How to Know if Your Interior Designer is Listening to You

There are many reasons to work with an interior designer on your new build, home remodel or refresh project. A designer can work with you to narrow down your vision for a project, defining your aesthetic and figuring out how to effectively apply it in your space. A good designer will also work with you to make your space functional for the way you live your day to day life. Today’s lifestyle trends greatly impact our interior design needs, and many people have challenges such as making the most out of small spaces, needing to carve out an office space for working from home, or creating a space that’s perfect for entertaining as we open up our homes again to more family and friends. Finally, an interior designer should help you personalize your space, reflecting not only your lifestyle but also your interests, hobbies and favorite things. After all, your home should feel like it’s yours!

Working with a designer should be a collaborative process, with the best interior designers listening to all of your ideas, asking the right questions, and providing ideas and solutions that work with your space and are specific to your taste.

Whether you’ve worked with a designer before and left with mixed feelings about the process or want to know what to expect before you start a project with a new designer, there are some expectations that should be met. Here are eight ways to know that your interior designer is listening to you—and is the right partner for your project.

1. Does your designer make you a priority? Simple actions speak loudly! Consider these questions. Does your designer regularly take other calls during your meetings? Do they seem distracted while discussing your project? Do your questions, either in person or through phone or email messages, go unanswered for extended periods? If so, maybe they are not the designer for you. An interior designer should always be connecting with you throughout the entire design process. This includes in-person meetings, check-ins and phone calls throughout the planning stage. The same goes for ongoing communications once the decisions are made and purchases are submitted.

2. Is your designer collaborative? An interior designer brings a lot of knowledge to a project, and they should guide the design with ideas, examples, suggestions and solutions. However, these should all be personalized to your needs and interests! Your interior designer should not be talking over you or making decisions without you. They should ask lots of questions to get to know you and how you live.

Questions you should expect to discuss with your designer may include:

• What design styles do you like? Are there any design styles that you dislike?

• What are your favorite colors? What colors don’t you like?

• What patterns/prints are you drawn to? What patterns do you dislike?

• How do you use your space? / What is the intended use of the room? (i.e. Is your space primarily for gathering and entertaining? Is your space for eating and, if so, how many people eat in the space and what style of dining do you want to accommodate? Is your space for relaxing? Reading? Watching TV, etc.)

• Does your family have any special needs that should be addressed through design?

• What does your family enjoy doing together? What are some of your family’s interests?

3. Does your designer let you talk? Beyond asking you the right questions, it’s important that your interior designer listens to your answers! This is shown with attentiveness and by addressing any of your concerns.

4. Is the designer that you are working with patient? Instead of being agitated with you and moving too fast through the process, he/she should take their time when going over your project concerns. Your designer should also answer any questions that you have about the process, discuss any concerns you have about furnishings and décor, and make sure you are comfortable from project start to finish.

5. Is your designer focused? When you first meet with an interior designer, you may have clippings of designs you like from a favorite magazine or Pinterest boards with examples of furniture and décor you adore. That’s a great start! Don’t be worried if your interests are a bit all over the map. Your designer should laser in on your needs and wants, and translate them into the overall design. Your designer can help you define your style, whether it’s traditional, transitional, casual or modern; or match you with one of today’s popular contemporary aesthetics, such as modern farmhouse, boho chic, Scandinavian, industrial, etc. Your style may even be an eclectic mix of genres that suits your entire family’s needs.

6. Does your designer go over the details? Details make the design, from the perfect piece of wall art to accent pillows and throw blankets that bring texture and pops of color into your space! Details are also important when it comes to executing your design! Your interior designer should always be one step ahead of the process and know what comes next. They should be thoughtful and detail oriented.

7. Does your designer keep you informed? Over the past few years, production and shipping delays are frequent and sometimes unavoidable. A good designer should inform you about the expected timeline for any orders. He or she should also stay in contact with you about the status of your orders after the planning stage, relaying any delays or issues, providing alternatives if necessary, and generally checking in about timelines and expectations.

8. Does your designer smile and make eye contact? Bedside manners matter! Don’t you want to work with someone who is uplifting and positive? That makes all the difference! Choose a designer who makes you feel comfortable in your first meeting and continues to have positive interactions with you, consistently throughout the design process.