How to Select the Right Interior Designer: P1

Are you confused on how to engage the right Interior Designer?

Perhaps you've heard the never-ending horror stories about other people's home renovation efforts, but you're not sure where to go for the right Interior Designer.

With nearly a decade of experience in this so-called ‘mirky’ industry, let me share with you some tips on how you can minimise potential massive setbacks for your upcoming project.

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[1] Price and Quotation

Pricing is not a useful way to assess an Interior Designer's ability. The usual mistake is to seek the lowest price while presuming that the services and products given are the same.

Although there is still the risk of fraud when homeowners choose the higher priced quotation, most homeowners will face this issue from an Interior Designer who had promised lower than industry pricing.

Homeowners must recognise that the majority of their money is going towards worker pay, so if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

It's important to remember that you are not shopping for products, and you are a paymaster hiring a bunch of people ( i.e. designers, project managers, builders and contractors) to work for you. People's standards and personalities can differ, as they do in any sector, and this is crucial for the overall project's success.

[2] Design Standard Requirements

Be sure to express your design requirements! Show pictures of your preferred design aesthetics to your potential Interior Designers before requesting for quotations.

If you are particular with the overall theme and concept, ask if the Interior Designer can provide a draft design (often using SketchUp or other 3D modelling softwares) before proceeding with signing of the renovation contract. Take previous project images with a grain of salt unless they depict the same layout or concept as yours, as the majority of designing work is really outsourced to offshore drafting companies.

If you are design oriented and care about the details (maximising the money spent), make sure the Interior Designer can both design and communicate well. These designers normally will charge a design fee for the time and effort that will be dedicated to the project.

Even if you are less concerned with aesthetics, it is still cheaper to hire a designer who understands how to ensure that your money is appropriately allocated to durability, utility, or other goals that you may have.

A good designer does not only produce stylish homes, but they also have vast knowledge in designing functional and durable homes that save money and time in the long run.

[3] Company Profile

Those who have had renovation nightmares can verify that the size and establishment of the renovation company is not a good indicator of how well their Interior Designers can produce.

Industry insiders know that the larger the company, the more likely there will be problems for the homeowners. There is widespread awareness among individuals in the design and custom work industries that these crafts are not truly scalable. If a design and custom work company tries to grow too quickly without hiring a comparable number of good and qualified employees, it generally comes at the expense of service and product quality (albeit with the ability to provide lower pricing to entice more businesses overall).

The ideal design company who prioritises quality work is typically a small team. It is still highly recommended to learn more of the character and personality of the Interior Designer with whom you will be working.

Stay tuned for more tips coming your way!