1. Write a brief before you compare portfolios
Describe the property, city, rooms affected, what is not working and the decisions you need help making. Separate design fees, furnishings and construction in your budget. Add timing and any fixed constraints, such as a lease date, move or strata process.
You do not need a fully resolved style. A few images with notes about the light, materials or layout you like are more useful than dozens of references without an explanation.
2. Look for experience relevant to your scope
A designer with a strong furnishing portfolio may be right for a living room, while a commercial fit-out may need different technical experience and coordination. Ask to see completed projects comparable in type and complexity. Clarify what the designer personally delivered and which other professionals were involved.
Distinguish completed project photography from renderings and stock inspiration. Each can help a discussion, but they demonstrate different things. Ask for references when you are seriously considering an engagement.
3. Ask who will work on your project
Find out who prepares the drawings, selects products, answers questions and attends meetings. Ask how the studio shares updates, how decisions are approved and what happens if the scope or schedule changes. A clear working arrangement matters as much as a visual connection.
4. Compare proposals by deliverable
The lowest fee is difficult to interpret without knowing the work included. Compare rooms, design stages, drawings, number of options, revision rounds, purchasing support and site involvement. Ask which expenses, consultants, taxes or additional services are excluded.
If the proposals differ substantially, ask each designer to explain the differences. A short selection consultation and a full renovation documentation package should not be treated as interchangeable products.
5. Confirm qualifications and responsibilities
Ask about education, registration, insurance and the experience relevant to your project, and verify claims with the appropriate organization. Titles and service descriptions do not tell you which regulated activities a person can perform. Confirm architectural, engineering, permitting and construction responsibilities separately.
Questions worth taking to the first meeting
- Which parts of my project are a good fit for your studio?
- What will I receive at each design stage?
- How many revisions and meetings are included?
- How are purchases, markups, returns and delivery issues handled?
- Who coordinates other consultants and the contractor?
- What information do you need before you can prepare a proposal?
Related questions.
Should I choose a designer who lives in my city?
Local familiarity can be helpful, but the practical questions are whether the designer can support your property, attend any necessary visits and coordinate the required professionals. Confirm travel, remote work and site responsibilities before engagement.
How many designers should I speak with?
A small, relevant shortlist is usually easier to compare than a large collection of quotes. Give each designer the same project brief and compare the proposed work and communication as well as the fee.
Professional reference: IDIBC: the role of a professional interior designer. Verify any individual’s claimed registration through IDIBC.
This is general editorial planning guidance, not a project-specific design, legal, engineering or permitting opinion. Confirm your project’s requirements with the appropriate professionals and authorities.