You’ve decided to book a consultation with an interior designer (yay!), and you’re about to embark on an exciting journey of transforming your space and achieving your dream interior. Just like with any meeting though, to get the most of your time with your interior designer, it’s best to be prepared. The more they understand about your vision, goals and preferences, the better they will be able to advise you.
However, good preparation doesn’t need to be time-consuming or stressful, it’s just about sharing the most critical information to ensure a productive session. We’ve put together the top things to consider when preparing for your session with your interior designer.
Collect Ideas and Inspiration
Before speaking to your designer, you should have a sense of what designs you like and what you don’t like. A lot of us may not be able to describe a particular style, or we may like many different styles — and that’s totally fine! That’s why it’s most efficient to show your preferences through imagery.
The best way to do this is to scroll through home decor and interior design pictures on Pinterest, pinning the ones you like best. You will eventually form a Pinterest board of design styles that make you happy — a tool that will massively help in receiving advice that is in line with your vision.
There are plenty of other ways to find inspiration to help define your style, too. Check out our blog post dedicated to this for more ideas!
Think About Your Lifestyle And Needs
The first thing that pops to your mind when you hear ‘interior design’ is probably aesthetics, but equally important is functionality. You should spend time thinking about your lifestyle and functional needs, so you can share these with your interior designer. How much time do you spend in a particular space? What do you typically do in that space? Does anyone else use the same space?
If you’re someone who loves cooking, you’ll need a kitchen design that is fully functional and with space to accommodate all the cooking equipment you’ll need. On the other hand, an aesthetic kitchen with a contemporary wine rack and limited cabinetry would be ideal for folks who usually eat out (and love a drink — or two!).
When it comes to your needs, don’t hesitate to be upfront and direct — our next point below.
Remember, Your Interior Designer Won’t Judge You
As silly as it may sound, a big hindrance in interior design consultations is the fear of getting judged. This makes clients shy away from sharing their true needs and aims, which actually gets in the way of getting truly personalised advice.
From a messy home to a toilet paper holder that is too far away from the toilet seat, sharing every nitty gritty detail with your designer is critical to getting advice and solutions that truly suit your needs.
Professional interior designers have seen it all, and they understand the privilege they get when you trust them with something as personal as your home. Besides, why would you need a consultation with them if your house was perfect in the first place?
Be Clear About The Stage You’re At
The type of advice an interior designer will give you, will differ dramatically if you’re at the ideas stage vs. execution stage. If you are at the ideas stage, the interior designer will know to share various ideas to inspire you, and help you refine your vision. If you are starting with a blank slate, they will also be able to give structure to the upcoming interior design process so you know exactly what to expect and what to keep in mind along the journey.
If you’re at the execution stage, then your designer will know to focus at a more granular level on the key decisions at hand. For example, they will be able to inform you of the advantages and disadvantages of going with a certain material or colour, and they will be able to advise on how to search for various suppliers or important things to request from your contractors.
Being clear about what stage you're at will ensure that you receive relevant, practical and actionable advice.
Collect All Your Questions
Unless you have unlimited access to your interior designer (and by the way, that’s totally possible with HiiGuru!), it’s best to take the time to think of all the questions, big or little, that have ever come across your mind, regarding your interior.
Professional interior designers have dealt with nearly every kind of challenge you can think of, so it’s best to optimise the opportunity to tap into their knowledge, experience and expert eye, so you can resolve any niggling doubts you have in your mind and be confident with the direction of your interior project.
Involve Other Stakeholders
If you’re living with your family (or anyone else for that matter), it’s a good idea to involve them in the design process. Before your consultation, sit down with the relevant stakeholders, and discuss the vision each of you has for the space.
You can also choose pictures for your Pinterest board together and all participate in the consultation together! This will result in a fun, shared experience and a space that pleases everyone living in your home.
Prepped Consultations Are The Best!
As you tick off each point from the list above, you will be more and more prepared to fully optimise the time you have with your interior designer. Spending just that little effort will be worth it — prepped meetings are always the most productive, fun, and successful!
Are you ready to have a consultation with an interior designer? Just book one of our Interior Design Gurus here! They can look at your space over video chat and give you tips, ideas and guidance on how to achieve your dream interior.