How do I choose the right Interior Designer for my renovation?
- Jo Sampson
- May 20
- 3 min read
Having work done on your home is a very personal and often stressful process, and the decision to appoint someone to help you with it is a big one. There are lots of Interior Design businesses out there – how do you choose the right one for you and your home?
Before you start researching options, we recommend taking a moment to consider your renovation goals – as that can help you to focus on designers with relevant experience.
If you have a clear vision for how you want your property to be, it is a good idea to look for a designer whose work reflects that – you’ll find some designers specialise in a particular look or ‘signature style’. It can be hard to know what search terms to use, as the names for interior design styles are multiple and often baffling. This article could be a starting point!
If you don’t know exactly want, a designer with a more eclectic portfolio may suit you better as they will be able to guide you through a range of options. As you review portfolios, consider if the projects look like spaces you could imagine enjoying hanging out in – even if they aren’t exactly how you want your home to be.
Find out how they charge, and consider whether that suits you. Depending on your brief, it may be difficult for a designer to give you an accurate quote for the whole project (i.e. you may need to do 1-2 rounds of initial design with them to work out how much more design work is needed!) – but ideally they should be able to give you an indication of the steps they will follow, the deliverables you can expect and an indicative cost for each stage.
Discuss your budget for the whole project and aim to find out if they have worked on projects with a similar scope and budget. Some designs are more expensive to execute than others, and it is important to work with a designer who will prioritise within your budget.
It can be helpful to look for a designer who is based locally to you or at least has done lots of work near you. They are likely to have worked on similar properties to yours and with similar budgets.
Check their qualifications & services
Interior Design isn’t a chartered profession – so it can be difficult to assess how much experience your designer has and whether you can expect a professional service. The British Institute of Interior Design is a membership organisation – with a vetting process for full members, a code of conduct, and a complaints procedure. The register of members is a good place to start your search.
Consider what services you’ll need and check if they offer them. For example, will they work with Architects and other specialists to secure you the permissions you need for the work? Will they help you to source and appoint a contractor? Do you need project management?
A renovation can be an emotional rollercoaster. It is important that your designer is someone you trust and can communicate well with. Of course that is difficult to work out from a few meetings. It may be helpful to talk to previous clients about their experience. You should ask who your team will be – i.e. how much contact will you have with the person you met at the initial stages? When reviewing the fee structure you should also think about whether you have to commit to the whole project or whether there is a useful first stage of work you can do to get a feel for working with them, and still get a useful output if you decide not to go any further.
If you are considering a renovation project and would like our help, please get in touch.
