect.
They may surprise you with the direction they take and be more likely to think outside the box. Even if you decide to reject those ideas, you can expect a more creative and perhaps satisfying collaboration as a result.
Create a Vision Board
A vision board for an interior design project can consist of images of other interior design projects that are similar to your vision. Check out Pinterest and interior design sites to pin or download images you can share with your designer to give them a clear idea of what you are going for.
Don’t stop with the imagery of interior design projects, however. Any image that speaks to you and expresses the vibe of the design project is applicable. This might be some typography, a quote from a book, the expression on a face, or a color that matches your vision.
A vision board can help you consolidate your vision, communicate your ideas to interior designers, inspire your designers, and keep the project moving in the right direction.
Look for Someone Who is Not Afraid to Disagree with You
Unless you are an experienced interior designer, it’s a good idea to work with someone who is willing to advise you, even if it means they suggest going against what you want. An excellent interior designer will understand the potential pitfalls of design projects and understand that clients don’t always have the experience or expertise to see things that could go wrong.
The alternative is a designer that does whatever you ask, even if they think it’s a bad idea. A designer who is willing to argue a point is more likely to be invested in the project and want it to go well.
Your designer should have the experience and self-confidence to disagree with your choices, explain why, and discuss your options. They may suggest that a more expensive material will last longer and save you money on repairs in the future. They may advise you against a choice that locks you into using a single supplier. Or they may have an elegant solution that not only achieves your vision but exceeds it.
When you have a vision, but you don’t have the time, skills, or experience to do it yourself, it can be frustrating. But by learning to express your vision clearly, having a little patience, and knowing how to hone in on the best designers for your project, you can bring your interior design project to fruition.