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How to Choose Your Unique “Perfect” Interior Designer

By Beth Whitlinger, ASID, CID

“Perfect” is defined as having all the required or desirable elements, qualities or characteristics and being as good as it is possible to be. In choosing the “perfect” interior designer, “perfect” is subjective to what each person thinks is perfect. Here is a guideline of the essentials to define your unique “perfect” designer.

Personality

Your perfect designer is calm, methodical and process-oriented and will work through challenges in a proactive way, delivering a drama-free experience. While it’s always somewhat stressful to have your home unde...

In a new article on Houzz, BWID was featured for sharing invaluable advice learned from working in the industry. Real world experiences are the most important stepping stone to becoming a great designer, so taking away knowledge from each project is a must!

Click on the link below to check out a few tips from the pros:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/86336280/list/for-pros-10-things-they-dont-teach-you-in-school

Hiring a Certified Interior Designer (C.I.D.) ensures that you will be working with an experienced and competent design professional.

If you have never worked with an Interior Designer before, the process can be overwhelming. Once you've decided to hire a designer, choosing the right one is of paramount importance. Many people call themselves Interior Designers, but be sure you hire someone who is truly qualified to execute the task at hand. This should be a professional who has been trained to guide you through dozens, sometimes hundreds, of decisions, challenges, and opportunities- all to a successful result.

A Certified Interior Designer is a design professional who through education, exper...

Preparing for your initial meeting with your designer will help get the project flowing in the right direction. Communication is the key to both a successful relationship with your designer, and a beautiful usable space.

Do some homework. Go through magazines and start an idea file. Pull out anything that catches your eye. It may be just a sofa leg or a drapery style that you like, but this visual media can communicate to your designer the style and feeling you're looking for.

Take some time to think about the colors you enjoy. Are there colors you absolutely can't live with? Do you have a style in mind? Will you need to incorporate existing furniture or accessories? Think about what you will ...

Working with a designer is easier than you might think. As a potential client, you must educate yourself on the basic criteria to assist you in your selection.

As you may or may not know, anyone can call themselves an interior designer. There is no regulating board, no state license, no legal organization for accountability. A business card and a Seller's Permit from the State Board of Equalization is really all you need to start an interior design business. However, using someone with no background or qualifications in the field can turn out to be quite costly for you, the client.

Make sure the designer has an education in interior design from an accredited institution. Check the FIDER websit...