Find Your Perfect Match Tips for Choosing Interior Designers
                     Choosing the Right 
Interior Designer for 
Your Home 
Renovation
Why Hiring the Right 
Interior Designer 
AM skailletd tdeesigrnesr transforms your vision into a 
functional, beautiful reality that reflects your lifestyle 
and preferences. They bring expertise in spatial 
planning, materials, and design principles that most 
homeowners simply don't possess.
Beyond aesthetics, designers save you precious time, 
reduce costly mistakes, and manage complex 
renovation details that might otherwise become 
overwhelming.
Perhaps most importantly, they act as your advocate, 
coordinating with architects, contractors, and suppliers 
to ensure your project runs smoothly from concept to 
completion.
Step 1:
Define Your Style, Goals & 
Budget
Identify Your Style Clarify Your Goals Set a Realistic 
Budget
Reflect on your personal aesthetic Consider what you want to Establish a comprehensive budget 
preferences. Are you drawn to achieve with your renovation. Are that reflects your priorities and 
minimalistic, eclectic, modern, or you seeking more comfort, includes a 10-25% contingency 
traditional designs? Collect increased productivity, better buffer for unexpected challenges. 
inspirational images from functionality for family needs, or Be honest with yourself and 
magazines, Pinterest, or Instagram enhanced resale value? Clear potential designers about financial 
to help articulate your vision. objectives will guide both you and constraints.
your designer.
Step 2: Understand the 
Difference: Designer vs 
Decorator
Interior Designers
Formally trained professionals with expertise in 
space planning, structural changes, and aesthetics. 
They often have degrees in interior design and 
professional certifications.
Interior Decorators
Specialists who focus primarily on surface finishes and 
furnishings after the structural elements are in place. 
Their expertise lies in colour schemes, furniture 
selection, and accessories.
For renovations involving layout changes, wall removal, or 
significant structural modifications, a qualified interior 
designer is essential for both safety and optimal results.
Step 3:
Research & Shortlist Designers
Verify Credentials
Explore Check for proper qualifications, 
Gather Recommendations PThoorrotufoghlilyo esxamine designers' including relevant degrees, 
Start by collecting referrals from websites, social media accounts, certifications (such as NCIDQ, 
friends, family members, and and published work. Look for ASID, or BIID in the UK), and 
trusted professionals who have versatility, quality craftsmanship, years of practical experience. 
completed similar renovation and projects that align with your Professional memberships often 
projects. Personal experiences aesthetic preferences. Pay indicate commitment to ethical 
can provide invaluable insights attention to the consistency of standards and continuing 
into a designer's working style their design quality across education.
and reliability. different projects.
Step 4:
Interview & Assess 
Compatibility
Key Questions to Watch For:
A•sHko:w would you describe • Active listening skills and 
your design process from genuine interest in your 
start to finish? lifestyle
•What is your typical • Personal chemistry – 
communication style and you'll be working closely 
frequency? together
• Transparency about fees, 
• How do you approach 
timelines, and potential 
projects with my budget 
challenges
range?
• Can you share examples • Ability to translate your 
of projects similar to ideas into concrete 
mine? suggestions
Step 5:
Review Contracts & Project Scope 
Carefully
Detailed Scope of Payment Structure Project 
Work Timeline
Ensure your contract clearly Understand the fee structure Confirm reasonable 
outlines all deliverables, (hourly rates, flat fees, or deadlines for each phase of 
services, and percentage-based) and the design process, including 
responsibilities. This should payment schedule. Clarify buffer time for unexpected 
include design concepts, what happens if project delays that are common in 
space planning, material scope changes or expands renovation projects.
selections, purchasing, and during implementation.
implementation oversight.
When to Hire Your 
Interior Designer
Early Involvement is Benefits of Early 
Key Engagement:
The optimal time to engage •More accurate contractor 
an interior designer is during bidding based on detailed 
the initial planning phase— specifications
ideally alongside or even • Identification of potential 
before architectural planning issues before construction 
for major renovations. begins
Early designer involvement • Opportunity to order 
ensures seamless integration custom or long-lead items 
between structural elements in advance
and interior aesthetics, • Cohesive vision from the 
preventing costly outset, reducing mid-
modifications later in the project changes
project.
Reach Us At
Plexus Research & 
Des9i1g4n Howell Mill Road, Suite 
4004 Atlanta, Georgia 30318
(404) 519-7728
[email protected]
plexusrd.com