9 Experts Share Advice for First-Time Design Clients

We asked top interior designers and architects to share with us the key pieces of advice that they think all first-time clients should know when embarking on a home design project. With insights that range from establishing the right designer-client relationship to specific considerations, like budgeting, read below for what these nine experts had to say.

1 / 9
"Start with one incredibly key thought: ‘How do I want my home to feel when everything is complete?’ Let the answer guide all your decisions. It's common (and a common mistake) to jump in. Excitement is great, but it can lead to making selections in a piecemeal way and a home where things don't flow beautifully or relate meaningfully. Even if you decide to do things in stages for budget or other reasons, always go back to your answer to this question.”

Celia Welch, of Celia Welch Interiors

Photography by Angie Seckinger
2 / 9
“It’s important to realize that designing a home isn’t just about creating pretty rooms that look great in photos. It’s about layering function, utility, and comfort with character and personality. And the key is to make a space full of considered thought, care, and originality that looks effortlessly curated.”

LeAnne Bunnell, of LeAnne Bunnell Interiors
3 / 9
"The relationship between designer and client is very personal. Hire someone that you can be yourself with and that will listen to your needs. Once you hire a designer that embodies the qualities you are seeking, trust them and trust the process. The more trust you have, the more rewarding the outcome will be. If you enable your designer to push you just outside of your comfort zone, the end result will be truly unique and layered with interest.”

Ohara Davies-Gaetano, of Ohara Davies-Gaetano Interiors
4 / 9
“My most important piece of advice that I give new clients is to keep an open mind. If you are going to the expense of hiring a professional to help with your interiors, then let that professional bring ideas that you may not otherwise consider. Don’t give the designer too many parameters to work within. You may not know what you are missing, and you can always say no!”

Meg Joannides, of MLK Studio
5 / 9
“Much like approaching any new venture, tackle your new home with preparation and a bit of research to understand your budget—the most vital part of the process! Make a quick list of items you think will be needed in each room, and don't forget to budget for accessories, sales tax, and freight. This will help give you an understanding of the size, scope, and budget for your project and will help you find the right designer to execute your perfect space.”

Brynn Olson, of Brynn Olson Design Group
6 / 9
"All members represented as the client should be on the same page prior to bringing an architect or any other design professional on board. An idea board, physical or digital, can help get the conversation going and a budget range will give the architect parameters to work with in designing the home or space."

Nicole Comp & Debra Hakimi, of Soler Architecture and Design
7 / 9
“When searching for concept images to show your designer, don’t confine yourself to certain colours or styles. Select all images that speak to you no matter how diverse they are. A good designer will be able to find the common thread that runs through your choices and synthesize them into a beautiful design that reflects your personality.”

Gordana DiMonte, of Douglas Design Studio

Photography by Michael Graydon
8 / 9
“Make sure you are starting the design process on the same page as your designer. I always advise our clients to start with a vision and a visual direction for their home. We deliver the vision but it always helps if they have magazine tear sheets; online inspiration; a wish list of desires; Pinterest pages; their favourite hotels or destinations; and any other aspirations big or small. Our job is to take this vision and expand, explore, and deliver beyond.”

Debra Kacher, of dk INTERIORS

Photography by Susan Fisher
9 / 9
“When it comes to selecting furniture, include at least one antique piece in every room. The addition of antiques is what makes a house a home and allows the furnishings to feel collected over time.”

Marianne Simon, of Marianne Simon Design

Photography by John Granen

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9 Experts Share Advice for First-Time Design Clients

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