We all have a vision for our dream home, but often lack the creative talent to bring it to life. Interior decorators bring with them expertise, contacts and a trained eye to devise solutions that not only reflect your lifestyle but are aesthetically pleasing as well. Together with their professional opinion, their expertise, and their relationship with various artisans and vendors, you can create a home that is as beautiful as the homes in your favorite glossy interior magazines.
Interior decorator versus an interior designer
Firstly it is important to understand the difference between an interior decorator and an interior designer. If you are only looking at adding aesthetic appeal to your house, with furnishing, colors, wall patterns and window treatments, then you need an interior decorator.
An interior designer can also help create beautiful spaces, but their expertise extends to making structural changes in your house to complement your lifestyle, ensure optimum usage of space, set the desired mood and complement the home’s architectural features. An interior designer usually has a degree and is typically required to be certified.
Both interior designers and interior decorators create beautiful and functional spaces but it is important to assess your needs before deciding which one to hire.
Where do you find an interior designer
Friends, coworkers and neighbors are a great source to start asking for recommendations about interior designers, especially those who have recently done up their house. You can also scour the internet and social media where many designers would share their profile and contact details. Another great source are decor blogs and magazines, where you can take note of a designer’s name if you have liked their work. Additionally any retail store that specializes in decor items is bound to be frequented by decorators and designers. They may be able to give you some names.
What to look for in an interior designer
Background check
It is essential that you check the designer’s education, experience, past projects and other related credentials.
Look at the portfolio
Reviewing a designer’s portfolio will give you a feel of their style and experience doing projects that are similar to yours. Additionally if you can see any homes that the designer has worked on, you will be able to get an up-close and personal taste of the finished product. References from clients will also help you ascertain if the designer has remained within the budget and time-frame allotted to him/her.
Budget discussion
Before you start working with a designer, it is essential to finalize a budget and discuss the same with your designer to see if he/she can work within your limits while ensuring quality. At this stage you can also discuss your designer’s fee structure and any other additional charges to ensure that there will be no surprises at the end. Experts often suggest leaving a 20% cushion in your budget for unexpected changes such as new purchases that you may want to make.
Adaptability and accessibility
It is important that the designer is able to adapt his ideas to suit your vision and your budget. Decor for flats in Kolkata will be different from decor for new projects in Pune. A good designer should be flexible and effortlessly adapt his designs for both houses. He should also be accessible to you in person (rather than sending a trainee).
Choosing an interior designer for your home can be a tedious and time consuming process. However you must take your time selecting the designer most suited for your needs, as a wrong designer can lead to a decor disaster.
Source:http://blog.indiaproperty.com/tips-to-select-an-interior-designer-for-your-dream-home/