How to Communicate Your Likes and Dislikes to Your Designer
You can save a lot of time when working with a pro by communicating what you like and don’t like. Here’s how
Georgia Madden
12 January 2023
Are you planning to renovate or redecorate your home any time soon? When working with an interior designer or architect, it pays to stay engaged, be vocal and have an opinion when it comes to the style, colour and functionality you’re after, according to these design professionals. Here, they reveal the best ways to go about it.
Why is communication so important?
Speaking up when it comes to your style preferences can be a huge time-saver, says Michelle Hart, interior stylist and founder of Bask Interiors. “It reduces the amount of time spent trying to work out what style and colours a client is drawn to. As a designer, it really streamlines the process of curating a design you will love,” she says.
“Speaking up also means you’ll feel confident that the designer understands your needs and expectations for creating a fabulous design,” she adds.
Speaking up when it comes to your style preferences can be a huge time-saver, says Michelle Hart, interior stylist and founder of Bask Interiors. “It reduces the amount of time spent trying to work out what style and colours a client is drawn to. As a designer, it really streamlines the process of curating a design you will love,” she says.
“Speaking up also means you’ll feel confident that the designer understands your needs and expectations for creating a fabulous design,” she adds.
Frances Cosway, design director at White Pebble Interiors agrees. “Clearly communicating your likes and dislikes gives you clarity about what you’re requesting from a designer and the direction you want them to go in,” she says.
“We often find that once the discussion starts happening, the client starts to shape the design direction for the project,” Frances continues, “and the process allows them to flesh out their preferences as a couple or as a family, as often many people need to be involved and voice their likes and dislikes. We can then come to a consensus on the design direction together.”
Thinking about redecorating? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz.
Thinking about redecorating? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz.
What’s the best way to communicate with a designer or architect?
Writing a brief is a helpful first step to take, but it’s not the only way. “I like to ask prospective clients to fill in an online questionnaire before our first meeting, so I can get a sense of what assistance they’re looking for and their personal style,” Michelle says.
“I also like to know who’s living in the home, the ages of any children, and whether they have pets, as this will determine how the space needs to function for the people living in it,” she says.
Writing a brief is a helpful first step to take, but it’s not the only way. “I like to ask prospective clients to fill in an online questionnaire before our first meeting, so I can get a sense of what assistance they’re looking for and their personal style,” Michelle says.
“I also like to know who’s living in the home, the ages of any children, and whether they have pets, as this will determine how the space needs to function for the people living in it,” she says.
Frances conducts a briefing session to explore a prospective client’s likes and dislikes, and to discuss them in more detail. “This allows us to fulfil our design obligations by meeting the brief accurately,” she says.
“After the briefing meeting, we then follow up with a written ‘Return Brief’ document, as sometimes reviewing something in writing prompts other thoughts,” she says.
“A written confirmation also means that everyone is on the same page and things don’t get lost in translation, which can happen if you’re just relying on verbal communication,” she adds.
“After the briefing meeting, we then follow up with a written ‘Return Brief’ document, as sometimes reviewing something in writing prompts other thoughts,” she says.
“A written confirmation also means that everyone is on the same page and things don’t get lost in translation, which can happen if you’re just relying on verbal communication,” she adds.
How else can I show a designer my preferences?
As design is a visually driven sphere, the best way to communicate your likes, dislikes and preferences to your designer or architect is to share images that illustrate what you do (or perhaps do not) want.
“When clients show me images of spaces they’re drawn to, I can get a real sense of their style and what they’re hoping to achieve when it comes to curating their home,” Michelle says. “I can work out what colours they like, the art they’re drawn to and the lifestyle they’d like to create.”
“A picture tells a thousand words,” Frances says. “Sometimes when a client is unable to articulate in words what they like, images can really help, as we can clearly see the recurring themes.”
More: At What Stage Should I Hire an Interior Designer?
As design is a visually driven sphere, the best way to communicate your likes, dislikes and preferences to your designer or architect is to share images that illustrate what you do (or perhaps do not) want.
“When clients show me images of spaces they’re drawn to, I can get a real sense of their style and what they’re hoping to achieve when it comes to curating their home,” Michelle says. “I can work out what colours they like, the art they’re drawn to and the lifestyle they’d like to create.”
“A picture tells a thousand words,” Frances says. “Sometimes when a client is unable to articulate in words what they like, images can really help, as we can clearly see the recurring themes.”
More: At What Stage Should I Hire an Interior Designer?
Use Houzz ideabooks Designers agree that Houzz ideabooks are a great communication tool, allowing you to show your team the exact type of spaces you love and the look or feel you want to create in your home. When you save any image to an ideabook on Houzz, you have the option of noting what you like about the space (to do this with a photo, click ‘Save’, then type your thoughts into the ‘What do you like about this photo?’ field).
“Sharing ideabooks can be really helpful, as it allows me to see common links between the different homes and spaces [a client selects],” Michelle says.
“And the fact that Houzz ideabooks are broken down by room makes it even easier to see a client’s preferences,” Frances adds.
Other ways you can visually demonstrate your preferences are by showing your designer cut-outs from magazines or by collecting images you’ve found in different places online in an e-folder, Frances adds.
“Sharing ideabooks can be really helpful, as it allows me to see common links between the different homes and spaces [a client selects],” Michelle says.
“And the fact that Houzz ideabooks are broken down by room makes it even easier to see a client’s preferences,” Frances adds.
Other ways you can visually demonstrate your preferences are by showing your designer cut-outs from magazines or by collecting images you’ve found in different places online in an e-folder, Frances adds.
Be open about communicating your likes and dislikes Even if you’re not completely certain about the design direction you want to take with your home, it can be helpful to your designer if you verbalise how you want a room to function from a practical perspective, and the colours and styles you’re drawn to – as well as those you’re not.
When meeting prospective clients, Michelle will ask questions to prompt an open discussion about what a client likes in terms of space, design, style, colour and the functionality of rooms. “Some people have a very clear picture of what they want, while others don’t,” she says. “Having an open discussion really helps clients think about what they want to achieve.”
Tell us…
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments, and don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
When meeting prospective clients, Michelle will ask questions to prompt an open discussion about what a client likes in terms of space, design, style, colour and the functionality of rooms. “Some people have a very clear picture of what they want, while others don’t,” she says. “Having an open discussion really helps clients think about what they want to achieve.”
Tell us…
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments, and don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
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