6 Interview Questions to Ask When Hiring an Interior Designer (and 5 not to ask!)

Congratulations! You’ve decided to hire an Interior Designer. You’ve been on several designers’ websites and narrowed it down to a few whom you think you might want to hire. The next step is to interview each one, but what questions should you ask? Below are some good open-ended questions to ask, assuming you have seen their work and reviewed their website.

1. Explain your business model. How do you work?

   This should open up a conversation about many areas (including fees), that will help you to understand the designer’s process, their own goals, and will give you insight into their company.

2. What organizations do you belong to?

   Simply belonging to a professional organization has little to do with a designer’s actual talent, capability and most importantly, their suitability and alignment with your own project. However, belonging to a professional organization, whether it is ASID, HSM, NKBA, IIDA, etc. shows that they are active in the field, enjoy meeting others in the industry, and want to stay up-to-date on industry trends.

3. Tell me about a project you have completed that is similar to mine. How did it go?

   This should also include the question, “tell me about a time that things did not go so well, and how did you handle it?”

4. What is your style? Can you design to fit my personal style?

   The answer to this question really speaks to two areas: (1) elasticity and (2) authenticity.  These may seem like they are at odds with each other, but you still want to know that there is room for your voice and that the finished look will evoke your own personal style. The best client-designer relationships are reciprocal. The designer should understand the client’s needs and vice-versa. The designer’s needs could include wanting to take professional photographs of the finished project and getting a good referral from you upon completion.

5. What is your process? Can I see a sample contract?

   Every designer should have a blank agreement to share, showing their process, the business model, and the particulars of working together.  I have found that my very best clients are the ones who really read the agreement and ask questions after reading.  This tells me they are engaged with the project and engaged with my process.

6. Can you work within my budget?

   Being honest about your intentions for the project and your expectations saves so much time and money! It is okay if you, as the client, do not necessarily know “what things cost,” especially if it is your first time working with a designer. Nonetheless, you should know your budget parameters going into the project. Sharing these early on will help to drive down your eventual costs — the designer won’t spin his or her wheels showing you things that are above or below your expectations. Determining the scope of the project will help you in determining your budget and gives your designer a clear idea of where to put the pencil once the project is underway. “Project Creep” or “Scope Creep” is a real issue, and while some may be expected, too much can quickly become irritating.

 BONUS ROUND: WHAT NOT TO ASK!

1. What is your style?

   A good interior designer should not have “a style.”  Experienced designers take pride in working within many styles, periods, geographic vernacular looks, and executing them well.  We are well-trained, well-practiced, and are able to execute looks that are not static – and include your own personality, the family’s dynamics and features — to create a look that your friends will compliment.

2. How much do you charge?

   An hourly rate really doesn’t tell you much about a designer without knowing the number of hours the designer needs and what the final estimate will be.  It’s much better to have a good discussion about the scope of your project and then discuss the budget parameters. Once we know the scope of the project, we can usually determine a budget.  As mentioned earlier, it is far better for you to have a budget range in mind to drive a more focused discussion about your ultimate investment into the project.

3. Can you start immediately?

   Time frames are important, but “right away” is not something that works well in the interior design world. If the designer is any good, they are busy. Once again, having a conversation about the scope of the project and the desired results will help determine the appropriate timeline.

4. Who else would you recommend?

   It’s not that we don’t want to recommend other interior design professionals, but in our industry, there are too many variables that make it difficult to recommend someone else if you find we are not a good fit. However, we can make recommendations for other home industry professionals we have worked with - these could be general contractors, carpenters, custom millwork shops, etc.

5. When do we go shopping?

   The intention behind this question is understandable — these are exciting times! But we really don’t “go shopping” with clients. A better question to ask might be, “How soon could we see some exciting things?”  The answer is always, “Longer than you think.” An experienced designer should want to get to know you, there is so much to learn, absorb, and process before we can formulate presentable ideas.

So there you have it. Interviewing interior designers can feel a little bit like dating, but it is important to ensure that you and your interior designer are a good match. When you find the right match, your designer will become a friend for life. Contact us today to talk about your next project. We would love to get to know you better!