To enjoy a successful relationship with an interior decorator it’s necessary for the two of you to get to know and trust one another. As such it’s important to think about your wants and expectations before interviewing prospective decorators. While the onus for a productive relationship isn’t entirely on you, this type of thoughtful consideration will nonetheless make it easier to select a decorator who understands your goals and will work with you to achieve them.
Selecting the Right Interior Decorator
Selecting the right decorator more often than not begins with a bit of introspection. This will help you align your goals and priorities and facilitate communication once you do sit down with potential decorators. Here is a short list of things to contemplate before picking up the phone.
- How Involved Do You Want to Be? – If you tell the decorator you’re leaving everything up to them you should be ready to do that. If, however, you want a greater degree of input, it’s important to say so upfront. This way everyone is on the same page from the get-go. Decorators are generally used to working closely with clients so don’t be shy about stating your preferences. The whole process will benefit.
- Do You Expect Lots of Options? – Some folks are content to let the interior decorator whittle the options down to a couple before presenting them for consideration. Others expect the decorator to show them a plethora of options for every element of the decor. Think about which approach works best for you and then state your preference to the decorator.
- Do You Change Your Mind Often? – While you certainly have a right to change your mind about things, you should also be mindful that doing so too often can create bumps in the road. If, on the other hand you tend to vacillate, it may be best to step back and trust the decorator to use their experience and training to make decisions that will be in your home’s best interest.
- What Do You Expect From the Decorator Personally? – Are you looking for someone who will spend hours discussing swatches over coffee in the kitchen, or do you want someone who will come in and get to work? Different decorators have different approaches and it’s important not to engage the services of someone who’s all business if what you want is a laid-back vibe.
Be fair to yourself and any prospective interior decorator by contemplating these questions before you begin your selection process. By keeping these considerations up front, you have a better chance of finding a decorator you can build a mutually beneficial relationship with.
Isabelle Tremblay of Decor Isabelle is unquestionably one of the greater Toronto area’s premier home decoration specialists. Driven by her love of interior design and with more than 20 years of experience beautifying homes in Hamilton, Burlington and the entire GTA, she can help turn your home into the comfortable, inspiring oasis you’ve always wanted it to be.
