Nope they aren't mind readers. With 1000's of choices help narrow it down to make the most of their time.
You’ve selected the interior designer you’d love to work with, so now it’s time to have a really good think about what it is you’d like to achieve together. Knowing and understanding your own brief is fundamental to getting the most out of your interior designer. A good designer will ask all the right questions from the outset on your likes and dislikes to be able to ascertain most of your needs. However they're only just getting to know you, and it would generally be impossible for them to know all your idiosyncrasies, so it’s always good to be prepared. By providing a comprehensive brief you will ensure your designer has all the information they need to then work independently for the best results.
As you can see by this slideshow of Magpye Creative Interior moodboards each and every project can be very different, so ensuring you brief your designer well is an essential piece of considered work for a client. Here are our top tips for briefing your interior designer:
1
ROOM USAGE & LIFESTYLE
Set the scene for your designer… were you hoping for a relaxing retreat to kick back with a good book or newspaper, will you be using the room to watch TV with all the family or to entertain guests, do you like to hosts bbq's and should there be a mini fridge close to the patio doors, do you need to work in the space and need a desk, do you have a dog and need a doggie bath after muddy walks, even down to ...do you like to shower with your partner and should we have 2 shower-heads as you like different temperature settings, and so on and so on!? This list could be endless but it’s important to talk your designer about your lifestyle in general, as this will enable them to build a picture of your needs and how you'll be using the space, even if you aren’t sure exactly yourself they'll help you think it over.
2
STYLE DIRECTION
This could be as simple as describing to your designer whether you are looking for a scheme that is either transitional, sleek and contemporary, faded glamour, spanish revival, art deco and so on. Although if this all this designer garble doesn’t mean much to you, try collating some imagery of designs that inspire you from magazines or think of a hotel that you'd just love to stay in. Pinterest is also a great resource, but be warned that if you click on a grey country living room, the algorithm may just show you very similar results and narrow your overview of whats possible. Check out our Pinterest page which has a number of style boards which may help you.
3
SMALL REFRESH OR LARGE OVERHAUL
If you don’t particularly want the builders in and were hoping for a simple spruce up then it is good idea to let your designer know before they get too carried away with their ideas. Likewise, if you're already happy with certain pieces of furniture that you’d like to be incorporated, it is important that you indicate what you’d like to remain so that your designer knows what they should be working with. Don't throw this in as a curve ball later down the line as it could upset the whole design.
4
PRACTICALITIES
For some designers this is usually a bit of a boring aspect, however at Magpye Creative Interiors we believe in considering layout, lifestyle and practicalities first to ensure that no matter how pretty the project it it functions well for the client too. Do you have pets that might use the room and need to consider more robust (claw proof) furnishings? Are you a keen cook and need plenty of space for all those ingredients and cook books? Do you have young children and need to prepare for the inevitable sticky fingers and storage of toys… Have a good think about any specific requirements such as these and let your designer know.
5
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
Whatever the space, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and think about what technology you’d like to use in the room, as that way your designer can prepare proposals to incorporate such requirements. For example, do you need a television and if so how important is the size and positioning, does it need to be hidden? Would you like your technology to be integrated or wireless, have you already got a system that you can feed off? Would it be useful to have USB points for charging handheld devises if that’s more your thing? All this links with your lifestyle needs so if you're completely at a loss with this aspect, speak to your designer to ask what might be relevant for you based on how you think you might like to use the room. With kitchens this is important too, considering what type of oven, size of fridge as much of this can be down to personal taste, so it is worth while considering all this and discussing with your designer before they set to work.
6
WISH LIST
And last but not least, the wish list. You probably didn’t need much prompting with this one as you more than likely have it all in your head, but don’t forget to discuss it with your designer. Don’t be afraid that it might hinder their design, as a good designer would use this as the basis to create your dream space but tell you if there is something on the list that might not work. Have fun with the wish list, whether it’s sitting down with a cuppa jotting down everything you’d love to have in your room or as a team effort with all the family gathered around, but once you’ve done this go back over everything and think about where your priorities lie… i.e. indicates the ‘must haves’ and the ‘would be nice but not essential’ so that your designer can work effectively with the wish list. This way they can balance your priorities against budget and overall look without hindering the design process.
At Magpye Creative Interiors we create unique space for unique clients. To enquire about working with us to create your dream interior please get in touch.
Katie
Katie Longshaw-Pye
Creative Director | Magpye Creative Interiors
Ribble Valley
Comments