Got your first home? Off to meet your interior designer? Exciting stuff. But just before you run off, here are 7 tips on how to prepare for it so that your date with them will be as productive as possible.

Set Goals

“What’s my purpose in life?” is the refrain of every man, woman, and child who’s lost. Mankind can’t live without a goal. Likewise, so do your renovation plans and potential ID – set a goal! Set specific expectations and objectives. Questions you want to consider are:

• How extensive will your renovation be? The whole house or just a room?
• What level of detail and quality do you want? 
• Are you renting? Or living in? 
• How and how often do you want progress reports?
• What are your deadlines? Did you take into account possible complications?
• Do you have photos of the space to be remodelled?

Figure out as much detail as you can but don’t worry too much about the nitty gritty. Just having an idea is a great start. 

Design Ideas

Imagine a living room. With black highlights. And minimalist furniture. Chances are, what you’re thinking of now, is wholly and completely different from the next person… or even your life partner! Mood boards to the rescue!

Mood boards are essentially a collage of pictures that helps to set visual expectations. It’s not just some school art project – pros use them too. Having one of these babies ensures that everyone is on the same page, from your partner to the interior designer to the contractors to even your neighbours’ pet dog. 

Be as detailed as you can with mood boards. Don’t be scared. Show everything from colours, patterns, and carpentry, among other things. Sort everything by rooms. Show photos of other homes you like. Any interior designer worth their salt will then tell you what’s feasible, practical, and, most importantly, whether it’s within budget.

Budget

Renovating without a budget is like leaving a starving kid in a candy store… they’ll both get out of control. You’ve got to have a budget! Also, having one helps your prospective interior designer advise on what will and won’t work, and plan the next steps. And if your budget is tight, they’ll be the best ones to offer up alternatives to get the best out of your buck. You’re not good with money, you say? Just visit a few furniture and appliance shops, and a couple of interior design showrooms, to get a rough idea. Then start budgeting.

Documents

Nothing’s more boring than paperwork. But, alas, it’s a necessary evil. Prep them papers. What papers? Floor plans and pictures, good fellow! They give interior designers a good idea of what they have to work with. All the electrical points, water piping, load bearing structures, and especially the dimensions of the house will be clear for your potential interior designer to see. Every little bit of such documents is crucial.

Consider your Routine

Have you thought about how you live? Now, don’t get upset yet – this isn’t a criticism about your lifestyle. Just think about how you live in your home. Think about:

• What’s lacking in your present home?
• What would make it better?
• How will you use your home? Will it be your party-pad, cookshow set, office, or, fortress of solitude?

Thinking about these things helps you communicate what will be important in your future home to the interior designer. 

Interrogate the Interior Designer

Last, but not least, put your interior designer under that spotlight. QC them. Make sure they’re worthy of your trust. Ask about:

• Past work samples. Ensure it’s done by the same interior designer you’re talking to. Request for their most recent work and see if their work revolves around what you want in your own home.
• Project Schedule. Demand it. It should detail every stage of the project. It’ll give you an idea of what needs to be done when.
• 3D Visualisations. It’s one thing to imagine what things will look like, it’s another to actually see it from all angles. It’ll set everybody’s expectation on the same page.
• Interior Designer Involvement. Ask how involved the interior designer will be in YOUR project; interior designers often work on multiple projects. See how often you can meet up. Naturally, less work means less meetings, and vice versa.
• Payment Terms. Ask how often payments can be made. What’s the deposit? Can it be paid in installments? Best practice: pay the last installment AFTER everything is done, not before.
• Warranty Period and Coverage. Some interior design firms offer warranty. Get specific T&Cs. They should last 12 months from the date of completion in most cases. Discuss the terms, request a printed copy, and read said copy before signing it.

Keep an Open Mind

A renovation is a complicated business. It’s easy to get overwhelmed especially if organising isn’t your strong suit. The most important thing is to:

• Be patient. Be open to an interior designer’s ideas and advice. They understand the possibilities and limitations of a job. 
• Trust your Interior Designer. You’ll burst a blood vessel second-guessing them - you are, after all, tapping them for their experience and expertise.  That said, don’t trust them blindly. Find one you feel comfortable with. A BIG RED FLAG is when they try to pressure you into making any decision. From those, walk away.

Simplifying it just a bit

Finding and dealing with interior designers is tough work. To take the stress out of the initial process, look into SIXiDES’ eQuote – based on your budget and design preferences, you'll have a breakdown of renovation quotation, suggested layout plan and six recommended interior designers in less than a weekend!

Posted on 14 October 2022

Kenny Tan, 

SIXiDES Editorial Team