Interior design brims with lists. Search online and you will immediately find “The 7 Basic Principles of Interior Design,” “How to Paint a Room in 9 Steps,” “Carpet Selection: 5 Things You Must Know,” and “11 Basic Rules of Interior Design Everyone Should Know.” There are hundreds to choose from.
To be sure, all of these are helpful. All capture, in their own way, lessons learned over time, teachings worthy of being broadly shared and passed down.
You will also find that they are written by, and directed primarily at, fellow interior designers, and, secondarily, non-professionals with a studious bent and desire to serve as their own designer. This latter group, in short, needs to learn things for themselves — at least the larger points of the art.
But what about the client? Shouldn’t they have some sort of helpful list? (Of course they should.) And the the purpose of this article is to do just that.
A case can be made that every homeowner should devote part of their daily consciousness to interior design. Truth be told, most of us do. We walk our homes and brainstorm and critique continuously, minds incessantly active: I could move this over there; the chandelier looks off-center; I’m sure what it needs is a fourth stool; maybe I should go with that blue color after all . . .
So too when visiting anyone’s home, approaching the front door we’re already evaluating and absorbing everything. And we’re not subtle about it, heads turning and eyes roaming. The host assumes a tour is a prerequisite, and, truth be told, most appreciate being asked and playing docent. (A worse alternative is that no one seems interested.) And we’ll remember it all, locking every detail away for future reference.
And yet, while some of us are designers at heart, it’s also probably true that few of us have a grounded sense of how we fit as individuals into the design world. We’ve never created a personal profile to understand who we are from a design perspective. In truth, we’re mysteries to ourselves.
For example, what does the current state of your home represent in terms of design styles? Do you still enjoy what you have or do you live in what amounts to a museum? When you walk into a showroom, do you know what you like and dislike, and on what basis? If you’re like most of your peers, the answer in each case is you really don’t know.
Having some sense of this is a good idea. At the simplest level, it can help guide whether to buy that piece of furniture or accessory you just found, informing whether it fits your current tastes and design direction (or its useful life will be short). More broadly, it can help determine parameters for redecorating a single room, knowing what else in the home may change in the future, and how. Finally, if you are considering a major redecorating project, done either in phases or all at once, this will be the basis for making early decisions on what you’ll consider, and what you won’t.
In practice, many designers will lead you through this exercise in self-discovery as part of a preliminary interview or series of meetings. It may be formally or informally done. Notably, online you can find a seven-point list titled “How to Be a Great Interior Design Client.” One point states “Set Clear Goals,” another “Exhibit Strong Decision Making Skills.” This begs the question of how you can do this if you’ve never assessed yourself, spending private time to undertake a thoughtful exercise in introspection.
Best case scenario is when you go into a project knowing a lot about your preferences. This is not at all equivalent to being “closed minded,” but rather being prepared and directed. Far less ideal is waiting until midstream to develop opinions. The more unknowing you are, the higher the likelihood of making regrettable mistakes.
What I’ve created below is a “Self-Diagnostic for Interior Design Clients.” It’s straightforward and wholly unscientific. Described in the simplest of terms, it’s a tool to “know thyself.”
I’d suggest the following. Read each question and think for awhile. Write down what comes to mind. When finished, prepare two more lists. First, ten things that you found most enlightening — that is, most helpful for your design outlook. Second, ten things that you definitely do not like — e.g., a color, a flooring material — and want eliminated from your portfolio. (There may be overlap; that’s okay.) Finally, translate your scribblings into text, and share with whoever might be willing to listen and engage. Finally, these are living documents; redo as necessary.
Corporations write strategies. Sports teams devise game plans. Travelers, itineraries. You need a design roadmap to steer by.
High Level
How would you describe your home’s current interior design style?
Do you think of yourself as a traditionalist, modernist, or somewhere in between?
What do you like most about your current interior? Name three things.
Do you think it’s feasible to change one room at a time?
Do you have a theme to your home and design? Do you still like it?
Prioritization
If you could change three things overnight — big or small — what would they be?
Break down your #1 priority project into component parts. Do you know how to start?
Key Spaces
Do you use all of your spaces, or are some reserved for formal use only? Do you like this?
Do you use outdoors space(s) — a lanai, patio, pool deck? How important is this to your lifestyle?
Assess your kitchen for adequacy. Yes or no: is it okay as is, or do you need to make changes?
How many spaces do you use for dining? Does your setup work? Do you never use a setting?
Where do you watch TV? Count the locations. Too many, too few?
Quick Preferences
Do you mix furniture periods, e.g., antiques and contemporary pieces? Will you stay with this?
Do you have ceiling fans? Why not in a tropical climate?
Describe your lighting setup. Is it functional? Do you have dimmers?
Do you like wallcovering? Will you use it more in the future? Where?
Do you use carpeting? Where? Will you continue to do so?
What are your two favorite flooring materials? In the kitchen?
Do you prefer painted or natural cabinetry? Consistent throughout the house?
Do you gravitate towards bold or neutral paint colors? Where would you go bold?
Do you have adequate closet space? Can you add more space if needed?
Describe your window treatments. Are they optimal for your home? Impact on light?
Do you have pets? Does this limit your choice of décor?
Does the art you own integrate well into and complement your décor?
Do you have special needs to accommodate? What improvements can be made?
Practical
Are your design vision and wants shared by a significant other? If no, how do you reconcile this?
What is your budget? Do you know how much you can accomplish? Are you being realistic?
Timelines. Break down what you want to accomplish into six-month segments. How much do you want to do yourself and with a designer? Have you thought this through?
List the top three attributes you would look for in a designer.
Of course, this list is illustrative only, not meant to be encyclopedic. But you get the idea: add things applicable to you, revise and tweak as necessary. Make it yours.
At the end of the day, what is most important for you is that the décor you select and live with is something that you’ve proud of, that reflects the individual you are, and that you love and enjoy with each new day. Knowing yourself, when working with a designer, is especially important so that the designer serves rightfully as an “advisor,” not transforming your home into their personal statement. Designers, like other professionals, love to work with educated clients — it makes the exceptional possible
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