An interior designer is much more than just a home decorator. When you hire the right interior designer, they will handle every step of your home’s design process, from inspiration and design to paint colors and finishing touches. An interior decorator might recommend a few places to hang a painting, but an interior designer knows every inch of your space, down to the smallest detail. When you hire an interior designer, you guarantee a space that is well thought out, carefully designed, and beautifully built.
Not only are interior designers useful to have as you’re planning your new home or remodeling your current home, interior designers are trained & certified experts in determining optimal room sizes, color schemes, traffic flow, lighting, paint finishes, and much more. They work closely with contractors and other vendors to make each project a success.
Across Salt Lake City and throughout Utah itself, there are many interior designers to choose from, specializing in styles & spaces from A to Z. However, it can be difficult to know which interior designer is best for your particular project. Luckily for you, the experts at San Francisco Design have developed a guide to help you choose the perfect designer for your Salt Lake City home. Follow these steps when you’re partnering with an interior designer:
Step 1: Determine Your Unique Interior Design Style
The best way to begin your search for the perfect Utah interior designer is by deciding on a design style. Many homeowners today throughout Utah are choosing a more contemporary style to outfit their home, complete with modern home furnishings and décor. Modern interior design is beloved by homeowners for its sleek lines, minimalism, and timeless nature. Salt Lake interior designers in particular elect for modern designs in many homes because of the unique, breathtaking results in every project.
No matter what style you decide on, this is an essential step before choosing an interior designer for your home project. Not only will the right interior designer have the perfect eye for your unique style, having a basic design style in mind will make many of the small decisions easy to settle on.
Step 2: Set a Budget
Before you can hire an interior designer, it’s important to determine a budget for your project. Having a budget in mind can quickly narrow down your search, and choosing a designer that frequently works with budgets like your own can lead to a better project. To see how much an interior designer costs, click here. [link to “Cost to Hire an Interior Designer” blog post]
When it comes to interior design, keep in mind that cost and quality generally go hand in hand. The best interior designers can’t be found on a shoestring. If you want an interior designer that will deliver the top results, plan on spending more than the average Joe.
Our opinion? You’ll never regret falling in love with your home design. Choosing a cheaper or less reputable interior designer won’t just leave you with cheap furniture and a short-lived design, it will leave you unhappy with your home altogether.
Think of your home’s interior design as an investment. More often than not, a greater interior design “investment” results in a higher-quality space that you can enjoy for many years to come. In fact, spending money on a high-end interior designer can actually help you to save in the long run, as they know where to find the best products & furniture for the best prices.
Step 3: Be Prepared
We can’t say it enough: prepare before you meet with an interior designer. Preparation allows you and your designer to start off on the right foot, having clear communication and a course of action. Start your preparation through the following:
Get inspired. Gather all of your inspiration from floorplans, to Pinterest boards, to your wildest imagination. While a designer can’t do everything, they can bring many innovative ideas to life to give you the home you’ve always dreamed of.
Study. Read through interior design and architectural magazines to see what professionals in the industry are currently doing so you can understand the current trends.
Visit model homes. One of the best ways to discover the perfect home design is to see it in person. We recommend stopping by some model homes or attending the Salt Lake Parade of Homes to get a good idea of what styles and designs you like most.
Gather a list of questions. Here are the top 10 questions we recommend you ask when meeting with an interior designer.
- Is there a certain style that you specialize in?
- How many projects do you work on at a given time?
- Who can I expect to work with throughout this project?
- What is your expectation for client involvement? Do you prefer for your clients to be hands-off?
- How do you prioritize items on a budget?
- What is your timeline and how long do you anticipate for this project to be completed?
- What is your project management style?
- How do you resolve problems throughout the course of a project?
- What do your fees include?
- Can I have a client reference?
Step 4: Meet With Your Designer and Make a Plan
It’s important to meet with your designer face-to-face to get familiar with their process, confirm that your vision is aligned, and discover how acquainted they are with vendors in your particular area. Select local interior designers may even have inside access to Salt Lake furniture stores and can help you save big on home furnishings.
Working with your designer, develop a plan for your project. Communicate clearly on how you would like to see the project come to fruition, as well as your likes and dislikes. Having a plan of action from the beginning ensures that both parties are on the same page.
Step 5: Work Together
Don’t be afraid to speak up. After all, it’s your home! Take the time to understand your designer’s process, but be ready to voice your opinion often throughout the design project. There will likely be multiple instances when you may not agree with your designer, but clear communication is always the best route.
Interior Design at San Francisco Design
Looking for an interior designer in Salt Lake City that will mesh with you to create the home you’ve always dreamed of? Look no further than the experts at San Fran. Not only are our professionals leading the interior design world with their creativity and innovation, they have access to the top modern furniture store Utah has to offer – San Francisco Design! Learn more about our interior design process on our website or contact us today to get started on your own interior design project.
