Let’s do a little exercise: take a stroll through your house and try to view it through the lens of an outsider. What’s the first thing that comes into your mind? What your home looks like can say a lot about what you love– from your personal likes and dislikes to your aesthetic tastes, to hobbies and even personality. As a homeowner, you should carefully consider the kind of home you want to live in, how it looks, and how it is designed to fit into your wants and needs. It’s not only for aesthetic reasons, but for practical ones too.
Think you might be in need of a makeover for your house? Don’t fret. There are many interior designer companies in Singapore that could lend you their services. In fact, your most pressing problem would be how to choose your interior design professional. Of course you want to get the most bang out of your buck when it comes to hiring someone for their services!
Narrowing down your top picks of interior designer
Unfortunately, you’ll notice that your top choices might get a little muddled when you begin to narrow them down. As interior design is partly an aesthetic art, the best designer for you may differ from the friends who are recommending their favourite interior designer firm because of your subjective preferences. If you want something that truly fits your tastes, don’t be afraid to go the extra mile in making your final choice.
It’s good to have a more solid idea of the recommended interior designer companies with your recommendations, but it also doesn’t hurt to have multiple points of reference. Here are a few essential things that are supposed to be on your checklist when deciding on who to hire:
- Scrolling through the company website. Right away, you can tell which interior design company is the most professional by visiting their website. There, you can learn more information about their company, the process in which they create and design, as well as view their portfolio of past works they’ve accomplished. You’ll also be able to take note of their contact information there.
- Visiting their interior design showroom. There’s no better way to evaluate an interior design company’s style than by seeing it in person. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, check out whether they have an interior design showroom dedicated to providing prospective clients with a better picture of their design styles and specialities.
- Checking the reviews on other sites and sources. Don’t just take their own word about their interior design services, see if you can verify the legitimacy of their claims by checking the reviews on other review sites and looking to other sources to know what other people are saying about them. They’re usually more accurate in reflecting the quality of their services.
After you’ve chosen your interior designer: do’s and don’ts
Selecting the right interior designer company is only half the battle. When it comes to designing your home, it’s how effectively you communicate with your interior designer and how well they are able to capture your ideas and transform them into something workable.
Want to know more about how you can create the perfect design for your own needs? Here are some interior design do’s and don’ts to create your home. Check them out here!
- Do ask them what software they use to help them conceptualise your design. This includes 3D rendering software and architectural visualization software that provides an accurate picture of how your house will look after the project is done. They can be great tools to help you visualise the concept for your ideas, aside from the sketches they will give you.
- Don’t be unreasonable about your expectations. If you have a tight budget or schedule, don’t expect the same quality of service, as, say, luxury or expansive projects you see in their interior design showroom. Even skilled designers will have to work within the parameters you’ve given them.
- Do let your designer know about your needs before starting the project. Don’t skip out on the details, tell them exactly what you expect from the project including how much time you can allot for the project, the budget you have, the specific look you want, and so on. This will let them give you a more accurate picture of how the project will go.
- Don’t ask them to do more than what they are there for. Interior designers are there to help you design and create. They are not regular workers, they are specialists with expertise. It is not their job to provide manual labour like helping to move furniture or do remodelling works on your home.
- Do provide references to help your interior designer better visualise what you need. It doesn’t have to be an exact reference or great sketches. You can take inspiration from photographs of rooms and designs you want to emulate. Look into their portfolio to find shots of what you are looking for or check out some interior design websites or magazines for your references. Describing it through text or words is alright, but visual references can go a longer way in helping create the design you want.
- Don’t expect interior designers to be able to work or produce output at the same pace as you do. Interior designers in Singapore have their own obligations outside of your project and are likely working with other clients on the side. Give them a chance to focus on your work so you can get good results. Set a timeline and deadline for the project, and most professional interior designers will be able to meet it– but at their own pace.
With these tips, you’ll be on your way to communicating and building good relationships with your interior designers. Work well with them to ensure you have a smooth experience with renovating and designing your home!
Add a little bit of life into your renovation design ideas with Fineline, one of the best interior design firms in Singapore. Contact us today for more assistance on how to design your dream home or space!