"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."
Bought your dream home but don't have the design sensibility to decorate it? Okay, you can hire an interior designer to bring your vision to the reality of a dream home. A market full of creative professionals, the biggest challenge is how to choose an interior designer that fits your bill.
Before you kick-start the process, decide a few things that can make the filter work when making a decision. Therefore, first look, budget, timeline and also, decide the location. These can all be critical and also interconnected. You do not want to get into discussions and the deadline is too long at a certain point of work. Therefore, it is better to make these filters before you start.
The search for the right interior designer will require filters based on your needs. So, watch them online (website and social media); Talk to your friends, family, or acquaintance who have recently hired an interior designer; Or approach design schools. Another major source is Décor magazines and blogs that talk about architecture and design. Shortlist those that fit your list of filters. This way you will have a handful of them.
Once you've shortlisted some designers who fit your bill, do a background check. Learn about their education (specialization, insurance), projects they have worked on, people they have worked with, people who have worked under someone, and their experience.
It is equally important when you do a background check and also check their work. Know what they do, how good they are at innovating and overcoming challenges. You can also ask them to visit some of their works, who know you might want to add something to your home as well. Also, during the visit, check with the customer about their working style to see how well they are able to work within a budget and within a timeframe.
Once you are confident about their working style and portfolio, finalize the cost. It varies from designer to designer. Discuss the budget you set and if the designers are willing to work in it, negotiate services they can and cannot offer. If the budget is good, make sure they tell you the payment process and ahead of time. Finally, make sure you keep a buffer of 20 percent of your total budget for wear and tear and miscellaneous purchases.
Make sure that you and your designer can work in sync when it comes to design. Share your initial concept of home and share what will go well in your home and the challenges that come along. A good designer is one who is flexible and tries to fit your designs as well as your sensations, making the house your reflection in the end.
