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9 QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER BEFORE MEETING YOUR INTERIOR DESIGNER
If you have hired an interior designer, it will be good if you could have some information ready for your designer so your meeting will not take too long. In order to give you the home that you desire, your designer will need to know more about your lifestyle and you. Here are some things you can think about and make some notes on before meeting with your designer.
1. What do you already love and hate about your home.
Knowing what you love and hate about your current home will facilitate the process of designing your home for you because your designer will not have to go back and forth discussing designs that may not work for you. The more your designer knows, the better.
Make a list of these things. They can be big things like not having enough bathrooms or the layout of your kitchen or even small things like the colour of your walls or furniture. You can divide a page into two columns and list things you love in one column and things you don’t in the other.
It would also be good to prioritise your likes and dislikes. In the event that decisions have to be made on which is more important, in terms of budget, your designer will know what you would prefer. Your designer can also help you overcome some of the issues with probably some simple solutions that may be kind to your purse strings.
2. How do you use your home?
This will depend your lifestyle. Do you prefer a TV or chair to sit on while you read in your bedroom or is the bedroom strictly for sleeping? Would a charging station be useful in your bedroom and would you need extra electrical outlets?
Walk around your home and ask how do you use each room so your designer can help you improve the function of the rooms.
3. Do you have special needs that should be factored in?
Do you have pets? If so, you have to factor in their needs. Do you have children or an elderly person living with you or who visit often? You may need wheelchair access or you may have to make your home child proof. Does anyone who live with you have allergies? If so, carpets are not a good idea.
4. What is your budget?
This is a no-brainer but sometimes it is easy to get carried away when renovating a home. Knowing your budget will not only keep you grounded and be realistic but also it will help your designer advise you on what you can do now and what you can do later to your home. Knowing your priorities will also help your designer advise you better. Listen to your designer because he can help you avoid costly design mistakes that haven’t been well thought through. Some people think their big ideas are possible with the limited budget they have, so being realistic about what you can have within your budget is important.
5. What are your hobbies?
Do you or the people who live with you have hobbies or activities that the designer has to consider when designing your home? Your designer may have to consider designing a space for your arts and crafts or a corner where you would like to knit or draw or build a cabinet or display case for your memorabilia.
6. What colours do you love?
Would you prefer cool or warm colours? Do you have furniture or art that is of a certain colour that you can start with and build from there?
7. What colours do you hate?
It will be good for your designer to know what colours you want to absolutely avoid or minimise.
8. What styles are you drawn to?
You may have to do some homework for this but it will truly help your designer achieve a design that you would love. There are many styles of décor you can go for. Knowing whether you would love the Bohemian style, or the Classic style or the Zen style would help you designer tailor his designs to your preference. You can even cut up pictures from magazine of homes you like when you meet with your designer.
Like colours, list what styles you do not like so your designer will avoid them for you.
9. What is your time frame?
This is important as your designer may not be able to deliver what you want within the time frame that you want them. You must bear in mind that some things may take a longer time than you anticipated such as builders may not be able to start work immediately, and customised furniture may take longer to produce and products ordered may be delayed etc.
If your budget is tight you may also need to consider staging your project. You can do part of the project sooner and do the rest when you have more money. Your designer will be invaluable here to ensure that your overall design is cohesive and cost-effective.
Good luck in your project and we at C Concept Studio are always here for you. Come in for a consultation or submit your plan at our website at www.cconid.com or call us for an appointment at 6012-5197298.