Hiring an interior designer is a big step. You’re inviting another person to put their stamp on your interior space – the place where you relax, entertain, spend time with your family, and do most of your living. The design needs to reflect your personality and lifestyle, as well as create a cohesive look and feel throughout your space.
Luckily, an experienced interior designer like Mal Corboy will know exactly how to approach your project to create that perfect space. The best end result comes from your engagement with the design process, and how well you and your interior designer work together to create the best result.
If this is your first time working with a designer, here are some tips to help you get the most out of the relationship:
1. Be honest
During the initial stages of your design process, your interior designer will present you with different ideas and concepts for your space. One may jump out to you immediately as absolutely perfect, or you may not feel a connection to any of them. It’s vital to be honest throughout the design process about what you like and what you don’t like. Your interior designer can’t read your mind, and if they don’t get pushback from you about their concepts, they’ll keep running with those same ideas thinking you’re both on the same page.
Don’t worry about hurting your designer’s feelings – this is their job. It’s your home, and they get satisfaction from creating a space that works for you.
2. Collect ideas and examples
When you first meet with your designer, it’s extremely useful if you can bring them some visual ideas to work with. Designers are visual people, and instead of describing what you like, it’s more effective to just show them.
You don’t need to have a complete concept of how you want the space to look – that’s where they come in – but you should be able to show them some ideas that excite you. Cut out images from magazines, collect inspiration online in a Pinterest board, or even draw designs or take photographs of friend’s houses. Whether it’s complete rooms, textures, colour ideas, furniture or objects, collecting visual inspiration of what you like will help your designer to visualise a space that’s exciting and unique.
3. Allow yourself to be surprised
Design is a fascinating thing. With the right eye, a room of odd furniture and strange colours can come together to be a beautiful and functional space. Interior designers do their best work when clients give them the creative freedom to pursue interesting new ideas and concepts, even if they’re a little unsure if it will come together in the end.
Although you should always nail down a clear brief with your designer from the onset, sit back and let them work their magic. When you see the finished space, be prepared to be amazed at how their creativity and experience come together to give you a truly unique home.
There are so many reasons to bring on board a designer to create the interior you really want. Let critically-acclaimed interior designer Mal Corboy show you how he can transform your home. Contact Mal for a no-obligation consultation today.
