What You Should Know Before Hiring An Interior Designer

Congratulations, you’ve bought a home! But before you move in, there are a few things that every homeowner must do, which include renovating and furnishing their house.

Even if you’re a pro at tackling DIY projects, there are times when it might be a smart idea to bring on professional help to assist you. However, the mere thought of hiring an interior designer can be overwhelming (especially if this is your first time!) as homeowners might be concerned about the process of working with a designer as well as the costs of doing so.

With that in mind, we have created a first-timer’s guide to hiring an interior designer. Here, we have outlined what you need to prepare before making a deal with an interior design firm of your choice. A well-prepared homeowner makes the interior design process easy, fun, and above all, successful!

1. Set your renovation budget

Before hiring an interior designer, you need to set a rough figure of how much you are willing to spend for your home renovation project. This way, your designer will be clear on the project’s limitations and opportunities instead of getting carried away with ideas that you won’t be able to afford.

When setting a budget, you need to consider the cost of materials, labour and design services. You should also set aside some money for the possibility of unexpected costs. It could be a material replacement, repair, shipping costs, or a piece of furniture that costs a bit more than anticipated. This will help you feel more prepared in any surprise situations.

Every interior design firm has their own pricing structure so make sure you compare the prices first before deciding which interior designer to work with.

Explore: An Interior Designer Reveals How He Charges For A Renovation

2. Choose your personal style

Before hiring an interior designer, you need to determine what design style you wish to incorporate in your newly bought home. Having a clear idea of what your home needs will make finding a suitable interior designer a lot simpler.

Determining a style can be overwhelming, and it's something a lot of people have trouble with. But don’t panic! If you’re not entirely sure what your design style is, you can start by browsing through websites such as Qanvast, social media platforms such as Instagram or Pinterest or magazines for design inspiration.

Finally, put together an inspiration folder. Save all your favourite interior styles, colour palettes, finishes, furniture, and a copy of your house floor plan so you can show them to the designer during your initial meeting with the interior designer. This will help to assist your interior designer in putting together the right look for your home based on the basic ideas and information that you’ve given them.

3. Do your research

Before you set up a meeting with an interior designer, make sure to research the designer’s work. Usually, interior design firms have a signature style, and though it may evolve per project, there are common themes throughout.

While it's your designer job to help bring your style to life, it's always best to work with someone who specialise in the design style that you like or prefer as this will make the renovation process much simpler.

Besides looking into their past projects, check out their social media accounts, portfolio and reference sites as well. Try to find as much information as you can before meeting them in person to speed up the process of choosing a suitable interior designer for your home renovation project.

Explore: What to Look for When Hiring an Interior Designer

4. Prepare a set of questions

Working with an interior designer to renovate your home is a personal experience, so to make sure your home renovation project is a success, it’s important that you and your designer are on the same page so you can work comfortably together.

During your one-on-one consultation, ask questions to clear any doubts and concerns you have regarding home renovation. You can use this time to learn more about their process and their business practices, such as their preferred methods for communication and billing.

You can also use this time to let the designer get to know you. Let the designer know about your personal preferences or other practical details you wish to incorporate in your home. By the end of the meeting, you should have a good sense of whether the two of you will work well together.

Looking for professional help to renovate your home?

Finding a suitable interior designer can be overwhelming but we are here to help! Request for free quotes here and we will recommend you up to four reliable interior firms based on your style and budget.

All recommendations made by Qanvast will be protected under the Qanvast Guarantee scheme that covers 50% of your contract value, up to RM50,000, in the case that the recommended interior firm becomes insolvent.

Meet interior designers. Get quotes. Based on your requirements, we will recommend you up to 5 firms with the Qanvast Guarantee. Get Free Quotes