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What Can An Interior Designer Do For You?

Interior design is about the relatively new concept of functionality in design: a well-designed space should derive its beauty from functionality.

Interior designers are able to create an experience in the space, manipulating the structure, style, and colors so that the space becomes a perfect glove for your lifestyle or business.

An interior designer can inform and advise you based on what function you need for your space. The designer researches the best choices for the design and adapts it depending on your needs.

A skillful interior designer should:

1.    Start with listening to YOU about what you need (should not form their own opinions too early about what the space should be).

2.    Be able to advise you on the best way to make your idea real.

3.    Be realistic and honest with you about your space.

4.    Have a smart sense of color, to make a space eye-catching yet comfortable.

5.    Have the ability to visualize the best solutions for every space. This ability to visualize in 3D Space typically comes from experience.

6.    Have the ability to communicate your idea to you in a drawing, 2D and 3D.

7.    Find solutions that adapt to you budget.

8.    Have material and construction knowledge

9.    Be knowledgeable about Construction Management

Interior design is not simply about organizing furniture and decorating.

It is an integrated process that combines your original idea of the function of your space and translating it into: Structure, Style, Color, 3D Design, Budget, Materials and Components (including furniture), and finally Construction.

Qualified interior designers are highly specialized in all of these fields, which is why architects and construction companies as well as private businesses and homeowners seek them out.

 “Interior design is the art and science of understanding people's behavior to create functional spaces within a building. Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things. In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design”

- 2012 National Council for Interior Design Qualification, Inc.

How To Select a Good Interior Designer For Your Project

To start, a good interior designer must show interest in all aspects of design – multi disciplinary designers are typically more skilled and flexible because they have more tools to draw from.

The more experience they have with different projects the better.

They must show interest in all aspects of design: interior structure, usability, furniture design, graphic design, renovations and new buildings, bathrooms, retail stores, decoration, etc.

How much experience does the interior designer have?

Ask about other experience or projects that the designer has finished.

Get samples. Is it visually appealing work? It is interesting? Is it something you're looking for*? It is easy to understand the space (does it make logical sense)? It is high quality at first glance?

Interview several designers before choosing. Does the interior designer understand your point of view? Does the designer help you to understand your space and the possibilities?  Does he/she attempt to adapt the idea to you budget?

Here are the most important aspects you should look out for when choosing your designer:

1.    Experience.

Ask for experience and a portfolio. Keep in mind that some student designers do real projects. That way, you can get a feel for what your project might look like. A good designer develops a style that can make the designer unique, but that doesn’t mean he/she can’ t adapt to every project. A good sign is a designer that adapts to a variety of projects.

On the other hand, new designers can have a lot of passion for the job and can dedicate more time to your project, so in some cases it can be a good idea to give an opportunity to new talents.

A)    Check if the designer uses the same style for different projects. Again, the more variety the better. It is a sign that a designer will be able to adapt to your projects.

B)   Designers should have a good attention to detail. You can check for this by visiting their websites or even by observing how they dress. If they don’t pay attention to detail in their own life, it is possible that they won’t put enough attention into your project. 

2.    Motivation.

 Your designer should ooze passion about his or her job. Expect to have to cut conversations short when you’re talking about design.

3.    Understands your needs.

 The interior designer needs to know all about you, your life style, what you are hoping to have, what do you like, what is most important for you, etc.

Something that can help you:

A)    Have ready some pictures of interior design that you like.

B)   Describe yourself and explain which rooms you use more and why.

C)   Classic, modern, masculine… Select one style.

D)   How much you want to spend?

E)   Is there something special you would like to have or keep? 

4.    Provide realistic solutions.

A bad sign is when an interior designer doesn’t give you direct solutions to your functional problems, and only is deciding basic decorating details.

If decoration is what you need, then a decorator is probably who you want to hire. An interior designer can help you as well, but you will need to say that you are only looking for help with decoration. 

5.    Ability to communicate their ideas.

 You need to understand what your project will look like before it is constructed, of course.

 Make sure that the portfolio of a designer you’re looking to hire is easy to understand. 3D diagrams and drawings they created should give you a very good idea of what the final project was like. 

6.    Budget

 More money doesn’t mean great taste, and it doesn’t ensure a good project. You don’t necessarily need to hire the most expensive interior designer, but you should rather hire the one that suits your project the best.

7.    Balance

 Many interior designers get in the habit of using only brand-name materials and products. Famous furniture and materials doesn’t necessarily mean high-quality and high-personality… it might just mean high marketing budgets.

 A good interior designer can find, or already knows of, quality products that won’t suck up your budget so you’ll have more to spend on function and beauty.

8.    Honesty.

It is better if you intuitively feel that someone is decent and honest. Mutual trust is important.

9.    Positive attitude.

 Don’t go with a designer who, upon seeing your space, can only see all the problems with it and doesn’t speak about solutions and positive points. They are either trying to disguise their own ineptitude or they might even be manipulating you into hiring them.

 Besides, it would be better to spend time creating your space along with a passionate person who loves design for the sake of design, and who will love the project you can create together!