What to Expect When Working with an Interior Designer

March 7, 2022 by Larisa McShane
Hint: Don’t expect it to be like what you see on TV.

This is what working with an interior designer looks like on home renovation shows: There’s an initial meeting, then sketches, a few phone calls to smooth out glitches, and – ta da! The clients walk in their front door to a transformed home full of surprise upgrades. “It’s beyond anything we expected!” they say through tears of joy.

That’s not how a successful home renovation process really works. No matter the scale of your project, when it’s complete you should be thrilled, but you shouldn’t be surprised. That’s because getting there won’t have been a secret. Your interior designer will have kept you in the loop the entire time.

When tackling something as personal, complicated, and costly as a home renovation, ignorance is definitely not bliss. Handing over decisions about your living space and hoping to be delighted is a recipe for disaster. Your project should be a partnership between you and your interior designer, one based on communication and trust. That’s why finding the right designer, a person you like, have confidence in, and believe “gets you,” is so important to the success of your renovation.

When working with an interior designer, you should expect them to:

• Ask lots of questions to determine your personal style and understand your vision.

Some people can explain to a designer exactly what they do and don’t want in a renovation, and even provide photos. Others can’t articulate what needs to change, but know their house isn’t working for them.

So while it’s useful to know your own likes and dislikes, your must-haves and can-live-withouts before hiring a designer, don’t let not knowing deter your search. A good interior designer knows the questions to ask that will set you on the decision-making path. They will add to and refine your vision, or guide you in determining what it is you want so they can then create it.

“I help my clients discover and understand their own design style and ideal space preferences,” Larisa McShane says. “What colors, textures, designs make them feel good? I help them describe their unique vision. I support them and provide options.”

• Keep you as involved as you want to be.

There’s no “big reveal” at the end of a renovation, nor should there be. A good designer will keep you updated on its progress, and while the unexpected always comes up, you should never be in the dark as to where things are in the process.

If you prefer to be more hands-off, tell your designer how involved you want to be. However, when asked, your designer should be able to account for where things are in the renovation process, the status of orders, and of any potential changes to the timeline or budget. What’s most important when working with your interior designer is keeping the lines of communication open.

• Give you what you want, not what they want.

A good interior designer should not impose their vision of what your home should look like. They won’t be living there. Instead, they should listen, and help you determine what it is that you want out of your space.

But keep an open mind. You hired your interior designer for their talent and expertise, so let them do their job. Welcome their suggestions: With years of education and experience your designer will see possibilities (and pitfalls) you haven’t. Plus, interior designers have a rolodex of connections: builders, tradespeople, artisans, and design houses that are “to the trade” only, and can offer options you’ve never imagined.

Your renovation is not a 60-minute TV show. When you have a good working relationship with an interior designer, you will know what’s happening and why. A successful project won’t end with the suspense of a big reveal, but with the pleasure and satisfaction of having a beautiful, comfortable home, one that reflects who you are.

Larisa McShane and Associates is an award-winning full service interior design firm in Villanova, PA. For more personalized ideas, call us to schedule our signature personal style discovery at 610-772-0445, contact us to schedule a complimentary phone consultation or visit www.larisamcshane.com for more information.