WHERE To Find An Interior Designer

If you’re contemplating a project and feeling overwhelmed, you likely need a design professional. Whether a new home build, renovation or remodel, furniture and decor or a combination therein, an interior designer is an integral part of your team.

Finding the right designer could very be part of that initial overwhelm, as it’s a big and important decision for the overall success of your project. So, where to begin? We’re sharing the “WHERE to find an interior designer” part of our 5 W’s and an H series.

Word of Mouth | Referral

Personal recommendations and word of mouth are very valuable, and the best way to connect with a designer. Gaining insight from a trusted source having had a great experience is an ideal start to your search. While your project will be different, having an understanding of how the designer works and asking questions prior to reaching out starts to build trust early on.

Connecting with a past or current client, will offer great insight of a designers process, communication skills, quality of work, design sensibilities and of course the end result. A contractor/ builder or architect are also great resources based on experience, offering a referral source from a peer to peer perspective.

Designers also take referrals very seriously. Building off the trust of a previous client is a great way to launch into a new relationship. Knowing they’re like minded people based on their association to previous clients and successful projects is a positive point of connection.

Social Media

More common these days than we likely realize, social media is a great way to find a designer. Instagram, Tik Tok and Pinterest are all great resources for learning about a designers aesthetic, seeing a glimpse into the behind the scenes, and even interacting with a designer by way of polls, questions or DM conversations. Not only will designers share their work on social media platforms, but also share their own lifestyle and interests, values and things that are important to them, gaining a sense of personality, likemindedness and alignment to build confidence in finding the right fit.

Pinterest is perhaps an overlooked platform in finding an interior designer. It is in fact a visual search engine, therefore a great tool in discovering designers both familiar and new to you. It’s not uncommon for designers to ‘Pin’ their work to Pinterest boards or share blog posts they’ve written, so taking advantage of this mecca of not only inspiration but information too could be very helpful in your interior designer search.

Websites

Asking Google is a good jumping off point in your designer search, however this method often yields results whereby a designer, or firm, has paid to be found easily. While this doesn’t always align you with the right fit, google’s search engine can take you to interior design professional’s websites so you can peruse options from there.

If you’ve found a designer by way of Instagram or Pinterest, most will have a link in bio or a means to connect to their website. It’s important to get to know them on many levels and ensure consistency from platform to platform.

PRINT Magazines

Head to your local bookstore and pick up a magazine! This is beneficial for several reasons, and finding a designer who may bring the right flavour and fit to your projects is certainly one of them. While being featured in a magazine is not the be all and end all, it does offer a level of notoriety and acknowledge a designer who is at the forefront of design. Look to local or national publications to gain inspiration and be introduced to a ‘new to you’ designer and one you may connect with on a new level such as Instagram or signing up for their newsletter (if applicable!) to get to know them more.

Local Design Centres | Showrooms

Depending on the type of project, you may find yourself in a furniture store or showroom whereby speaking with an associate will yield a recommendation. Designers often work directly with showrooms, building relationships that benefit a client in several ways. They’ll be happy to recommend and refer a designer they feel may be the right fit, or a handful of options for you to consider.

Design Events

Industry events such as interior design and home shows, showhouse tours and home lottery events are great places to meet a designer. Often designers are in attendance giving the opportunity to connect in person and get a real life feel for whether or not they may be a good fit.

Seeing a designers work up close and personal is a wonderful way to learn more about them, as well as the ability to ask questions about their process, inspirations and share compliments towards the work on display.

From word of mouth to instagram, there’s no shortage of design inspiration out there. Interior designers continue to create inspiring spaces no matter the style, however finding the right fit for you is important in yielding a positive result. Once you’ve narrowed down your search, here are 7 Questions to Ask An Interior Designer.

Don’t forget to start your search in a timely manner. Bringing a designer on board should happen sooner than you think. Find out WHEN to Hire an Interior Designer!

Hello!

Welcome. We’re so happy you’re here. Our goal is to be a leader in the interior design and lifestyle industry, known for our creativity, authenticity, professionalism and expertise, as a go to resource to learn, work with or simply be inspired. Thank you for spending time with us!