To prep for a productive interior design consultation, define your current space's pain points, share visual inspiration, communicate your personal story, and be clear about your budget and timeline.

So, you’re ready to take the leap and hire a designer. It's the first step on a journey to a home that feels like you. 

But what do you even talk about in the first consulting meeting? It’s all about making the most of our time together. And the better prepared you are, the faster we can get to the fun part: designing your space.

Also, it’s okay if you don’t have all the answers or ideas at this point. That’s what we’re here for.

The "Dos": Your Consultation Checklist

Think of this as your cheat sheet for a great first meeting.

• Do Define Your Pain Points. What’s working for you and what’s not? Maybe you feel like your space is dark and dreary. Or maybe you need more storage or shelf space. 

• Do Make A List Of Must-Keeps. What are you keeping and what do you want out of your sight asap? We need to know if that vintage armchair is a must-keep family heirloom or if it's fair game for a trip to the thrift store.

• Do Bring Visual Inspiration. We live for a mood board! Collect – just a few – photos of spaces you love and, just as importantly, spaces you don't love. Pinterest is totally fine for this. The real secret is to explain the why behind your choices. Instead of saying, "I like minimalist design," say, "I love how this room feels so calm and uncluttered."

• Do Talk About Your Story. Your home should reflect you, not a magazine spread. Tell us about your hobbies, your family, your pets (bring in a plant or two (or five)). The more we know about your life, the better we can design a space that truly fits it.

  • Pro tip: No detail about you is too small or insignificant. If you collect textiles, let’s use them! There could be a fun way to incorporate it in the design.

• Do Reconfirm Your Budget and Timeline. We've probably already talked about this, but it's important to be upfront and clear from the start. This helps us prioritize what's most important to you and make sure we're on the same page.

• Do Think About Color. Maybe there’s a cool shade of blue you've had your eye on for the kitchen or a leafy green for the bathroom.

The "Don'ts": What to Leave at the Door

This part is all about letting go of the pressure.

• Don't Over-Design Yourself. You've hired a designer for a reason. Don't feel like you need to have every single detail mapped out. We're here to help you get unstuck and explore what's possible.

• Don't Get Bogged Down in Jargon. We're not here to give you a pop quiz on the difference between a credenza and a sideboard. Just use your own words to describe how you want your space to feel. Our job is to translate your vision into a design plan.

• Don't Feel Intimidated. Our goal is to make this process feel manageable and fun. There is no wrong answer, and no idea is too silly. We’re just two creative people chatting about your home.

Let's Get To the Fun Part

Are you drowning in don'ts? Let us help you out. If we haven't connected yet, make sure to book your free discovery call below.