How to Choose an Interior Designer: 3 Questions You Should Ask First

Hiring an interior designer can feel a little like a trust fall.

You’re trusting someone with your home, your money, and a lot of decisions that will shape how you live every day. And while a great designer can make the process exciting and transformative, the wrong one can make it stressful and confusing.

If I were a homeowner interviewing interior designers, there are three questions I would always ask before moving forward. The answers to these questions reveal a lot about how a designer works and whether the experience will feel clear, collaborative, and well-guided.

Here’s what I would want to know.

1. How Do You Approach Budgets?

A good designer should be able to talk openly about budgets from the very beginning.

That means discussing what a realistic all-in investment looks like for your project and explaining how they help clients stay aligned with that number throughout the design and construction process.

Ask Questions Like…

• What is a realistic all-in budget for a project scope like mine, and what does that include?
• How do you help clients stay aligned with their budget throughout the project?
• At what point in the process do we confirm the full project budget?
• How do you handle change orders?

Budget transparency makes everything smoother. When expectations are clearly defined early, decisions become easier, and surprises become far less likely.

This should also be the very first area where you and your designer feel aligned.

Red Flags to Watch For

• The designer avoids talking about budget ranges.
• They say, “We’ll figure that out later.”
• They only discuss design fees, but not overall project costs.
• They promise a high-end result for an unrealistically low investment.

A strong designer will guide you honestly and help you make smart financial decisions throughout the project.

2. What Does Your Process Actually Look Like?

Design projects are complex and often take months or even years to complete.

A great designer should be able to clearly walk you through their process before you begin. This typically includes phases such as discovery, concept development, design refinement, documentation, procurement, and installation.

You Should Understand…

• What happens in each phase
• When major decisions will be made
• Who is responsible for what
• How communication will work
• What the estimated timeline might look like

There will always be unknowns uncovered during construction or renovation. That’s simply the nature of the work. But a strong process provides the guardrails that keep everything moving forward, even when unexpected challenges arise.

Red Flags to Watch For

• The designer cannot clearly explain their own process.
• There is no defined structure or estimated timeline.
• They jump straight to selecting finishes without discussing planning.

A thoughtful, organized process is often the difference between a project that feels chaotic and one that feels calm and well-managed.

3. Who Will I Actually Be Working With Day to Day?

Many design firms operate as teams rather than a single designer handling everything.

That’s not a bad thing; in fact, it often leads to better results. But it’s important to understand who will be involved in your project and who your primary point of contact will be.

Ask Questions Like…

• Who is responsible for the design work?
• Who manages ordering and logistics?
• Who communicates with contractors?
• Who should I reach out to with questions?

You should feel like you have a trusted partner guiding you throughout the process, someone you feel comfortable talking with openly and building a genuine relationship with along the way.

Design projects involve hundreds of decisions and conversations. Feeling comfortable with the people leading your project matters more than most clients initially realize.

Red Flags to Watch For

• You’re unsure who is responsible for your project.
• Communication feels inconsistent or unclear.
• You rarely interact with the person who initially sold you the design services.

Strong teams operate with clear roles and transparent communication.

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The Bottom Line

Hiring an interior designer is an investment in your home and your daily life.

The right designer will make the process feel clear, collaborative, and thoughtfully guided from the very beginning, not like you’re just crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.

And while finding the right fit can take time, the good news is that designers who work this way absolutely exist.

We’re out there.