A Professional Designer Can Help You Do This, Not That

At some point, every person considering a remodeling project has a slight moment of overwhelm when they start thinking about picking all the finishes and colors that go into it. Sounds familiar? Selecting all those items can feel like a daunting task. Having the help of an Interior Designer can relieve that stress, but might bring on some concerns of its own. Let’s take a look into some of the ways you can make this relationship a success for you and your project.

Get to Know Yourself

Part of the struggle with communicating with any professional is being able to communicate in a way that gets your point across clearly. With designing, this starts right from the beginning when you are contemplating how you will communicate what you like to your designer so they can help you find the choices for your home.

We suggest you start by taking a little time to identify what your style preferences are. Depending on how much research you have already done, this may or may not take much time, and in the long run, will save you a lot of time and miscommunication. See How to Figure Out Your Design Style: A 3 Step Process for a simple way to narrow down this vital piece of the puzzle.

Your Style Not Theirs

One of the biggest concerns we have heard over the years is the worry that an interior designer will push their tastes and ideas into your project. Designers have big personalities, which is partly what makes them good at what they do, but sometimes it can feel pushy being on the other end. If this is a concern you share, be sure to discuss it with your designer up front, and let them know how you feel. They may not be being pushy at all, but knowing you have the concern can help them be aware of your feelings. An experienced and professional designer will listen to your thoughts and help you achieve the style and design that fits your taste and lifestyle. They don’t have any interest in making your home look just like every other one they designed. When it is all said and done, it is your home, and you are the one that should love living in it.

Trust the Professional

This brings us to our next point, professional trust. There may be times when you can’t quite see why your designer is making a specific suggestion. Maybe a single piece they are picking is just not sitting with you very well, even though your designer seems convinced it’s just the right choice. Now’s the time to discuss the selection in the bigger picture. Designers have the ability to see the entire project before it’s built. Frankly, it’s the reason you’re working with them in the first place, isn’t it? Your project is the sum of all of its parts and being able to see this can be difficult when it’s not your profession. Sometimes it can be uncomfortable, but you may also need to give your designer space to do what they do best. Just be sure to discuss it so you can understand the reasoning behind it and get comfortable with the decisions.

Narrowing Your Focus

With your design style identified and shared with your designer, they can now help you focus on the smaller number of items that fit your taste and eliminate the noise of the other hundreds of options. This alone saves you time and energy as well as reducing that overwhelming feeling you can get walking into a showroom. See (list the name/link to the blog about how to use Houzz) to learn how to use Houzz for inspiration and to save your ideas.

Controlling Your Budget

When it comes to the budget, your designer can be a real lifesaver. They know the products inside and out and can help you pull together the style that fits your taste within a budget that keeps you sane.

What they cannot do, however, is make the buying decisions for you. If you want that expensive chandelier, they can let you know that it will exceed your budget, but they cannot keep you from buying it anyway. At times, this can be a relief, and at other times it might feel like they’re raining on your parade. Always keep in mind that the designer’s job is not just to create a beautiful space with you, it’s to create a beautiful space that fits in the budget you have identified.

Smart People Make Smart Choices

Our goal with these pieces is to help you get the information you need to make educated choices for your home and family. If you have found this helpful, or have questions or requests for other topics, please leave them below, and we will make sure you get the answers you need.

If you’re looking for more advice on working with or hiring a designer, you can find more helpful blogs here. 

6 Tips on How to Choose a Good Designer

The Differences Between a Good and Great Interior Designer for Your Remodel

Those Wonderful Design Decisions. Who Makes Them?

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