How to Choose an Interior Designer

Whether your style preference is modern, rustic, or traditional, you want your home to be an inviting space with a layout that makes sense for your lifestyle. Whether you have your eye on some high-end furniture or are building a new home and want someone to help you conceptualize your interior design and architectural needs, finding the right interior designer for your project is key. 

Let’s look at some tips to help you find the perfect interior designer for your needs and explain some qualities to look for in a skilled professional. 

What Does an Interior Designer Do?

Interior designers work in both residential and commercial buildings to help determine how interior spaces will look, function, and be furnished. Many designers work with architects, engineers, construction workers, and furniture stores to help get this accomplished. 

During the design process, interior designers use computer-aided design (CAD) software to help layout the space and decide how the space will be furnished. They may also use building information modeling (BIM) software to make 3D mock-ups that include the walls and roof. Interior designers have a certain specialty, such as residential homes, hotels, or office buildings, while some are associated with retail stores to provide design services. 

Interior Designer Skills and Qualities to Look For:

There are certain qualities that an interior designer must possess in order to be successful in their field.

Communication Skills

Perhaps one of the most important qualities to look for is excellent communication. An interior designer must be able to communicate with their clients, vendors, architects, and contractors. They should also be able to handle many different types of personalities and clearly communicate what needs to be done. Sometimes, the designer must act as a mediator to find solutions to problems that arise. 

Multi-Faceted Skill Sets

Most interior designers only focus on the furniture and finishes inside the home, but you may need a professional that will also consider the floor plan elements of your home. If you’re building a new home or remodeling your current home, you need a designer who can do it all for you so you don’t have to shop for other vendors. 

Finding a designer who does both will also save you time and the hassle of going back and forth with different people. At our firm, we create the design and drawings of the home and have our expert designers assist in the planning of the home. We work closely with our contractors and are here to answer any questions you have during the process. Alone, architects don’t always think about how a space will be used and a good interior designer blends the form and function of your designs. 

A Discussion Surrounding Pricing

Most people think that an interior designer is too expensive, but the truth is that a good designer will save you money in the end and help you increase the value of your home. Good interior designers will explain the process and pricing to you, get to know your unique lifestyle, and design a plan that’s perfect for you. One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to prices for interior designers. 

Problem-Solving

Being a great problem-solver is key in the design and installation process. The designer must stay calm and find a solution to the issue while keeping to the deadline. If problems arise during the design phase, you need an interior designer that will stay calm under pressure. 

Creativity

Great designers bring their own unique flair to their designs. While the client might not be looking for a drastic change, designers should bring an element that you could not have done on your own. View our design portfolios for inspiration and a glimpse into some of our work.

Design Aesthetic

A designer needs to be able to understand what the client wants and how to translate that into the space. The desired look can be achieved through a mix of interior design styles—utilizing color, furniture, lights, flooring, and fabric. How these elements are arranged together is what makes a designer great. That’s where knowledge of different design styles, techniques, and aesthetics becomes apparent. This unique flair also ensures that not every project looks exactly the same. 

Drive

A great designer knows that there will be challenges to creating the perfect space along the way and is willing to work through them to get the desired end result. A skilled interior designer must also have the motivation to stay on track to meet deadlines.

Desire to Learn

There is a constant evolution in the art of interior design. The desire to learn more means the interior designer is always evolving, as well. Knowing when to use what trends in relation to the client’s luxury interior design needs come with the continual study of the art. 

These qualities of an interior designer are some of the most important aspects of getting a great result. Contact Kern & Company as the brand offers full-service interior design in both residential and commercial arenas with access to the best luxury brands.