The 9 Most Unanswered Questions about Resources
Once youve made the decision to hire an interior designer for your home improvement project, its time to know how to choose the right one. After all, not all of them are the same. Even among the best designers, there are nuances that you should know about before deciding which one is best for you. In any case, there are also basic considerations that you have to make for starters.
Certification
First off, find out whether the interior designer youre considering is professionally certified. Several states have qualifications regulating the interior design industry, including mainly extensive education and passing the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam.
If youre looking for a fully credentialed designer, ask the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for some names and contact details of local designers who belong to their group. For projects requiring construction and subcontractor services, ASID designers are also knowledgeable in terms of project management, including building code compliance.
If you think your project is too small to require a full-fledged interior designer, you can bring an interior decorator on board instead. You can find interior decorators in the same manner as interior designers. Its best to go for a decorator who is part of a professional association – for instance, the Decorators Alliance of North America (DANA).
Setting a Budget
No matter the size and scope of your project, you have to set a working budget. This will make sure you dont overspend or even under-spend (a bad practice when you want quality). Whatever budget you decide on, make sure you discuss this honestly with your potential designer. Some do not accept low-budget projects, which means you can rule out some candidates early in the process. Be aware too that some designers will charge an hourly rate for your first consultation. In other cases, that fee will be incorporated into rolled into the total price of the project, but make sure you get all the details prior to setting appointments with your prospects. Typically, an interior designer will be paid a per-hour rate, a fixed or flat rate, or through a cost-plus agreement, wherein the designer makes all the purchases and marks them up at a mutually agreeable percentage.
Style Issue
Finally, consider the designers sense of the style and how it meshes with yours. For this, you only have to view their portfolio. They may be the best designer in town, but if their style hardly jibes with yours, then you should probably look elsewhere.
